Foreigners find it difficult to pronounce its name, but its floral scents make it a wine that young people like. Ruché di Castagnole Monferrato is a small DOCG that can be claimed in seven municipalities.
In 2021, has exceeded one million bottles. Of these, more than half come out of the Montalbera cellars, one hundred hectares of vineyards in a single body that extends from Montemagno to Grana Monferrato. In all 800 thousand bottles e a turnover of 8 and a half million euros. An investment by the Morando family, from Castiglione Tinella, leader in pet food. News are the new Ruché 2019 Limpronta which can now be called Reserve and a provocation: a beer based on Ruché.
The businessman Franco Morandowith the oenologists Daniel Morellato and Nino Falcone and the commercial director Marco Griglio, talks about his projects.
Ruché is a wine, but also the expression and economy of a territory. What is your project?
«Enhancing the vine more and more, increasing the number of hectares. Today Montalbera has 58 hectares of Ruché out of a total of 150. This year we will plant another seven at the Torre di San Vittore in Montemagno and another 3 in front of the company. Being great does not mean being the best but it gives us the possibility to decide which grapes to harvest. We are also experimenting with a Ruché in amphora ».
Montalbera sells in 45 countries around the world: where is Ruché most appreciated?
«Switzerland is a good market, then Germany and Northern Europe. In the US they appreciate the more floral version. Today we sell about 30% abroad ».
Where would you like to be able to see it?
“More in Asia and in the new Indian Ocean markets around Dubai. We started exporting to Brazil in 2019, the pandemic slowed everything down. I hope to get back to good this year ».
Did the pandemic, then a war, affect sales?
«In Italy, the lockdown has hit the restaurant business but we have a sales network with 140 agents that oversees the territory well: for years, we have been working with wine shops and online. This helped us. At the beginning of 2022, a revival was expected and instead the war arrived. The first 15 days of March everything stopped: the restaurants were empty, people were afraid ».
His latest “provocation” is a Ruché beer: how did this idea come about?
«During the lockdown I made a delivery of wine in Pinerolo and I met a brewer. He is also an expert in beers made with grape must. This is how she was born. We will be able to produce 20,000 bottles a year ».
You are a fan of Grignolino, an indigenous grape variety that is regaining market share. What future do you see for this grape variety?
«My grandfather Enrico taught me to love Grignolino. I have 18 hectares of vineyards and I hope that the market will resume. It is representative of the terroir and is liked abroad ».
Monferrato vs Langhe or Monferrato with Langhe?
“The second. Monferrato has enormous unexpressed potential: a land of great emotions that is not much appreciated. While the Langhe had some leading producers, this figure of reference was lacking here. If I have a guest importer on Mondays or Tuesdays, I don’t know where to take him to eat. We blame ourselves. “
What does Monferrato need to increase its appeal?
“We need what has been happening in the last decade: entrepreneurs who invest and believe in the territory”.
If you were the president of the Consortium, what would you do?
«I would undertake to position the Ruché di Castagnole Monferrato higher. The Festa del Ruché must not be the town festival ».
Share your dream
“May all producers find harmony on how to truly enhance the Ruché.” –