Monferrato · Winery · Curated profile

Cantina Nicola

Cantina Nicola

Federico Nicola was born and raised in the Monferrato and describes himself first of all as a grower. From his base on Strada Roletto Rocca in Cocconato he farms Barbera, Grignolino, Freisa and Nebbiolo, plus Chardonnay, Sauvignon and Arneis for the whites. He points to altitude and the pale clay-limestone soils he calls terre bianche as the source of structure and longevity, and oak is used for the superiore wines without being allowed to dominate. There are two Barberas d'Asti, one fresher and one aged in wood, a Superiore Albugnano from the high hills around that village, and a Grignolino dedicated to his grandfather Bertin, who planted it in the early 1970s outside the historic zone. Cantina Nicola also runs a restaurant on the same site, opened in 2014. Cocconato is a hill village in the province of Asti, in the Monferrato, and nearby Albugnano has its own Nebbiolo DOC.

At a glance

Region
Monferrato, Piemonte, Italy
Address
Strada Roletto Rocca 10, 14023 Cocconato (AT)
Winemaker
Federico Nicola
Tours
Not listed
Tastings
Available
Wines listed
7
Website
https://cantinanicola.com/

Visits & tastings

The cellar is a small family business that welcomes visitors every day, but only by appointment, so book before you come.

Tastings

  • Tasting of 3 wines · €18
  • Tasting of 5 wines · €25

Food & stay

  • Restaurant on the estate, reservation requested: Thu and Fri dinner from 19:30, Sat lunch from 12:30 and dinner from 19:30, Sun lunch from 12:30
  • Typical products of Cocconato can be paired with the tasting on request

Good to know

  • Cellar open Mon to Sun by appointment, with hourly slots from 9:00 to 20:00 via the online booking calendar

Contact

Wines from Cantina Nicola

  • Albugnano Superiore: Albugnano Superiore DOC, Nebbiolo 100%, Red. 100% Nebbiolo from the high hills around Albugnano, on clay and limestone with red clays, aged 12 months in oak.
  • Barbera d'Asti: Barbera d'Asti DOCG, Barbera 100%, Red. The fresher, more immediate of the estate's two Barberas, from 100% Barbera grown at 320 m on south and south-east slopes.
  • Barbera d'Asti Superiore: Barbera d'Asti Superiore DOCG, Barbera 100%, Red. The more concentrated and fuller Barbera, aged 12 months in oak barrels so it can carry the Superiore designation.
  • Chardonnay: Piemonte DOC Chardonnay, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, White. A Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc white from white-earth soils at 350 m, left about 5 months on its lees.
  • Freisa d'Asti Superiore: Freisa d'Asti Superiore DOC, Freisa 100%, Red. A 100% Freisa from 350 m on south-east slopes, macerated about 15 days on the skins and aged 12 months in oak.
  • Grignolino: Piemonte DOC Grignolino, Grignolino 100%, Red. A 100% Grignolino, the wine of the grower's grandfather, who planted the vines in the early 1970s outside the historic DOC zone.
  • Monferrato Bianco: Monferrato Bianco DOC, Arneis, Sauvignon Blanc, White. An Arneis and Sauvignon Blanc white from 350 m, left about 5 months on its lees.