Wineries

La Colombera

My name is Elisa and I have the pleasure to welcome you at Colombera. We are in the small village of Who, only 5 km far from Tortona. Our 20 hectares of vineyards are located close to the wineries and are the very heart of COLOMBERA.

The passion we have for the work of vinegrowers and winemakers, leads us to pursuit grapes of the highest quality. Grapes of each single vineyard are vinified separately. Our labels represent only and exclusively a particularly suited vineyard and that has an average age of 25 years. Young vines are devoted to the production of wines sold in bulk directly at the winery and to individuals.

My grandfather Renato arrived at Cascina Colombera in 1937, after the ruin of his farmstead.

Piercarlo, his son, soon developed a passion for the work of his father, joined him in the vineyards but prefered to work in the fields on tractors and harvesters. Since the 70s the vinegrowing activity of the company took on more importance, and Piercarlo, my dad, understood that there may be a turning point, decided not to sell his grapes to the cooperative winery and began to make on his own his first wines. Over the years he refined his technique in the winery thanks to experience and valuable advice.

He sold all the wines he produced directly to individuals, who arrived at Colombera through word of mouth of friends and acquaintances.

In 1997 he began to think to enlarge a little the company, there were 14 hectares of vineyards and a new project.

In 1998 the great turning point in Colombera started. The first label of the company, “Elisa”, was launched: a Barbera from Vigna Brus, that my dad dedicated to me. In 1998 we began to plant Timorasso in different parts of our lands, up to five vineyards of Timorasso.

With the 2000 vintage our projects took shape, we vinifed for the first time Timorasso and more ... the courteous BRICCO BARTOLOMEO, our most known Barbera VEGIA RAMPANA, and SUCIAJA. Since 2000, together with all the producers of Timorasso of the Tortona hills, the Derthona project was launched: each company, with its own grapes, proposes a Derthona wine, that represents the grape variety and the territory of the Tortona hills. Derthona Timorasso, Timorasso Coli Tortonesi.

In 2003 ARCHE’, the Croatina, was created.

Between 2000 and 2005 I accomplished the sensory analysis of all the ripe Timorasso grapes, and among the five vineyards I chose Montino, as in my period of study it has always given the best grapes. In 2006, for the first time, we vinify separately the Montino grapes, and in this way the Timorasso that represents Colombera is produced.

Mariotto Claudio

The agricultural company was founded in 1920 by great–grandfather Bepi, and develops with grandfather Salvatore and father Oreste.

In the 90s, Claudio, with the help of his brother Mauro and his mother Piera, gives continuity to the tradition and the passion for land and wine handed down by his ancestors. The decision to focus firmly on Barbera and Timorasso are a message that speaks of the importance of quality and of a region that is increasingly strong. Other varieties that are grown here are: Cortese, Freisa and Croatina, from which we expect a lot of satisfaction. The visit of the company allows us to admire the views that the Tortona Hills offer and to taste our own wines of different vintages.

Mariotto Claudio Azienda Agricola