Bibenda 2025 confirms “Il Fondatore”, Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG Riserva 2021, an excellence

A new milestone for Montalbera which sees the assignment of the prestigious “ 5 Grappoli Bibenda ” recognition to the Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG Riserva 2021 “Il Fondatore” . After receiving the award in the 2024 edition for the Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG Riserva “Limpronta” 2020, Montalbera confirms its excellence in the 2025 edition.

“ I am honored to receive this award from the Bibenda Guide, directed by the “ dean of wine” Franco Ricci, for Il Ruchè Riserva Il Fondatore. This recognition arouses a particular emotion in me due to the strong bond with my grandfather, head of the family and founder of Montalbera. Il Fondatore not only represents a powerful and sumptuous expression of Ruchè, but also a tribute to the visionary history and rich winemaking heritage of Montalbera and this important award gives it further value. The tribute to Enrico Riccardo Morando , to our history and to our roots. Proud to have had the confirmation, after the assignment of the 5 Grappoli in the 2024 edition to Limpronta 2020, of this important recognition that I welcome with infinite satisfaction and great emotion ” says Franco Morando, CEO and General Manager of Montalbera.

Franco Morando was one of the proponents of the reform of the Ruchè disciplinary statute in 2013, which discussed the “novelty of the mention Riserva”. Montalbera was one of the first companies to experiment with the refinement of the Ruchè grape variety in wood , first with “LIMPRONTA” and then with “IL FONDATORE” adding the indication RISERVA to the wine label.

The Fondatore is refined in French oak barrels , second or third passage, for approximately 10-12 months and presents a powerful and characteristic flavour on the palate, with great persistence.

Ruby red in color with garnet reflections, "Il Fondatore" brings with it an intense aroma, with aromatic hints and hints of berries, which sinuously fade into oriental spices and black pepper . Fresh and silky, with a full consistency and pure expression of the native Monferrato grape. The production amounts to 9,500 bottles of 0.75 l and 95 Magnums of 1.5 l, numbers that present a further tribute to Enrico Riccardo Morando, who passed away at the venerable age of 95.

The Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG Riserva 2021 “Il Fondatore” was awarded 110 cum laude also by the world-class wine expert Wine Killer Luca Gardini , the assignment of the “Gold Medal” Winehunter Award 2024 led by Helmuth Koecher and the Corona Vinibuoni di Italia 2025, listed among the TOP 300, the best wines selected by the national curators of the Guide. The international rise for Montalbera also continues, with “Il Fondatore” being the object of numerous awards such as the 90 points of James Suckling , one of the most famous American wine critics, and 96 points from Forbes by Tom Mullen.