Azienda Agricola Elio Sandri

Elio Sandri is an artisanal producer of Barbera, Nebbiolo, Barolo, and Dolcetto in one of Piedmont's most renowned regions. He is one of the few winemakers in the area who respect tradition and focus on enhancing the terroir, minimizing interventions in the vineyard and cellar.

Elio began dedicating himself to wine at a very young age (his first harvest was at 16) and took over the reins of the family business, Cascina Disa, founded in 1965 in the hamlet of Perno in Monforte d'Alba. Cascina Disa has a long winemaking tradition: as early as the early 15th century, a settlement of monks producing wine existed there.

The vineyards surround the winery, and Elio's approach is entirely natural: no herbicides, pesticides, or chemical fertilizers are used, which disrupt the balance between the vines and the soil. The rows are completely covered with wild herbs, and only copper and sulfur are used to protect the plants. Near the vineyard, a dense woodland area is preserved to ensure a microclimate and biodiversity that are crucial for the vines. The winery is built beneath the house and partially buried in the hillside. Manual harvesting allows for the finest selection of grapes for pressing, ensuring the highest quality. Spontaneous fermentation plays a key role in expressing the terroir's unique characteristics and takes place in large, old oak barrels and concrete tanks, although experiments are also conducted in small amphorae.

Time is the central theme of Elio's work: wine must be waited for and respected. Even for the Barolo Perno Vigna Disa, the top of the line, the barrel aging period varies frequently: the minimum required by the regulations is 18 months, but there is no maximum length of time in wood, to preserve both the integrity of the fruit and its longevity.