Fourteen hundred man-hours per hectare -
Barbacàn is Angelo Sega and his sons, Luca and Matteo. This diminutive winery is a unique, artisanal, and anti-establishment establishment in the heart of the Alps, an extraordinary mountain range in northern Italy. On these peaks, with vertiginous inclines and steep terrain, their work can be summed up in one word- heroic.
The wines are the most honest imaginable, respecting the terroir and vintages. At Barbacàn, neither chemicals nor industrial yeasts are used, and no fining or filtering of wines is performed, with meticulous attention to every detail (as there are minimal interventions in the cellar), resulting in phenomenal wines of finesse, flavor, and elegance.
“We are farmers in the Alps; we preserve the pluralism of our ancient native vines and the cultural identity of traditional agronomic practices. In our wine, we express the vintages with their oddities and balances, always different and unpredictable. Every season, we repeat ancient gestures, carrying on the identity of an Alpine people that has always been linked to the cultivation of Chiavennasca.”
All this adds up to one of the very few 100% natural winemakers in Valtellina, who are now certified organic by Valoritalia.
WHO: Angelo Sega and his sons, Luca and Matteo
WHERE: S.Giacomo di Teglio, Sondrio Valtellina • Lombardy, Italy
FOUNDED: 2010 with family-established vineyards
LAND: 7 hectares, approximately 30-year-old Guyot-trained vines, in dandy granitic material and some silt, Southern facing, 450 -600 meters above sea level.
VARIETALS: Nebbiolo, Rossola, Pignola, Brugnola, Negrera, Rossolino Rosa and Chiavennaschino
APPELLATION: Rosso di Valtellina DOC + Valtellina Superiore Valgella DOCG
VITICULTURE: Organic, Natural -hand harvested
ANNUAL PRODUCTION: 20,000 bottles
“Fourteen hundred man-hours per hectare are required every year to maintain our vineyard plots. This is about
ten times more than in Barbera and Barbaresco.”
—Matteo Sega.
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IGT Alpi Retiche
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This delicious rosato is a blend of grapes from various historical vineyards situated between 600 and 750 meters above sea level, with south exposure. It features exceptionally delicate pressing, a one-night skin contact, and indigenous yeast.
Made of Chiavennasca (local Nebbiolo) with a part of other vines such as Róssola, Rossolino Rosa, Brugnòla, Chiavennaschino, Pignòla, and Negrera. The average age of the vines is 40 years. This delicious rosato is a blend of grapes from various historical vineyards situated between 600 and 750 meters above sea level, with a south exposure. It undergoes exceptionally delicate pressing, followed by one night of skin contact and fermentation with indigenous yeast.
Aging is in concrete tanks. The Barbacan brothers created this Rosato out of love for their land and a passion for rescuing old vines of ancient local varieties that were previously forsaken and threatened to be forgotten. The elegance of Nebbiolo and the authenticity of the additional fruit form a seamless union that conveys the terroir.
*Allocation solely
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APPELATION: Valtellina
DENOMINATION: Alpi Ritiche IGT
VARIETAL: Chiavennasca with a blend of local favorites: Róssola, Rossolino Rosa, Brugnòla, Chiavennaschino, Pignòla, and Negrera.
VINEYARD:
SOIL: sandy, schistose soil
ALTITUDE: 600 and 750 m asl
EXPOSURE: southern
YIELD PER HECTARE: 4,000 vines per hectare / 40 quintals per hectare
TRAINING SYSTEM: Guyot
VINIFICATION/REFINEMENT: Spontaneous fermentation, unfined, unfiltered, no added sulfites.
BOTTLE SIZE: 750 ml
PACK: 12
CLOSURE: Cork
ALC BY VOL(%): 12
LONGEVITY: 2-3 years
BAR CODE: none•••
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Valtellina DOC
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A complex wine that is easy to understand- rich berry fruit with layers of earth and herbs brought together with spiced wood tannins.
The grapes come from locations in the Valgella area. The plots range in altitude from 350 to 450 meters and are composed of granite and quartz. One hectare comprises 4,000 vines, yielding 2 kilograms per vine. Small wooden barrels are used for the nine-month maturation period. The result is a wine of refreshing finesse and elegance, marked by its juicy and fruity notes of cranberry, black cherry, and plum, with lovely floral hints, spicy tobacco, smoke, and earthy undertones. The fruity component lingers in the mouth, accompanied by apparent acidity and substantial medium tannins, finishing quite smoothly—a friendly first act in their concert of wines.
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APPELATION: Valtellina
DENOMINATION: Valtellina DOC / Comune: S. Giacomo di Teglio
VARIETAL: 90% Nebbiolo, Rossola, Pignola, Brugnola, Negrera, Rossolino Rosa, and Chiavennaschino
VINEYARD: S. Giacomo di Teglio
SOIL:
ALTITUDE: 400 m till 700 m above sea level,
EXPOSURE: Southern
YIELD PER HECTARE: 4000 vines per hectare/ 40 quintals per hectare
TRAINING SYSTEM: Guyot
VINIFICATION/REFINEMENT: Spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks, followed by 8 months aging in neutral large barrels. Every vineyard has its own vinification process, and then all the batches are blended before bottling the wine. The wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered, with no added sulfites.
BOTTLE SIZE: 750 ml
PACK: 12
CLOSURE: Cork
ALC BY VOL(%): 13.5
LONGEVITY: 5+ years
BAR CODE: none•••
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Valtellina Superiore Valgella DOCG
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Söl is Barbacan's first cru, made from Nebbiolo grapes from a single, extreme, vertical vine called Söl, which means Sun. The vinification is spontaneous in steel tanks and continues aging in small wooden barrels.
Söl is everything a high-quality Valtellina wine should be. It is respectfully crafted with fine attention—vinified in stainless steel, then aged for 1 year in cask, naturally malolactic-fermented as nature intended, and then returned to stainless steel for a half dozen months. When ready, they bottle and allow their gems to relax for a half dozen more months in the bottle until released. Worthy? You will question your worthiness to drink such a prize.
The vines of Söl are a mix of younger and older vines set in a southeast-facing parcel between 460 and 500 meters. It’s luminous and fresh, with notes of raspberry, prune, and earth that evoke dreams of a late-spring trek through a moist pine forest, encircled by ripe berries. The acidity is authentic—bright and captivating, while the granular tannins help the wine linger.
NOSE: The nose exudes fruity and floral notes and then opens up to ethereal and spicy scents
PALATE: It is warm, full-bodied, fresh, and balanced. It closes with excellent persistence. -
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APPELATION: Valtellina / Comune: S. Giacomo di Teglio
DENOMINATION: Valtellina Superiore Valgella DOCG
VARIETAL: 90% Nebbiolo and 10% Rossolo
VINEYARD: Giacomo di Teglio
SOIL: Sandy soils rich in gneiss, granite, and quartz.
ALTITUDE: Terraced slopes at 500-750 meters elevation
EXPOSURE: Southern
YIELD PER HECTARE: 4000 vines per hectare / 40 quintals per hectare
TRAINING SYSTEM: Guyot
VINIFICATION/REFINEMENT: The single-vineyard Sol parcel undergoes spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts, followed by 12 months of aging in large Slovenian oak barrels. Bottled unfined, unfiltered, with no added sulfites.
BOTTLE SIZE: 750 ml
PACK: 6
CLOSURE: Cork
ALC BY VOL(%): 13.
LONGEVITY: 7+ years
BAR CODE: none•••
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“Bright and straightforward, this has aromas of red berry, espresso, anise, and a whiff of Alpine herb. The taut palate shows sour cherry and white pepper set against a backbone of firm acidity and tightly wound tannins.”
(2014) -KERIN O’KEEFE, Wine Enthusiast
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Valtellina Superiore Valgella DOCG
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Refining for three years in large barrels, followed by refining in the bottle for two years-
From the Cru vineyard Livél, planted in the 1920s by Matteo's grandfather in the outer part of the Valgella sub-zone in Valtellina. The vineyard is 550 meters above sea level on steep terraced slopes with a high proportion of sand and slate, rich in gneiss, granite, and quartz.
Characteristics: Deep red, youthful color. The complex scent of minerals, red and dark berries, flowers, fresh herbs, and forest floor lingers in the glass. Tight yet with a beautiful texture of red and dark fruit, delicate with a long, firm finish. Great mature tannins that sit well. It is a fantastic wine for beef and lamb, hearty pasta, good Italian pizza, veal, and game.
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DENOMINATION:
VARIETAL: Chiavennasca (Nebbiolo)
VINEYARD: Single vineyard- steep, terraced slopes
SOIL: predominantly sandy and schistose, rich in gneiss, granite, and quartz
ALTITUDE: 550 and 600 meters above sea level
EXPOSURE: Southern
YIELD PER HECTARE: 4000 vines per hectare / 40 quintals per hectare
TRAINING SYSTEM: Guyot
VINIFICATION/REFINEMENT: Hand-harvested in baskets carried down on their backs due to the steep terrain.
Spontaneous fermentation without sulfur, extended maceration, refining for three years in large barrels, and then refining in the bottle for two years.BOTTLE SIZE: 750 ml
PACK: 6
CLOSURE: Cork
ALC BY VOL(%):
LONGEVITY: 7+ years
BAR CODE: none•••
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Appellation: Valtellina Superiore Valgella / Comune: S. Giacomo di Teglio
Grape(s): Chiavennasca 90%, Rossola Nera 5%, Pignolo 5%
Vineyard Altitude: 550-600 m asl (south exposure)
Yeast: Spontaneous fermentation.BOTTLE SIZE: 750 ml
PACK: 6
CLOSURE: Cork
ALC: 13.5 % Vol
LONGEVITY: 10+ years
BAR CODE: -
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Valtellina Superiore Valgella DOCG
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The palate is warm and elegant, with smooth-textured tannins
and admirable acidity. It has a long and harmonious finish.Valtellina Superiore “Pizaméj” is a complex and savory red wine, yielded from a specific vineyard area, respectively a Cru. It is aged for one year in Austrian oak barrels. It deeply communicates the properties of the terroir with bouquets of red fruits and flowers, cinnamon, leather, and clean tobacco. The taste is sophisticated, fresh, energetic, and delicious.
YEAST: Spontaneous fermentation
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APPELATION: Valtellina / Comune: S. Giacomo di Teglio
DENOMINATION: Valtellina Superiore Valgella
VARIETAL: 90% Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca) with Rossola and Pignola old vines (100 years)
VINEYARD: Single vineyard of .4 hectares in S. Giacomo di Teglio
SOIL:
ALTITUDE: 600 - 700 meters above sea level
EXPOSURE: South-east-facing slope 60 meters vertical.
YIELD PER HECTARE: 4000 vines per hectare / 40 quintals per hectare
TRAINING SYSTEM: Guyot
VINIFICATION/REFINEMENT: Spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts in steel tanks, followed by maceration for 90 days. Without filtrations. Aged 12 months in big Austrian oak barrels.
BOTTLE SIZE: 750 ml
PACK: 6
CLOSURE: Cork
ALC BY VOL(%): 13.5
LONGEVITY: 10+ years
BAR CODE: none•••
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Valtellina DOCG
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“Sforzato” is an Italian word meaning strained." The sforzato method is the Valtellina region’s version of the appassimento method, comparable to Amarone, which involves spreading harvested grapes on straw mats to dry for several months.
*Allocation solely
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APPELATION: Valtellina
DENOMINATION: Sforzato Valtellina DOCG
VARIETAL: Chiavennasca (Nebbiolo) 90%, Chiavennaschino 10%
VINEYARD:
SOIL: sandy, schistose
ALTITUDE: 550-600 m asl
EXPOSURE: southern
YIELD PER HECTARE:
TRAINING SYSTEM: Guyot
VINIFICATION/REFINEMENT: Spontaneous fermentation,
Appassimento is a natural process, without mechanical forcing in the drying room, for at least two months. Vinification without sulfur, extended maceration, aging 18 months in large barrels, and 12 months in bottles.BOTTLE SIZE: 750 ml
PACK: 6
CLOSURE: Cork
ALC BY VOL(%): 14.5 - 15
LONGEVITY: 10+ years
BAR CODE: none•••
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BARBACÀN
Via S. Giacomo per Carona, 26, 23036 San Giacomo SO, Italy
BARBACAN.IT