New Winery from Luca Currado Vietti and Elena Penna

[Ken_V]

Great news from Barolo! Cascina Penna-Currado.

Cascina Penna-Currado: Elena and Luca Currado Vietti, with their children,...

The debut wine will be Langhe Nebbiolo Bricco Lago, and it will have a label designed by Giuseppe Stampone, a visual artist who has also exhibited all over the world at important events and museums, such as the Venice Biennale, MAXXI in Rome, The Invisible Dog Art Center in Brooklyn, New York, and beyond, with the back label explaining the philosophy that inspired him, and that inspires the path of Cascina Penna-Currado: “a new journey begins with a look beyond the horizon, in search of untraveled roads where one can leave a mark of one’s passage”.
“But in two/three years Barolo will also come, we have two of the five most important MGAs, which we don’t want to reveal for now. The production will be divided between Dolcetto, Langhe Nebbiolo, Barbera, Nebbiolo d’Alba, which is growing a lot and in which we believe a lot, Timorasso, and of course Barolo, to reach 70,000 bottles in total…"

Here’s the label from Langhe Nebbiolo Bricco Lago:

[Yule_Kim]

Very exciting! I’m wondering which MGAs they were able to secure (also, which 5 MGAs do Luca consider “the most important”)?

My guess:
Vignarionda
Brunate
Cannubi
Rocche di Castiglione
Rocche dell’ Annunziata

[Ken_V]

Their new winery is in the Lazzarito MGA, so I think that one is likely.

[Brady_Daniels]

Do we expect these to be widely available or will we need to know someone?

[Ken_V]

@Brady_Daniels

Do we expect these to be widely available or will we need to know someone?

70,000 bottles seems like plenty, but I doubt they will be cheap.

[JHenson]

According to Decanter, the family has pieced together approximately 20 hectares of vineyards, 13 of which they are leasing in San Sebastiano (south of Monforte d’Alba and outside of the Barolo zone). The article also mentioned several long-term rental contracts for an additional 5 hectares–plots in Verduno, Barolo and Monforte d’Alba for his Classico, and then two still-unidentified MGAs for cru Barolo. I cannot imagine that when they bought Cascina Lazzarito, that part of that vineyard was not part of the sale. And, I am aware there is a good size plot for sale in Meriame at the moment. But, all speculation at this point. Here is the article.

Ex-Vietti owners announce new Serralunga project - Decanter

[JHenson]

For reference regarding the price of vineyards in the Serralunga zone at the moment, Prunotto recently acquired 3 hectares in Cerretta for 9MM Euros, and someone acquired 0.8 hectares in Baudana for 2MM Euros.

[Yule_Kim]

@JHenson

I cannot imagine that when they bought Cascina Lazzarito, that part of that vineyard was not part of the sale.

I’m guessing if Lazzarito is one of the MGAs that will be a single-cru wine, Currado will be using at least a little barrique (a la Vietti). Have folks had the Vietti Lazzarito recently? It had a reputation for being rather oaky, but I’m wondering whether the new oak has been pulled back in more recent vintages?

[Manuel_Buergi]

Cascina Penna-Currado, Serralunga d’Alba

Some first impressions, 28.3.24

Two weeks ago, the great news reached us, that Luca Currado Vietti & Elena Penna - together with their children Giulia & Michele - started a new winemaking family project: Cascina Penna-Currado, based in Serralunga - the former historical building ‘Cascina Lazzarito’, above the Lazzarito MGA, with a marvellous view over the vineyards and hills, towards the Serralunga castle, Castiglione and many more directions. There is still a lot of work to do, but Luca & Elena’s idea and notion of what the Cascina shall become are clear and brilliant; just like themselves, the way I have gotten to know them in the past years of friendship. The most immediately beautiful thing is to understand, that the winery is truly a thing of family and freedom, built and run together with Giulia and Michele, the future generation.

As you read before, some first wines will be out soon: originating from San Sebastiano in Monforte, with the name ‘Bricco Lago’. An area that Luca & Elena have been fond of for like 20 years now. A land of biodiveristy, tranquility as well as an exposure and altitude like Ravera that they know well from the farming in the past; hence wines of freshness and lifted profiles. Until 1970 it was included in the Barolo DOCG area, but then it didn’t fullfill the requirements of the past (with its cooler climate) anymore. Times have changed now.
The Bricco Lago vineyards are situated all around the Chiesetta di San Sebastiano, near and above a small lake, which brings the name ‘Bricco Lago’ to the label. Re the label: it shows the view to a new path, a new chapter and a new future.

The use of a good amount of stems for the Dolcetto and Nebbiolo is an utterly interesting detail - these are totally lively, energetic, highly aromatical wines. Loved the samples.
Of course there will be some other wines too; a white (made with cappello sommerso… guess varietal what could be the familys choice…) and of course Barolo: 3 of them to be precise. More details about them will be revealed at the given time. The 2023 Barolos are in cask at the moment and doing their first year of aging in calm. Highly promising wines, that is what I can say already with a happy smile.

Around 70k bottles can and will be made totally. The future is bright.

I will happily share tasting notes and more details, as well as pictures of the Bricco Lago area, as soon as I go back to Luca & Elena and as soon as things are entirely set & ready. I can’t wait for that moment.
In bocca al lupo, Cascina Penna-Currado!
“Now bring me that horizon” (Captain Jack Sparrow)

[Ken_V]

Welcome to Berserkers, @Manuel_Buergi!

Everyone who loves Nebbiolo should be happy Manuel has joined.

[Manuel_Buergi]

Thanks, @Ken_V Already seeing many familiar names.

The first CPC wines are officially released, in the US Grandcru should have them:

Dolcetto d’Alba “Bricco Lago” 2022, Barbera d’Alba “Carrà” 2022, Langhe Nebbiolo “Bricco Lago” 2022. Another 2022 Nebbiolo (d’Alba) shall be released in fall, I guess also the Timorasso (2023) might come at that time.

[Shan_A]

Cask and botti?

[AlbertoV]

Ciao Manuel! do you know where can i find them in Langa or generally in Piemonte?

[Ryan_A]

Awesome- thank you for sharing! Look forward to brining them in to AZ.

[Manuel_Buergi]

@Shan_A
Luca & Elena did hell of a great job and effort to get the perfect wood to start with CPC and all wines, including the 3 Barolos. Of course that means barrels that are not new. Botti grandi 35HL, botticelle 10HL and some tonneaux. Stay tuned for more details when we all talk about the final wines.

@AlbertoV
Try ‘Enoteca del Ponte’ in Gallo, Pony and Samu should have them. Or Darios Enoteca in Castiglione Falletto for sure, too.

[Mikael_OB]

Yes I was wondering when he would show up
Happy to have him here!

[Jeff_Vaughan]

Great first post, Manuel. Welcome.

You can see the happiness and pride in Luca’s smile. I’m looking forward to trying the wines.

[Tom_K]

The first set of wines (including the mysterious Barolos and they are named) have been tasted and reviewed by Audrey Fricke via the Jed Dunnuck review site:

The latest high-profile winery to land in Barolo hails from the top of Lazzarito in Serralunga d’Alba. Elena Penna, Luca Currado, and their children have staked claim to their new home with this year’s inaugural releases, having departed their historic family estate at Vietti last year. All of the wines for this report were tasted at the estate with Elena and Luca in March of 2024. While readers will start to see a few wines in the market this year, this is merely the beginning, as they have clearly been hard at work to grow steadily and confidently in the years to come, with most of the wines here tasted from barrel.

The 2 MGA Barolo are San Lorenzo and Perno. The white is a Timorasso Derthona (like they had at Vietti). Also reviewed and NOT part of the 3 first release wines is a Nebbiolo D’Alba San Sebastiano 2023. If there is a Lazzarito Barolo I have no idea, might just be the significance of the farmhouse they restored, it might not have vines?

I am getting my first and VERY small batch of the wines next week from our supplier via GCS…I am told there should be more later after this first drop:

Dolcetto d’Alba “Bricco Lago” 2022
Barbera d’Alba “Carrà” 2022
Langhe Nebbiolo “Bricco Lago” 2022