Alto Piemonte · Winery · Curated profile

Francesca Castaldi

Francesca Castaldi

Francesca Castaldi's family has farmed the hills of Briona, in the Novara province of Alto Piemonte, since arriving there in 1700. Today Francesca and Marco run the estate, having spent the years after 1997 replanting the vineyards and moving from the old pergola training to Guyot. The family farms about 8 hectares on a fluvio-glacial plateau near the Rocca Sforzesca, growing mainly Nebbiolo alongside Vespolina, Uva Rara and a native white grape. They work as independent growers within the FIVI federation, farming, vinifying and bottling everything themselves. Briona is one of only two villages allowed to produce Fara DOC, the label at the heart of the Castaldi range alongside Bigin, Nina, Pianazzi, Valceresé, Lucia and Rosalbe.

At a glance

Region
Alto Piemonte, Piemonte, Italy
Address
Via Ten. Solaroli 8, 28072 Briona (NO)
Winemaker
Francesca and Marco Castaldi
Tours
Not listed
Tastings
Available
Wines listed
7
Website
https://www.cantinacastaldi.it/

Visits & tastings

Visits here are personal, so call ahead since Francesca and Marco are often busy between the vineyard and the cellar.

Tastings

  • Tasting visit · in the estate's dedicated tasting room, by appointment
  • Cellar booking · the cellar can also be booked for groups or private events

Good to know

  • Mon to Sat 9:30 to 12:30 and 14:00 to 18:30
  • Sun by phone appointment only
  • Wine is also sold directly at the estate

Contact

Wines from Francesca Castaldi

  • Bigin: Colline Novaresi DOC Nebbiolo, Nebbiolo 100%, Red. A 100% Nebbiolo Colline Novaresi from the Belvedere and Pianazze vineyards in Briona, aged about 6 months in 500-litre oak tonneaux.
  • Fara: Fara DOC, Nebbiolo 70%, Vespolina 30%, Red. A Fara DOC blend of Nebbiolo and Vespolina from vineyards on the Briona hilltop, aged 24 months in large oak casks before bottling.
  • Lucia: Colline Novaresi DOC Bianco, Erbaluce 100%, White. A 100% Erbaluce, locally called Greco Novarese, from Briona vineyards planted between 2009 and 2014, fermented in temperature-controlled steel and bottled the following spring.
  • Nina: Colline Novaresi DOC Vespolina, Vespolina 100%, Red. A 100% Vespolina from a vineyard planted in 2001, briefly macerated in cement and bottled the spring after harvest.
  • Pianazzi: Vino Rosso, Nebbiolo 100%, Red. An easy-drinking, fruit-forward red made with light extraction from the same Belvedere and Pianazze vineyards as Bigin.
  • Rosalbe: Colline Novaresi DOC Rosato, Nebbiolo 100%, Rosé. A 100% Nebbiolo rosé from the Pianazzi vineyard in Briona, made from free-run must fermented cool in stainless steel.
  • Valceresé: Colline Novaresi DOC Uva Rara, Uva Rara 100%, Red. A 100% Uva Rara from vines planted in 1999, briefly macerated and bottled in spring after a short winter rest.