Producer: Domaine Cascina degli Ulivi

Stefano Bellotti was much more than a winemaker: he was a guiding figure, a conscience, and a trailblazer for an entire generation. In the rolling hills of Novi Ligure, at the crossroads between Alessandria and Genoa, this pioneer of biodynamics in Italy skillfully combined agricultural demands with spiritual commitment. He was only eighteen years old when he took over the family farm in 1977—barely one hectare of vines, which he cultivated as a manifesto. As early as 1984, long before the word became trendy, he adopted biodynamics, convinced that the vineyard should be considered within its ecosystem, in rhythm with all living things. Until his sudden death, just before the 2018 harvest, Stefano Bellotti championed a free, earthy, and poetic vision of wine. Since then, his daughter Ilaria has taken up the torch with the same fervor, continuing her father's work with sensitivity and respect.

Terroir, plots, and grape varieties

The estate, now covering 22 hectares, thrives on modest-altitude hillsides, bathed in Mediterranean influences from nearby Liguria. The soils are predominantly clay-limestone, sometimes punctuated by marl, bringing both structure and tension to the wines. The plot arrangement, composed of small vineyards intertwined with hedges, woods, and meadows, reflects the desire to integrate the vine into a living and diverse landscape. The cultivated grape varieties are decidedly local: Cortese for whites, Dolcetto and Barbera for reds. Indigenous varieties cherished for their ability to authentically express the place.

Cultivation methods

Here, life takes precedence. Since the 1980s, biodynamics is not just a label but an ever-present philosophy. Medicinal plants are also cultivated here, used in infusions to naturally treat the vines. Treatments are gentle, homemade, and soil work is done with respect, without brutality. The harvests are manual, of course, because the attentive human touch remains the best guarantor of grape quality. Everything is designed to promote the plant's resilience, deep rooting, and inherent vitality.

Winemaking

In the cellar as in the vineyard, human intervention steps back in favor of natural processes. Fermentations are spontaneous, driven by indigenous yeasts. No unnecessary inputs, no corrections. Each cuvée tells a story of a year, a balance, an idea of free wine. The aging, often in tanks or old barrels, takes the necessary time to allow the wine to settle and breathe. Nothing is rigid; each vintage dictates its own score, in a logic of listening and respect.

Tasting & pairings

Stefano Bellotti's wines do not seek to please at all costs. They move you, stir you, and speak to the gut as much as to the soul. The Cortese whites combine a lively salinity with a broad texture, featuring notes of dried flowers and candied citrus. The reds, sincere and unadorned, unfold aromas of juicy red fruits and sweet spices, often with a beautiful freshness on the finish. These are table wines, for conversation and meditation. One can easily imagine them with simple and flavorful cuisine: grilled vegetables, artisanal charcuterie, Parmesan risotto, or even a beautiful roasted poultry. Wines that tell a story—that of a man, a land, a passion.