Fontanabianca Barbaresco Serraboella is a Barbaresco DOCG from Neive in Piedmont, made from 100% Nebbiolo from the producer’s Serraboella cru. The vineyard lies at around 300 metres above sea level, with south-west exposure and calcareous, medium-textured soil. The producer states that the average age of the vines is around 30 years, and that the vines are trained according to the Guyot system.
Fontanabianca is a family estate in Neive where Aldo Pola continues the family’s work. According to the producer, the estate was founded by his father Franco as early as 1969. The estate’s philosophy is closely tied to its origin in Neive: the goal is for the wines to reflect the local soils and to express the area’s typical perfume, elegance, and body. Fontanabianca also describes itself as a producer with a particular focus on red wines, above all Barbaresco, which is regarded as the area’s finest expression.
The work in the vineyard is described by the producer as meticulous and largely manual. Fontanabianca highlights manual labour, gentle treatments, and careful soil analysis as important parts of the pursuit of high-quality grapes. The producer also states that their vineyards in Neive are dedicated to Nebbiolo for Barbaresco and Langhe Nebbiolo, with Serraboella being one of the cru sites used for Barbaresco.
The vinification is described as traditional. The producer states that fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, where the must is allowed to ferment naturally. According to Fontanabianca, the cellar has been modernised over time in order to find a balance between tradition and technology, while keeping the focus on preserving the character of both the grape and its origin. For Barbaresco Serraboella specifically, the wine is said to be aged in large wooden casks for around 12–15 months. The producer generally describes its use of wood as balanced, with the aim of softening the tannins without masking the wine’s natural flavour.
In style, the producer describes Serraboella as a wine with a harmonious and elegant bouquet, while the palate is marked by velvety tannins and a dry character. On the producer’s vineyard page, the Serraboella cru is also described as a wine of great perfume, texture, and balance, which, thanks to its earlier ageing in wood, is relatively approachable even when young, while also being well suited to further bottle ageing. Overall, it therefore appears as a classic expression of Nebbiolo from Neive, with clear structure, elegance, and ageing potential.
For serving, the producer recommends 18 °C and larger glasses for red wine. Suggested food pairings include roasts, game, and flavourful cheeses. The alcohol content is stated to be around 14%.
