Araldica Piemonte Cortese 2018

Araldica, one of Piedmont's largest and most forward-thinking co-operatives, is situated in Castel Boglione, in the Monferrato hills in the heart of Barbera d'Asti territory. Here they work with 230 grower members to source quality grapes from around 690ha of vineyards. Despite their size they have a real family run feel about them thanks largely to the husband and wife management/winemaking team of Claudio Manera and Lella Burdese.

Many of their members joined the co-operative in the 1950s and have a long and loyal relationship with the winery. They produce wines from Piedmont's main DOC/DOCG regions - predominantly Barbera, Gavi and Moscato, but also including Barolo, Barbaresco and Roero Arneis.

Founded in 1954 by Livio Manera, father of the current director and winemaker Claudio, Araldica has developed over the past 60 years to become a major winemaking force in Piedmont, supplying wines across the globe. Lella heads up quality control and she is responsible for the blending and approval of all wines. Their son Carlo, also a qualified winemaker, is now part of the Araldica winemaking team. Livio pioneered developments in winemaking techniques - especially with regard to the production of Barbera - and Araldica have since continued to be instrumental in the promotion of Barbera and Gavi around the world. As Claudio states their aim is '...to provide a range that is both understandable and accessible. Quite simply, wine for drinking and enjoying.'