Questo vino
Vineyard and terroir
The fruit comes from Ravera in Novello, described as the municipality’s most prestigious vineyard. The site forms a natural amphitheatre facing south at elevations of 300–380 metres. Its vines root in a complex mixture of Tortonian-origin marls, sandstone and Serravallian clays.
Aldo Vaira embraced organic agriculture in 1971 while still a university student, making him one of the early adopters in Piedmont. The vineyards have maintained spontaneous grass cover for 50 years, promoting aeration below ground and helping protect the soil from erosion. Vineyard work involves an exceptionally high level of manual labour per hectare, while recent research has concentrated on monitoring and enriching the biodiversity of flora and fauna across the estate’s vineyards, fields and woodland. The estate vineyards are certified organic and sustainable.
Grapes
100% Nebbiolo.
Vinification
For the 2022 Ravera, picking began on 4 October. The fruit underwent three stages of manual selection: in the vineyard, on a cellar sorting table, and berry by berry following destemming. Fermentation took place in tapered vats, accompanied by gentle pump-overs and punch-downs. Maceration lasted 47 days with the cap partially submerged. Malolactic fermentation was completed in stainless steel the following spring.
Ageing
The wine matured for 22 months in 25 and 50 hl Slavonian oak casks. It was bottled on 19 May 2025.
Technical data
Bottle format: 0.75 L.
Tasting profile
The 2022 is notably balanced in its youth. The bouquet begins with morello cherry, blood orange, marzipan and star anise, followed by cedarwood, violet flowers, tobacco leaf and understated earthy nuances. Iron, wet clay and liquorice add depth. The palate is profound, structured by broad, finely interwoven tannins. Juicy red fruit carries vibrant intensity, while sweet spices, aromatic herbs and a mineral-saline line provide energy and momentum. The finish is savoury and exceptionally persistent.
Ravera’s character combines a firm yet ethereal personality with an incisive palate and nuances of iodine and rust, giving the wine a taut, direct and electric quality.
Vintage notes
The 2022 growing season opened with dry conditions and high daytime temperatures. Mountain precipitation partly replenished water reserves in March, and budbreak began on 25 March. Two months of rain followed, along with severe hailstorms that spared the estate’s vineyards. After regular flowering, hot weather settled in during June and continued throughout the summer. Temperatures finally fell in September, creating the day-to-night variation needed for Nebbiolo to ripen. The estate’s overall harvest ran from 16 August through 14 October. Despite limited yields, the vintage produced vibrant, juicy wines with striking aromatic intensity.
