Young winemaker Matteo Pola, the son of Fontanabianca’s founder Aldo Pola, has wowed critics of all stripes in recent years with the stunning wines he has been making. But it’s not hard to understand why: The family is blessed, as he will be the first to tell you, with some of the best vineyard sites in the village of Neive in the heart of the Barbaresco appellation.
Fontanabianca (so named because it looks out on a natural spring, the “white fountain”) sources grapes for one of its top wines from the Bordini cru, one of Barbaresco’s rare examples of a sorì, a dialectal word that denotes a site with ideal exposure (sorì means “a place where sunlight arrives first, early in the morning”). With a steep slope that reaches nearly 280 meters a.s.l. at its peak and classic white calcareous soils, it’s renowned for the elegant, structured wines it produces.
Another one of their top wines is made from the Serraboella cru, one of the most coveted vineyards in Neive township. Here the elevation reaches 320 meters, with southwest exposure. The wines it delivers are known for their structure and immense aging potential.
Did You Know?
At Fontanabianca, the father-and-son team divide the work between them: Aldo, the dad, is the vineyard manager and Matteo, the son, makes the wines. Aldo’s known as one of the best growers in Barbaresco and Matteo was mentored by one of the greatest Nebbiolo producers of all time, Beppe Caviola.
Wines from Fontanabianca
