The word comes from the Greek autòs (self) and chthòn (earth). In the wine world, it means a grape that was born in, belongs to, and thrives in one specific territory.
Why does it matter? * Biodiversity: It’s the opposite of a “supermarket” wine.

• Adaptation: These vines have spent centuries learning how to survive the specific pests, soil, and weather of Piedmont. In a world where wine is becoming increasingly ‘standardized,’ Piedmont remains a stubborn, beautiful holdout. Here, we don’t just grow grapes; we preserve history. We call them Vitigni Autoctoni—indigenous vines that have lived on these hills longer than most of our family trees. They aren’t just plants; they are the liquid dialect of our land. From the ‘cranky’ Arneis to the ‘foggy’ Nebbiolo, let’s look at the survivors that make our cellar truly unique.”

The “Red” Heavyweights (Bacca Rossa)

Nebbiolo: The Noble Fog

• Cool Fact: Its name comes from nebbia (fog). Not just because of the autumn weather in the Langhe, but because the grapes develop a thick, milky “bloom” (wax) on their skins that makes them look like they are covered in frost or fog.

• The Vibe: High tannins, high acidity, but looks light in the glass. It’s the “Iron Fist in a Velvet Glove.”

From this grape we have Barolo, Barberesco, Roero, Nebbiolo di Langhe, di Alba.

Barbera: The People’s Wine

• Cool Fact: For centuries, it was the “merenda” wine for farmers. While Nebbiolo was for the aristocrats, Barbera was for the workers because it has almost no tannins, making it refreshing even when young.

• The Glow-up:  Nizza DOCG has proven that Barbera can be just as serious and age-worthy as the big boys, it is exciting to see this DOCG grow and take its place with the other big reds of the region.

We have several Barbera di Asti Superiore, as well as three types of Il Nizza DOCG.

Albarossa: This is a blend of Chatus Nebbiolo and Barbera it grows in a very narrow area and with a very limited production but those producers are really pushing the boundaries of aging, so far we have examples stretching back to 2000 and they are stunning. All the richness of Barbera with the bone structure of a Nebbiolo.

We have albarossa from 2 cantina in slighty different locations.

Currently under review for our cellar are these two Grignolino and Ruchè.

Grignolino: The Rebel

• Cool Fact: Its name comes from the Piedmontese word grignòle (strawberry seeds). Why? Because it has more seeds than almost any other grape. This makes it naturally very tannic, despite being pale and light-bodied. It’s a “brainy” wine—it confuses your senses!

Ruchè: The Fragrant Mystery

• Cool Fact: It’s one of the rarest. For a long time, it was only grown in the parish of Castagnole Monferrato. It smells like roses and wild berries but tastes spicy and dry.

The “White” Renaissance (Bacca Bianca)

Timorasso: The White Nebbiolo

• Cool Fact: This is the wine for people who think white wines can’t age. In the 1980s, there were only a few hectares left. Today, it’s a cult wine. It starts out smelling like honey and flowers, but after 5-10 years, it smells like petrol and flint (similar to a high-end German Riesling).

This is a stunning wine, we have three types one aged, one young and another from a different cantina and one natural-orange wine which is interesting with indigenous yeast bringing out all the hydrocarbonic power of this wine!

Arneis: The “Little Rascal”

• Cool Fact: In the local dialect, Arneis means a difficult, cranky, or mischievous person. It got this name because it was notoriously hard to grow. In the past, farmers planted it next to Nebbiolo to distract birds—the birds ate the sweet Arneis and left the valuable Nebbiolo alone!

Now it is a standalone gem in its own right, often the go to white of the area it lends itself to food and it has a sophistication and elegance that is undeniable.

We have three types from light and playful to serious and ageworthy.

Erbaluce: The Sunlight in a Bottle

• Cool Fact: Its name literally means “Light of the Grass.” Legend says it was born from the tears of the Dawn goddess. It’s one of the few grapes in the world that is equally perfect as a dry wine, a sparkling wine, or a sweet passito. My preference is that from the mountains above Turin we can find a sparkling Metodo classico and an aged variety which is beautiful and weighty while maintaining its freshness.

In addition we have both Moscato and Brachetto, two ancient vines that grow here and are fully aromatic, which is also a quality that is not found everywhere. The wines we stock are both the sweet but recently the dry version of Brachetto which is a soft delightful sparkling wine perfect for summer or aperitivo.

Why it’s Special

In a world where wine is becoming “standardized,” Piemonte’s autoctono vines are an act of rebellion. Drinking these is like tasting a dialect—it’s local, it’s authentic, and you can’t replicate it.