Braida welcomed Spring 2021 by planting an oak wood in Rocchetta Tanaro (Asti).
146 plants of Quercus Sessiliis, coming from the French department of Allier in the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region, which, over the years, will give life to slender and broad trees, with trunks which are perfect to be transformed into barriques tomorrow. The woods of that area of the Massif Central, between the forests of Troncais, gros Bois and Dreuille, are in fact famous all over the world because they contain the noble substances for the best and most balanced transfer to wine.
The oak trees were placed by the Braida team in Montebruna, just below the vineyard, in a one and a half hectare plot of land.
Trees will take between 100 and 150 years to grow.
Raffaella and Giuseppe Bologna, owners of the Rocchetta Tanaro wine company – that in addition to the 60 hectares of vineyards owned, also have a 15 hectares woods – stated:
“Last year, in this period, we planted a vineyard on the Asinara hill during a total lockdown, while everyone was immobilized, between fear and uncertainty. It was a message of hope in itself and it greatly amazed everyone.
This year we are relaunching and planting the oaks: our children and grandchildren will fully enjoy the result of this work. It is a dream that we have been caressing for a long time.
On the one hand, this project is coherently linked with the company history of Braida, because in 1982 the intuition of Giacomo Bologna was based on the skilful use of the barrique, which, by modeling that wine so full of polyphenols and acidity, managed to revolutionize the perception of Barbera, enhancing it. On the other hand, it emphasizes the great importance that the Asti and Piedmontese winemaking district has for us: in a really short supply chain, not only excellent grapes but also the best barrels are produced ( it is the Master Cooper Gamba in Castell’Alfero who assisted us in the choice of Quercus Sessilis plants) and the best enomechanical systems. And – who knows, why not – now also the woods”.
