Forteto della Luja
WWF oasis and pure biodiversity
The wonderful Forteto della Luja winery is located outside the village of Loazzolo, on the border between the Langhe and Monferrato regions in Piedmont. The winery is a WWF reserve and produces Barbera, an excellent cuvée wine from Barbera and Pino Nero, Moscato, Brachetto and Passito wines.
The incredibly beautiful and all natural winery
The winery has been organic for many years, cultivates the vineyards with horses instead of tractors and produces its own electricity.
A priority in the vineyard is to ensure a rich accompanying flora between the vines in order to prevent mildew and other fungal diseases.
The owner Giovanni Scaglione runs this idyllic winery together with his partner Cristina in the second generation. The farm is first mentioned in the land register in 1826, but the stone wine cellars and some of the outbuildings date from the late 18th century. As was customary at the time, grapes were grown in the surrounding vineyards for sale to local winemakers and cooperatives until 1985, and only a small amount of wine was made for personal use.
In 1985, at the suggestion of the famous winemaker Giacomo Bologna from Roccetta Tanaro, and following the traditions of great-grandfather Giovanni, the winery began cultivating Moscato grapes and producing the Moscato Passito Plasa Rischel, which has received prestigious awards. In 1992 the Loazzolo Vendemmia Tardiva DOC was published in the Journal Officiai.
The Loazzolo DOC is currently the smallest controlled designation of origin in Italy.