Eight wines, each a pure expression of an identity parcel of Langhe: “Vini Fini”, our new style. Born to celebrate the diversity of the territory, with a contemporary and attentive approach to the land, the result of both new and ancient winemaking methods designed to enhance the originality and purity of each unique terroir.
“Pure consistency of fine texture” is the concept at the heart of this visionary approach to the land, which values the uniqueness of the territory in thought, taste, and aesthetics. A new style born from a careful work of observation, listening and study of the earth, careful observation, listening, and study of the earth, aimed at bringing out the characteristics of soils and microclimates, enhancing the expressive purity of each microzone through wines with a strong identity. An evolution that continues a path started with the Manifesto “Bosco Vigna”, with the goal of preserving the biodiversity of the Langhe and telling the nuances of a terroir unique in the world, also through an iconic visual identity: each label becomes a narrative and stylistic element, while the choice of the Burgundian bottle recalls the great tradition of the Langhe.
CONTINUOUS EVOLUTION TO PRESERVE THE ESSENCE
A shift in vision, born from the mindset of Andrea Farinetti, vigneron at Fontanafredda, who invites us to rethink the categories of wine through a more open and contemporary vision, capable of catching the very essence of change, in order to preserve the deepest soul and the urgency of a freer, more inclusive, and systemic way of thinking.
In the wine world, we very often try to box ourselves into predefined categories. Today, we no longer talk about great wines; instead, we all try to define ourselves by saying: ‘I’m organic,’ ‘I’m natural,’ ‘I’m biodynamic,’ or ‘I’m conventional,’ which means closing ourselves off into a niche, labeling ourselves—that’s old-fashioned and simplistic. It should be just one ‘aspect’ of one’s identity. The world of wine is much more complex. In all other worlds, except wine, different genres coexist and influence each other. Think about music and the great festivals: once, it was only rock, only pop, only classical. Now, all genres perform on the same day, and genres blend. Being contemporary means this-it means staying in motion, evolving continuously, changing to stay true to who we are.
So, we decided to revive a classification from the past, relaunching it with a different vision called Vini Fini, which in the past represented great wines, but a bit more democratic. The wine world must be more open to diversity of styles, more inclusive without demonization. But not only must we producers change-also wine organizations and fairs must. Enough of rigid, dogmatic festivals, in every sense. Let’s open up to the community; this helps stimulate critical thinking and ensures that the ‘little chemists’ become more sustainable and that those who ‘leave everything to chance’ bring in some science without losing artisanal value. We will meet in the middle, each with their own vision, their own style, all cleaner, all healthier, all humbler, all more ethical. United not by a label, but by a common idea: making better wine. For us, for those who drink it, and for the planet.
This is what being contemporary means: not a taste, not a fashion, but a way of being in the world. Together.”
THE EXCLUSIVE PRESENTATION AT LANGOSTERIA BISTROT IN MILAN
Langosteria, an international benchmark for Italian fine dining, hosted the official presentation of Fontanafredda’s Vini Fini, a selection also featured on their wine list, highlighting absolute quality and the storytelling of the territories. The event took place on Monday, June 9th, at Langosteria Bistrot in Milan.
After the welcome aperitif, featuring an exclusive preview tasting of the Alta Langa DOCG Vigna Gatinera Riserva 120 mesi-the longest-aged Alta langa wine from Fontanafredda-the experience continued with a tasting lunch, where each dish was carefully paired with a label from the Vini Fini collection.
To start, a trio of tartares: amberjack with jalapeño sauce paired with Roero Arneis Val di Tana 2023; snapper with sweet-and-sour pickled vegetables for Derthona Timorasso 2023; and bluefin tuna with Pantelleria-style sauce for Langhe La Lepre 2024.
Grilled tuna belly with pak choi and chili sauce accompanied Barbera d’Alba Superiore Papagena 2022, followed by Mediterranean sea bream “Sicilian style” with potato chips and sautéed escarole, paired with Nebbiolo Marne Brune 2023.
The scorpion fish calamarata with basil and chili crumble was served with Chardonnay Ampelio 2023, while the experience closed with a passion fruit mousse and raspberry sauce, beautifully complemented by Moscato Moncucco 2023.
Leading the event was Andrea Farinetti, Vigneron, with contributions from Giorgio Lavagna, Fontanafredda’s winemaker; Alberto Grasso, Fontanafredda’s agronomist; and Gabriele Gorelli, Italy’s first Master of Wine and Brand Ambassador for Vinventions.
During the event, Fontanafredda was also presented with the “Certificate of Plastic Action” by Vinventions, recognizing the winery’s contribution to the collection of 1,069 kg of plastic in 2024 through the use of Blue Line by Vinventions closures-also used for the Vini Fini collection. This choice highlights Fontanafredda’s commitment to sustainability and respect for the land, thanks to the use of the world’s first circular wine closures made from recycled materials. These closures help reduce CO₂ emissions, support the circular economy, and promote more sustainable development.
‘PURE CONSISTENCY OF FINE TEXTURE’: EIGHT TERROIRS WITH A UNIQUE STYLE
Roero Arneis DOCG Val di Tana Grappolo intero:
Deep, spicy and fresh
When the Pre-Alps and the Tanaro River converged more than two million years ago, the hills of the Roero were born, emblematic of the marriage of these two natural elements. San Quirico is part of the 135 MGAs that dictate the mapping of the Roero, a terrain with soft, sinuous lines that, in many places, is intertwined with orchards and the hazelnut groves typical of the area. But that’s not all, from the San Quirico vineyard there are views that embrace the geometries of the Roero, characterized by medieval castles and towers crowned by the Alps range. The terroir is marly-sandy, with a predominance of sandstone and sedimentary rocks of marine origin, which still guarantees a rich presence of mineral salts. With its southwest exposure, the vineyard thus proves ideal for the production of full-bodied white wines with good structure: in addition, a whole cluster fermentation of the grapes gives freshness, spiciness and complexity. Val di Tana captures the soul of Roero, becoming pure testimony to the delicacy and uniqueness of this ancient terroir.
Colli Tortonesi DOC Derthona Timorasso:
Courage, generosity and kindness: as delicate as a rose petal, as proud as a lion
An ancient grape variety, historically indigenous to the Tortonese hills, Timorasso is now brought back to life under the name Derthona. The soil consists of compact clay from ancient marine deposits, with layers of blue marl typical of the Tortonian geological period, similar to soils found in the central and western Barolo region. Great minerality, with a floral charm of great elegance and power: with incredible aging potential, not surprisingly now called “White Barolo.” The coat of arms of Tortona is represented by a rampant lion holding between its front paws a rose, depicting the three gifts of the territory, which, according to tradition, would be courage, generosity and kindness. Thus is Derthona, delicate as a rose petal, but at the same time proud and bold: a representation of the resilience and potential of this ancient territory.
Gavi del Comune di Gavi DOCG Cortem:
Authenticity of a vine: courtesy, refinement and elegance
The name “Cortem,” from the Provençal Cortes, is a tribute to the culture of courts, to politeness, elegance, but also to authority. Cortese in both its style and grape: it carries with it the long historical tradition of this native Piedmontese grape variety. It is precisely in a land that is part of the Piedmont tertiary basin that the cortem was born: we are in Lomellina subzone, where Cortese finds a place of rare charm accessible from the ancient road that led from Bocchetta to Tassarolo and then to Novi.
Fresh and delicate, it encapsulates all its refinement in elegant floral and fruity notes, characterized by a marked acidity. A structured wine with a great capacity for aging.
Langhe DOC La Lepre:
A Langa tradition: tenacious and versatile, fun and fresh
The name the “La Lepre” comes from the small long-eared animals that inhabit this vineyard. It stands on a promontory in Diano d’Alba, which intersects the hills of the Fontanafredda MGA, in the heart of Serralunga d’Alba, one of the oldest in the area of Serravalian origin. In particular, in the Fontanafredda MGA, there is a consistent presence of Sant’Agata Fossil Marls in the northern sector, including the slope that falls in the municipality of Diano d’Alba, where La Lepre originates. This wine represents the Langhe tradition, famous for daily consumption, resistant to time and guardian of the biodiversity of the Langhe, here it expresses itself in all its richness and fullness of taste, maintaining the typical floral character of the grape variety.
Barbera d’Alba DOC Superiore Papagena:
Bold, elegant, timeless
Papagena, much like the famous character in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, embodies a bold and vibrant spirit. Like the opera itself, the wine expresses power and expressiveness, with high notes that recall the fresh character of this Barbera. In the heart of Serralunga d’Alba, specifically in the MGA Fontanafredda, a sinuous hillside gives birth to a high-end Barbera d’Alba, the fruit of a unique and versatile Serravalle soil, one of the oldest in the Langhe. Here the roots of the vines penetrate deeply, improving resilience and allowing more mineral extraction, a characteristic that contributes to structure and complexity. Another crucial element is the presence of fossilized St. Agatha marls, which help maintain acidity in the grapes. The latter is a key aspect for Barbera, as it gives the wine a natural freshness. The acidity, combined with the vineyard’s microclimate and western exposure, gives the wine a lively, fruity profile with a long persistence on the palate. While following a classic style, once poured into the glass, the wine reveals undeniable depth, structure and elegance.
Nebbiolo d’Alba DOC Marne Brune Grappolo Intero:
Fine, expressive representing one’s territory
The Ginkgo Biloba leaf is the emblem of endurance and connection with nature, the fossil represents the historicity and composition of the soils, the “brown marls” typical of the final part of the Langhe and all of the Roero, from which it comes. The soil in the Biancardi area is marly-arenary, with the presence of Sant’Agata marls alternating with Diano d’Alba sandstones. There is a predominance of sandstones and sedimentary rocks of marine origin, and a good content of limestone, clay and coarse sands, the latter making the soil loose and giving it softness and great permeability. Given their marine origin, vine-grown soils are rather poor in organic matter, but rich in mineral salts. Meticulous winemaking, whole cluster fermentation and aging in amphora are reflected in the extraordinary finesse on the nose of this wine, revealing a tale of elegance and mastery in every detail.
Langhe DOC Chardonnay Ampelio:
Elegant, fine, clean and outspoken
The leaf with a woman’s face represents the humanization of ampeliography: the study of the vine is capable of elevating wines and territories, just like the research behind our Ampelio. The particularity of Castino, which reaches an altitude of more than 500 metres asl, is that it is exposed to the Marin, a wind that gives this hillside the mild influence of the sea. The soil is clay-limestone of sedimentary and marine origin, derived from the ancient Tertiary basin of Piedmont. The climate is continental with marine influence, characterized by a considerable temperature range between day and night, often accompanied by fairly low winter temperatures that allow the persistence of snowpack, while summers can be extremely hot. Altitude and the search for wood from 3 different forests represent the essence of this wine, a great long-lived white.
Moscato d’Asti DOCG Moncucco:
M of Moscato, M of Moncucco, M of Magic
The M’s on the label take their inspiration from the bonfires that were historically lit in the vineyards of the Langa, as Pavese recounts in his famous writing the “La luna e i falò,” in which the reference to the cycle of the seasons is juxtaposed with the events of man’s destiny. The bonfires, which were lit at night during peasant festivals and illuminated the sky, represented a magical moment of discovery for the children of the Langa. The vineyards of Moncucco, in Santo Stefano Belbo, are hilly, in some cases even with steep slopes where, thanks to the use of Langa stone, terracing was historically created. The soil is medium-textured and shallow, with outcrops of marl and in some cases sand. Hand-picked and influenced by the breezy climate, Moscato Moncucco has notes of peach, apricot, orange blossom and honeysuckle, offering a delicious sensory experience that captures the essence of the region’s winemaking tradition.
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