Barbacarlo Lino Maga

Origins

The Maga family has made wine from its own grapes since 1886, when the first harvest was gathered from the Barbacarlo vineyard, which gave the estate its name. In 1884 the family's great-grandfather, Carlo Maga, gave Barbacarlo to his grandchildren, and only the Maga family has cultivated it since. The neighboring Montebuono vineyard, also 4 hectares, was later added to the estate.

The Barbacarlo name dispute

When the Oltrepò Pavese denomination was created in 1970, the name Barbacarlo was applied to vineyards in around 50 municipalities believed to have similar soils and climate. Lino Maga spent 23 years fighting the authorities in court to have Barbacarlo recognized as his family's exclusive property, having been cared for by the Maga family for many years. He eventually won, and the name Barbacarlo can now be used only for wines made from the Barbacarlo vineyard.

Reputation

Over the years, Barbacarlo wines became associated with authenticity, elegance, agelessness, and romance, earning respect among Presidents of the Republic, cardinals, philosophers, writers, actors, and other prominent figures.

The Barbacarlo vineyard occupies a hillside 300 meters above sea level.

The Barbacarlo vineyard has been cared for and cultivated exclusively by the Maga family for many years, since Carlo Maga gave it to his grandchildren in 1884.

The wines are made using a unique production method and a family secret, described as making them genuinely "alive." Every label carries the instruction "non agitare la bottiglia prima di stapparla" ("do not shake the bottle before opening"), and the wines are unpredictable, changing from bottle to bottle and year to year.

Lino Maga has stood firmly against consortia, producers, denominations, and politics, resisting what he calls "the system." The wines are described as authentic, elegant, ageless, and romantic — enduring, completely natural, and mysterious. They are described as always unpredictable and capable of surprising, yet never disappointing, with their story renewed from bottle to bottle and year to year.