The Langhe region of Piedmont in Italy is home to many iconic wines – Barolo and Barbaresco among them. Also in the area lies the city of Asti, home to the sweet, white, sparkling wine, Moscato d’Asti. Cà ed Balos, located in Castilglione Tinella, one of the classic zones for fine Moscato, is an old farmstead that was built in the beginning of the nineteenth century. The original owners were among the first to produce Moscato, and older generations still talk about how the fragrant grapes filled the air with a wonderful aroma during harvest. Inspired by times past, current owner, Renata Bonacina, created their label inspired by combined images of dance and music, harkening back to the times when people danced in the courtyard until late into the night in celebration of the harvest.

 

Renata and her husband Giovanni both grew up reading the works of such noted authors as Beppe Fenoglio and Cesare Pavese, both of whom described the Langhe territory, the people, and their lives in their books. The couple developed a fascination with the region, and after living in several cities all over the world, they decided to relocate to the Langhe. Once there, Renata and GIovanni found that the combination of beautiful landscapes, culture, history, and rich tradition made Castilglione Tinella a perfect match for all of their dreams.

 

They started their search for a home in the mid-nineties, and on a clear day in the winter of 1997, they were wandering in the hills of Castiglione Tinella and saw Cà ed Balos for the first time at sunset. The view from the house was breathtaking; nothing but vineyards, hazelnut trees, peach trees and snow-covered mountains. That one sight was enough to capture their hearts and they decided to purchase the property.

 

Soon afterwards, they decided to restore the house and vineyards and through this process the Bonacina family developed a great passion for the land and surrounding vineyards. As such they are committed to preserving the land by reducing the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides through bio-sustainable agriculture. Through the use of technology, they have considerably lowered the usage of water and chemicals to maintain healthy and natural lands capable of producing terroir-driven wines. All of the new vineyards planted since 2006 have been fitted with stainless steel poles for the vines because they are light, inert, and made of a durable material, which can be reused for new vineyards in the future.

 

Cà ed Balos produces wines made only from their six vineyards. They believe that the quality of wine begins with an excellent grape, and that an excellent grape starts with the vines and the land. Thirty million years ago, the low Piedmont area was submerged under the sea, which left fossils of plants, skeletons of fish, old sea shells, light pale tufa, sand, and clay. Now, those remnants provide optimum conditions to provide the appropriate nutrients needed by the vines. The Bonacina family’s goal is to produce a quality wine while respecting the environment.

 

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