Asti · Winery · Curated profile

Cantina Sociale Barbera dei Sei Castelli

Cantina Sociale Barbera dei Sei Castelli

Barbera dei Sei Castelli is a growers' cooperative in Agliano Terme, formed when three smaller cellars merged; the VentiForti label, launched in 2016, marks twenty years of that union. Oenologist Enzo Gerbi and viticulture technician Salvatore Giacoppo lead the cellar work, and since 2010 they have studied old Barbera vines with the University of Turin. That research became the Il Risveglio del Ceppo line, tied to the museum L'Anima del Vino at the wine tourism centre in Castelnuovo Calcea.

The range runs from the young VentiForti to the barrique-aged La Galleana, Nizza and Nizza Riserva, plus Cortese, Chardonnay, Grignolino, Moscato d'Asti, Brachetto d'Acqui and several sparklings. Agliano Terme lies in the Asti hills, inside the Barbera d'Asti and Nizza zones, and is also known for its thermal waters.

At a glance

Region
Asti, Piemonte, Italy
Address
Regione Salere 6, 14041 Agliano Terme (AT)
Winemaker
Enzo Gerbi
Tours
Available
Tastings
Available
Wines listed
22
Website
https://www.barberaseicastelli.it/

Visits & tastings

Tastings take place in the museum room of the wine tourism centre at Castelnuovo Calcea, with a guided museum visit, for groups of up to 8 people.

Tastings

  • In the heart of Barbera · welcome glass of Marengo, 4 Barbera reds · €30
  • The (re)fined Barbera · La Galleana, Nizza, Nizza Riserva, Il Risveglio del Ceppo · €35
  • The nuances of Nizza · 3 vintages €30 or 5 vintages €40 · min 4 people
  • Monferrato in white, red, bubbles · €15
  • Guided by the oenologist · 4 surprise wines · €80

Tours

  • Museum visit with the artist · min 2 people · €30
  • Goat farm and cheese tasting · €20

Food & stay

  • Truffle hunt with a trifulao and his dog, 1 Oct to 31 Jan · €25

Good to know

  • Open Mon to Sat 9:00 to 13:00 and 14:30 to 19:00; holidays 9:30 to 12:30 and 15:00 to 18:30

Contact

Wines from Cantina Sociale Barbera dei Sei Castelli

  • 50 Anni: Barbera d'Asti DOCG, Barbera, Red. First made with the 2009 vintage to mark the cooperative's first half-century. A structured Barbera d'Asti with notable ageing potential.
  • A Taula: Piemonte DOC Barbera, Barbera, Red. The everyday Barbera of the range; the name is Piedmontese for 'at the table'.
  • Barbera del Monferrato: Barbera del Monferrato DOC, Barbera, Freisa, Red. A young, lightly effervescent Barbera with a little Freisa, meant to be drunk through a whole meal.
  • Bianca Terra: Piemonte DOC Chardonnay Metodo Classico, Chardonnay, Sparkling. A Classic Method Brut from Chardonnay, part of the I Firmati collection for its slow fermentation and bottle ageing.
  • Brachetto d'Acqui: Brachetto d'Acqui DOCG, Brachetto, Sweet. A sweet, lightly foaming red from Brachetto, best drunk young and cold.
  • Chinato: Chinato, Barbera, Fortified. A Chinato made by infusing medicinal plants and china in Barbera d'Asti, described on the museum page.
  • Contessa Bianca: Piemonte DOC Cortese Chardonnay, Cortese, Chardonnay, White. A Cortese and Chardonnay blend dedicated to Bianca Lancia d'Agliano, daughter of Bonifacio Lancia d'Agliano of the Counts of Loreto.
  • Cortese dell'Alto Monferrato: Cortese dell'Alto Monferrato DOC, Cortese, White. A dry white from Cortese, light in colour and fresh in acidity, good as an aperitif.
  • Gavarra: Piemonte DOC Chardonnay, Chardonnay, White. A Chardonnay with cold maceration and time on fine lees, best served fresh with fish and white meats.
  • Grignolino d'Asti: Grignolino d'Asti DOC, Grignolino, Red. A pale, light Grignolino; the name comes from the Asti dialect word grignola, for the grape's many seeds.
  • Il Risveglio del Ceppo: Barbera d'Asti DOCG, Barbera, Red. A Barbera d'Asti born from research started in 2010 by oenologist Enzo Gerbi and viticulture technician Salvatore Giacoppo with the Department of Viticulture and Enology of the University of Turin. It gives its name to…
  • La Galleana: Barbera d'Asti Superiore DOCG, Barbera, Red. A Barbera d'Asti Superiore aged almost a year in wood. The name recalls the small Barbera plots typical of the area.
  • Le Vignole: Nizza DOCG, Barbera, Red. A Nizza from grapes taken only from the best exposures in limited areas and inspected before harvest. Aged about 12 months in small oak barrels, then a few months in bottle.
  • Marengo: Piemonte DOC Marengo, Cortese, Sparkling. A Brut sparkling wine from Cortese made by the autoclave method, ideal for aperitifs and cocktails.
  • Monferrato Dolcetto: Monferrato DOC Dolcetto, Dolcetto, Red. An everyday Dolcetto, long present in the area, with good drinkability.
  • Moscato d'Asti: Moscato d'Asti DOCG, Moscato Bianco, Sweet. A sweet, aromatic white from Moscato Bianco, typical of the Asti area.
  • Nizza Riserva: Nizza Riserva DOCG, Barbera, Red. Part of the I Firmati collection of Il Risveglio del Ceppo. Made from old vines and low yields, with long ageing in oak and then in bottle, meant to develop over time.
  • Perluna: Piemonte DOC Rosato Spumante Extra Brut, Barbera, Sparkling. An extra brut rosé sparkling wine from Barbera, made from the first grapes picked and part of the Il Risveglio del Ceppo project.
  • RosaSale: Piemonte DOC Rosato, Freisa, Bonarda, Dolcetto, Rosé. A Piemonte rosé from Freisa, Bonarda and Dolcetto, made for warm weather and aperitifs.
  • Terre dei Galleani: Piemonte DOC Chardonnay, Chardonnay, White. Part of the I Firmati collection. Oenologist Enzo Gerbi's Chardonnay after years of experiment, fermented and aged in wood on its lees to build a white with structure that can evolve.
  • VentiForti: Barbera d'Asti DOCG, Barbera, Red. The youngest Barbera d'Asti of the range, created in 2016 to mark twenty years since the three original cellars merged. The producer says it keeps good ageing potential.
  • Vermouth di Torino Rosso: Vermouth di Torino, Fortified. A red Vermouth di Torino made from the cooperative's own wines, described on the museum page.