Supplier of the Month : Sottimano

The pure expression of Barbaresco

Some wineries build their reputation on famous names or impressive cellars. At Sottimano, everything begins where the family believes great wine truly originates: in the vineyard.

Since the 1970s, the Sottimano family has been producing wine in the heart of Barbaresco in Piedmont. What began in the late 1960s with Rino Sottimano, a handful of vineyard plots and the conviction that great wine is above all the result of meticulous work in the vineyard, has grown into a family estate with 19 hectares of vineyards across several Barbaresco DOCG crus. Today, Rino is joined by his children Andrea, Elena and Claudia, who continue the family philosophy together.

A family story built around Barbaresco

The story of Sottimano began in the late 1960s. After completing his studies in oenology, Rino decided to start making his own wine. Together with his wife Anna, he acquired various vineyard plots within the crus of Barbaresco in Piedmont over the years.

From the very beginning, he resolutely chose to vinify the individual vineyards separately. This approach remains at the heart of Sottimano today: each cru is given the opportunity to express its own distinct identity and character.

"I have always believed firmly in working hard in the vineyard to make great wines."

Rino Sottimano

Respect for nature and biodiversity

For Sottimano, great wine can only be created when the natural balance of the soil and its environment is respected. This is why work in the vineyard takes centre stage. The family pays particular attention to the vines and their natural growing cycle, while simultaneously seeking to protect the biodiversity of the vineyards.

This philosophy is nothing new. For more than 40 years, Sottimano has devoted particular care to its vineyards and works according to certified organic practices. Some of the old vines were planted by Rino himself in the 1970s and 1980s, while other plots acquired during the same period had already been producing grapes for several years.

Tradition and minimal intervention in the cellar

What originates in the vineyard should be preserved as purely as possible in the cellar. Sottimano therefore relies on traditional methods while keeping oenological intervention to a minimum.

Long macerations, traditional techniques and ageing in large oak casks are designed to bring out the terroir and elegance of Piedmont’s grape varieties to their fullest. The objective is clear: to produce characterful wines from Piedmont with a distinctive sense of place, expressing the qualities of their terroir as purely as possible.

The Beauty of the Cru

"La bellezza dei cru", the beauty of the crus. It is no coincidence that Sottimano uses this expression to present its philosophy.

The estate cultivates 19 hectares of vineyards across several Barbaresco crus, with Nebbiolo as the grape variety behind its Barbaresco DOCG wines. From pruning to harvest, the family tends each individual plot with respect for its natural balance, allowing it to express the richness and distinctive qualities of its terroir in the finished wine.

This philosophy is reflected in five individual Barbaresco DOCG crus: Fausoni, Currà, Basarin, Cottà and Pajoré. Rather than pursuing a single uniform style, Sottimano presents different interpretations of the same exceptional wine region in Piedmont. The estate also produces Langhe DOC Nebbiolo and Barbera d'Alba Superiore DOC Pairolero, giving other classic Piedmont wines and grape varieties their own place within the range.

Barbaresco with Identity

According to the Sottimano family, their wines are a direct reflection of their relationship with the land and their approach to viticulture. This is perhaps the very essence of the estate: rather than trying to create a vineyard's character, everything is done to express the character that is already there as purely as possible.

From the different Barbaresco DOCG crus made from Nebbiolo to the other classic Piedmont wines in the range, origin, tradition and respect for terroir always take centre stage.

Discover Sottimano at Young Charly

This month, we are proud to put Sottimano in the spotlight. A family estate where several generations work side by side, united by one clear conviction: great wine begins in the vineyard.

Discover our selection of Sottimano wines from Piedmont and explore the many faces of Nebbiolo and Barbaresco DOCG, expressed through some of Barbaresco's distinctive crus.