In The Swurl's recent piece "One of Barolo’s Most Coveted Producers Expands Its U.S. Footprint" writer Jeffrey Porter celebrates the addition of Elio Sandri to the Rosenthal portfolio.
"For years, finding a bottle of Elio Sandri's Cascina Disa required either knowing the right person, making the pilgrimage to his Monforte d'Alba estate, or getting very lucky. Fortunately, that is about to change.
Rosenthal Wine Merchant, one of the most respected importers in the United States with nearly 50 years of history bringing artisan European wines to American tables, has officially signed Elio Sandri's Cascina Disa, adding another layer to their stellar estates of the Langhe.
For those already familiar with Cascina Disa or Elio Sandri, this is particularly exciting news. For those who may not be as familiar, you are in for a treat. These are the wines we all crave: pure, delicious, earnest, and intentional. Little is made, but it is worth the search and not just for the Barolo but from the entire range.
Perched on the hill of Perno, just east of the village in Monforte d'Alba, Cascina Disa is both a winery and a home. Elio, alongside his daughter Luna and son Riccardo, farm seven hectares of Dolcetto, Barbera, Nebbiolo, and a small amount of Merlot with a patience that borders on the philosophical. The estate has been in the family since 1965, when Elio's father purchased the property the same year Elio was born. Elio has been at the helm of the winery since the 2000 vintage.
The farming is organic in practice if not in certification. Natural yeast, minimal intervention, and a commitment to releasing wine far later than most estates define the approach. Rosenthal's debut release will be the 2019 Barolo, while most Langhe estates are releasing their 2022’s.
Elio describes his philosophy in his own words: "My belief is to walk slowly through time. This pace of moving through life has led me to forge a strong alliance with the vineyard and with the soil that hosts it. Every gesture towards agriculture is the fruit of a gentle thought, never predatory."
To read the full article in The Swurl, please click here.
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