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Renato Ratti

Renato Ratti logoWhen Renato Ratti died in 1988, the world lost a truly legendary pioneer, winemaker, writer and promoter of Piedmonte wines. After studying oenology in Alba, Ratti started work for Cinzano in Sao Paulo. Here he successfully managed to grow grapes with irrigation water from the nearby Rio Sao Francisco, saving the company to contract expensive grapes from a faraway region. At the age of 24 Ratti was director of Cinzano Brazil.

Renato returned to Italy in 1965 to start his own winery. The abbey of Annunziata in La Morra became the epicentre of his empire, surrounded by Conca dell'Annunziata and Rocche dell'Annunziata. Situated in the historical Marcenasco zone, these vineyards provide the fruit for two Riservas that are among the best crus of the region. However, the standard Barolo Marcenasco is not to be overlooked, a splendid wine that brought innovation to the Langhe with shorter fermentation, shorter maceration and shorter barrel ageing.

Believing in the supremacy of terroir, Renato Ratti started to document all the important vineyards of the Langhe in the Carta del Barolo, thus trying to copy a French model of classified crus. Following the same ideas in viticulture, the Colombe, Torriglione and Ochetti vineyards were renewed or planted in the 1970's with respectively Dolcetto, Barbera and Nebbiolo vines for the production of a range of single-vineyard wines. Meanwhile Ratti kept publishing books and extracts about wine. His legacy is now been looked after by his son and long-time associate, co-owner and nephew. With expansion and restoration of the vineyards in the 1990's, ongoing research and innovation and the construction of a new winery in 2002, the estate continues to be one of the best producers in Piedmonte. http://www.renatorati.com/

Image Name Carton Qty Brand
Dolcetto d'Alba DOC Il Colombe Dolcetto d'Alba DOC Il Colombe 6 Renato Ratti 
Barbera d'Alba DOC Torriglione Barbera d'Alba DOC Torriglione 6 Renato Ratti 
Barolo DOCG Marcenasco Barolo DOCG Marcenasco 6 Renato Ratti 
Barolo DOCG Riserva Conca Barolo DOCG Riserva Conca 6 Renato Ratti 
Barolo DOCG Riserva Rocche Barolo DOCG Riserva Rocche 6 Renato Ratti 
  Nebbiolo D'Alba DOC 'Ochetti' 6 Renato Ratti 
  Monferrato Rosso DOC 'Villa Pattono' -Barb, Cab & Merlot. 6 Renato Ratti