If you travel a couple of hours north from the Langhe, high into the mountains in North Piedmont you can find ancient, complex landscapes, shaped by volcanic activity some 300 million years ago. This highly fragmented region, with ten different appellations, is known as Alto Piedmont. Due to the altitude and low pH soils, wines from this area tend to have lower alcohol than those from the Langhe and a distinctive ferrous minerality. Nebbiolo still reigns, although usually in partnership with less well known, but charming native varietals Croatina and Vespolina.

In 2010 Cristiano Garella teamed up with old friend Giacomo Colombera, and his father Carlo to start a project. They now farm 9 hectares of vineyards in three different DOC. They work their vineyards sustainably. In the winery the grapes are fermented using natural yeasts, no additions are made other than a touch of sulphur, and the wines are bottled without fining or filtration. The wines are fresh, pure and dangerously drinkable!