Secondine

Secondine occupies a small valley running from the Tanaro river toward the Pajé amphitheater, at the base of Barbaresco town itself. The vineyard sits at 230 meters elevation on south-facing slopes, positioning it to capture ample sunlight throughout the growing season. This sheltered valley setting, combined with maritime climate influences, creates warm and dry conditions with moderate summer temperatures that suit Nebbiolo's demanding ripening requirements.

• Situated at the foot of Barbaresco village, between the Tanaro river and the Pajé amphitheater
• South-facing orientation at 230 meters elevation
• Maritime-influenced climate with warm, dry growing seasons
• Approximately 5.5 hectares under documented single-vineyard cultivation

Secondine's soils are dominated by calcareous marl with a loamy texture, a profile closely associated with the finest Barbaresco sites. The calcium-rich marl contributes to the vineyard's signature mineral finish, while the loamy component helps retain sufficient moisture during the warm, dry summers characteristic of this corner of Piedmont. Nebbiolo is the exclusive variety planted here, as it is across all Barbaresco MGAs, and the combination of soil composition and southern exposure gives the wines a particularly refined, aromatic character.

• Calcareous marl base with loamy texture
• High calcium content drives mineral expression in the wines
• Loam fraction aids water retention during dry summers
• Nebbiolo is the sole permitted variety

Secondine stands among the most historically documented vineyard sites in Barbaresco. Lorenzo Fantini first cited the zone in 1879, making it one of the earliest recorded crus in the appellation. Over a century later, Renato Ratti included Secondine in his landmark 1984 cartographic study of Barbaresco's sub-zones, helping to establish its credentials in the modern classification system. Today, Secondine carries official recognition as a Barbaresco MGA under the Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive framework, which formally acknowledges historically significant single-vineyard sites within Barbaresco DOCG.

• First documented in 1879 by Lorenzo Fantini
• Included in Renato Ratti's authoritative 1984 map of Barbaresco
• Officially recognized as a Barbaresco MGA under the DOCG framework
• One of the most historically significant sub-zones in the Barbaresco commune

Barbaresco from Secondine is characterized by elegance and refinement rather than raw power. The wines display floral aromas, particularly violets and roses, layered over red fruit notes of raspberry and strawberry. The tannin structure tends toward the delicate side for Nebbiolo, and a mineral finish is a consistent hallmark. Gaja's Sorì San Lorenzo, one of the most celebrated single-vineyard Barolos in the world, draws from this zone. Prunotto and La Spinona also produce expressions that showcase the MGA's aromatic, finesse-driven profile.

• Gaja's Sorì San Lorenzo is the most internationally recognized wine from this zone
• Prunotto and La Spinona offer additional producer perspectives on the MGA
• Style leans toward floral, delicate, and mineral rather than bold and tannic
• Red fruit, violet, and rose aromas are the defining aromatic signature