Cascina Penna Currado - Timorasso 'Derthona' E.P. 2024

Cascina Penna-Currado is the new personal venture of the Penna-Currado Vietti family, spearheaded by Elena Penna, Luca Currado Vietti and their kids, Michele and Giulia. Custodians of a cultural and sentimental legacy in the noble lands of the Langhe, Luca and Elena spent over 35 years at the helm of one of Piedmont’s most lauded wineries, Vietti, until both decided to part ways in January of 2023. Their new venture is of entirely different scale, artisanal, and they look forward to building it as a family endeavor with their marvelous mix of wit, wisdom and refreshed ambition grounded by their sound roots and experience in the Langhe.

Each vineyard site is farmed organically and using the best possibile practices, while taking into considering a newfound point of view regarding climate change. If ever were one word to encapsulate their philosophy in choosing vineyards, it would be “experience”. Luca has worked, managed or personally planted several of the parcels that now form Cascina Penna-Currado, though he has a keen eye on cooler, even northern-facing vineyards given the quickly changing climate and ripening tendencies. 

The vinification philosophy here is a reflection of the extensive experiences of winemaker, Luca Currado, who worked over 35 harvests at Vietti alone, and in addition spent time as a consultant across Tuscany and in the New World. He utilizes whole cluster maceration in search of the right amount of potency, power and tannins. Luca aims to strike the right balance between luscious, concentrated wines that aren’t too ripe. The vinification of their sole white wine, Timorasso, involves maceration with the skins during crush, followed by submerged cap fermentation producing a richness and complexity but without oxidation.

This Timorasso showcases Elena's belief in the historically undermined variety that sparked the global Derthona boom. The sole white wine of the CPC project sees a brief skin maceration and submerged cap fermentation (an unusual practice for Timorasso that Elena became keen on after visiting with a grower in Liguria), which lend depth and texture without oxidation, while aging in stainless steel, Clayver amphora, and (from 2024) a touch of acacia wood enhances its mineral, saline character. Complex yet precise, with increasing proportions of skin fermentation (30% in 2023; 40–45% in 2024). From 2.5 hectares of estate vines.

"The 2024 Timorasso is bright, airy and nuanced. This is an especially refined expression of Timorasso, a wine that favors citrus and floral notes more than the phenolic structure that is typical of this indigenous variety. Dried flowers, mint and a touch of petrol shape the long, distinguished finish. This is such an elegant, refined wine." - 93 Points, Antonio Galloni Vinous

Producer: Cascina Penna-Currado

Country: Italy

Region: Piedmont

Varietal: Timorasso

Appellation:  Colli Tortonesi

Vintage: 2024

Size: 750ml