In our latest db spotlight series, we are shining a light on some of the finest wineries around the world, here we explore the rising quality of wines represented by the Consorzio Tutela Roero.

Consorzio Tutela Roero recently revealed it has doubled its sales volumes in the past eight years, largely owing its successes to the excellent quality available across the region.

Speaking to db, the consortium, which protects and promotes wines from the area of Roero, the growth is down to both the lift in recognition the area has enjoyed along with a rise in the quality of its grapes.

Consorzio Tutela Roero represents 246 producers, with a production of 7.5 million of bottles every year on a surface of 1200 hectares. In addition to this, Consorzio Tutela Roera is also one of the few consortia in the world promoting two types of wine at the same time: Roero Bianco from Arneis grape and Roero Rosso from Nebbiolo grape.

Consorzio Tutela Roero president Francesco Monchiero told db: “As a sign of the growing appreciation that Roero Docg is experiencing all around the world, sales volume has doubled since the year the Consorzio was founded.”

Monchiero explained: “This outstanding growth goes together with an increase of the quality and a higher attention to the customer needs, leading in 2017 to the identification of MeGAs – Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive (Additional Geographic Mentions) – 135 small areas within the hills of Roero where soil, microclimate, exposure create unique conditions that are reflected into the aromas and flavours of the wines. We are the third Italian area to define such a precise identification for its terroir.”

According to Monchiero: “One of the keywords that can be used to define the Roero Consortium is ‘dynamism’. Since 2014 the constant growth in terms of sales and production testifies the hard work our winemakers are pouring into their wines. More than 70% of them are less than 50 years old: they decided to work in the wineries previously owned by their families or to build their own ones starting from a dream and investing time, money and efforts in their homeland to grow, learn and improve together. Since Roero became – together with Langhe and Monferrato – the first area in the world where the vineyards and the landscapes were recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the attention to the environment and its protection has increased even more, leading to the proposal to ban all chemical weeding from the vineyards of Roero.”

Monchiero also revealed that, in 2022, the consortium is planning to start again inviting trade operators on site, organising trade shows, events and tastings within Piemonte.

He added: “We are thrilled to announce that Roero Days will be held on 22 -23 May and in the magnificent Reggia di Venaria near Turin: with more than 60 wine producers, masterclasses and vertical tasting, this two-days event will be the perfect chance to showcase the features of Roero Bianco and Roero Rosso.”

“In autumn we will organise a series of events combining art, literature, food and wine, called ‘Gustose Narrazioni’ on the occasion of the centenary of the birth of Alba-born Beppe Fenoglio, a well-known Italian author,” explained Monchiero. Indeed, there is still lots to come from the consortium.

The details for the events will be available on the consortium website in due course.

A selection of Gold and Master medal-winning wines from Roero

Tasting notes provided by Patrick Schmitt MW

Pelassa, Antaniolo Roero Riserva DOCG, 2017 – Gold

Quite pale, brick red rim. Touch of hay, dried grass, cherry and wild strawberry. Palate too, lovely light to medium weight body, fine dry lingering tannins, freshness, and core of cherry fruit, plums and strawberry. Easy, appealing, refreshing red with tannin and acidity. Nice persistence too. Touch of vanilla. Good Nebbiolo style. Touch of hay lingering. Feeling bit crunchy.

Angelo Negro, Sudisfà Roero Riserva DOCG, 2018 – Gold

Some colour development, brick red rim. Some nice sweet red fruit, plums and cherries, background oak. Palate lovely, lots of red fruit, wild strawberry, cherry, medium weight, lots of fine dense dry tannin, grippy dry finish, lifted, and drinkable. Very good. Italian style.

Tenuta Carretta, Roero DOCG Riserva Bric Paradiso, 2017 – Gold

Some colour development, brick red. Interesting nose, touch of forest floor, quite developed, mature, cedar, stewed cherry. Palate then has more fruit, chewy, with cherry, plums, sour cherry and cherry stone lift, lots of dry tannin, and long finish, with cedar and plum.