Great wines that honour a great man

The Terre del Barolo co-operative was established by a community-minded visionary. The wines that bear Arnaldo Rivera’s name are a fitting tribute

“Nascetta is the only real native white grape of Barolo,” he says. “If you master it in the vineyard, this grape is amazing. It’s grown at high altitude, 400 metres above sea level, and needs an extended growing cycle to let it ripen and develop its aromas. It’s a terpenic, semi-aromatic grape with great complexity and the wine improves with a few years of bottle ageing.

“It’s quite interesting and unusual because we bottle the wine after eight months on the lees: no malo, no oak, just a very pure, simple and respectful vinification. It’s extremely savoury, and not too acidic, so it’s a good alternative to Pinot Blanc, Riesling or Sauvignon.”

Verduno Pelaverga is a wine that Oderda describes as “the rosé for Piedmontese people”. It’s released in June after a few months of bottle ageing, and traditionally enjoyed slightly chilled. “It’s not like any other red grape in Barolo,” Oderda says. “It’s lighter in colour and the closest comparison I can make is with Schiava in Alto Adige. Again, it’s extremely savoury, with clear notes of white pepper on the nose. There are so many gastronomic possibilities and it can be amazing with seafood.”