Wild red fruit, dried herbs, violet, and a hint of black pepper from the Vespolina.
FARMING: practicing organic VINEYARD: 4 Ha divided in 3 plots: two young vineyards in the area of Cottignano and one young vineyard in the area of Lessona ALTITUDE: 350 m / 1,150 ft SOILS: high-acid, yellow porphyritic sand of volcanic origin VINE AGE: 7 - 50 years old VINE TRAINING: guyot HARVEST DATE: end of September YEASTS: Native FERMENTATION & ÉLEVAGE: pied de cuve to start the fermentation; Nebbiolo ferments separately in cement tanks; the other grapes are co-fermented in stainless steel vats; spontaneous fermentation lasts about 7 days and then the vats are blended. No temperature control. Maceration of 20 days and then élevage 80% in cement tanks (25 Hl) and 20% in used barriques for 7 months SULPHUR: total of 20 mg/L of SO2 added after the malolactic fermentation and 20 mg/L before bottling ANNUAL PRODUCTION: 500 cases
Melascone is designed for early drinking, without the extended aging of the Bramaterra and Lessona DOC bottlings. The name comes from word for Nebbiolo in the local dialect around Biella, and is also used colloquially for everyday vino rosso.
Colombera & Garella was founded in Masserano by Cristiano Garella, a noted consultant winemaker across Alto Piemonte known as the "Nebbiolo whisperer," alongside the Colombera family, who provided the vineyards and farming knowledge. The estate covers 7 hectares between Lessona, Masserano, and Brusnengo, planted exclusively to native varieties: Nebbiolo, Croatina, and Vespolina. Primary production is Lessona DOC and Bramaterra DOC from these parcels. The Alto Piemonte volcanic soils, formed 300 million years ago, are the defining terroir element across the range.
