Colombera and Garella

Masserano, Alto Piemonte

Carlo Colombera bought the Colombera in 1992, a beautiful spot just outside the medieval village of Masserano, a localita with a reputation for being markedly drier than neighbouring Lessona.  The house and vineyard are surrounded by woodland, the vines (Nebbiolo, Croatina and Vespolina) are up to a hundred years old and in rude health.  
In 2003 Carlo planted a second hectare in Masserano and in 2005 leased five hectares of mature vineyard in Roasio, enough to leave his job at Antoniolo and commit to Colombera.  Finding (and planting) a hectare of vineyard in Lessona (just below the old Proprieta Sperino cellar) was a masterstroke and today Carlo works alongside his sons Giacomo and Guglielmo, both are qualified oenologists.  The fourth protagonist is Christiano Garella, a close friend of Giacomo’s who had made a name for himself with Tenuta Sella, his understanding of Alto Piemonte’s wines is invaluable.