Sottimano – The Purest Expression of Neive’s Great Crus

The refined, vineyard-driven elegance of Barbaresco

Located in Neive, at the heart of the Langhe, Sottimano has become one of the region’s most refined and consistently outstanding producers. Founded in the late 1960s by Rino Sottimano, the estate is now run by his children Andrea, Elena and Claudia, who continue a vision rooted in precision, organic viticulture, and the most faithful possible expression of Neive’s great crus.

Working nearly 18 to 19 hectares across five major vineyards, Sottimano has built a reputation for wines of remarkable purity, combining finesse, depth, tension, and the timeless elegance that only the finest Nebbiolo from Barbaresco can achieve.

Terroirs & Vineyard

The estate sits on a mosaic of limestone-clay, sandy marl and calcareous soils typical of Barbaresco. Many vines are over fifty years old, benefiting from higher altitudes, varied exposures and an ideal microclimate for producing subtle, complex and ageworthy wines.

The five emblematic crus of Neive include:

Cottà – limestone-clay soils, southwest exposure, old vines: balance and salinity.
Pajoré – approx. 420 m altitude: tension, verticality, floral and crystalline character.
Basarin – mixture of clays, limestone and sand: structure, energy, freshness.
Currà & Fausoni – historic sites offering texture, intensity and finesse.

This geological and parcel diversity is the essence of the Sottimano style: precise, vibrant and deeply rooted in terroir.

Viticulture – Purity & Respect for the Living

Sottimano has long been a pioneer of organic viticulture in the Langhe:

no herbicides or pesticides,
manual work throughout the season,
moderate yields,
late hand-harvesting for optimal phenolic ripeness.

The goal: perfectly healthy, pure grapes that allow each cru to express itself without any corrective intervention.

Vinification & Ageing – Tradition & Transparency

The cellar philosophy is non-interventionist and inspired by traditional Piedmontese methods:

spontaneous fermentations with indigenous yeasts,
long macerations (often 25 to 40 days),
gentle extractions to preserve finesse and perfume,
extended ageing in French oak, with minimal new wood,
no filtration to maintain texture and depth.

Each wine is conceived as a faithful portrait of its vineyard.

Wine Style

Sottimano’s Barbaresco wines are defined by:

distinct floral aromatics (rose, violet),
pure, elegant fruit (red cherry, strawberry, fine spices),
precise, chiselled minerality,
vibrant, silky tannins,
long ageing potential with slow, harmonious evolution.

These are straight, refined, timeless wines — among the very finest expressions of Neive.

Key Cuvées

Cuvée	Description
Barbaresco Cottà	Masterful balance of depth, salinity and elegance. Pure, tensile and finely textured — a signature of Sottimano’s style.
Barbaresco Pajoré	Vertical, floral, lifted. A crystalline Barbaresco with remarkable tension and aromatic precision.
Barbaresco Basarin	More structured and linear. Freshness, energy, balance and long ageing potential — a deep expression of Neive.

Conclusion

Sottimano stands today among the most precise, refined and luminous domaines of Barbaresco. With exemplary organic viticulture, delicate vinification and a deep understanding of Neive’s crus, the wines offer a rare combination of floral finesse, mineral tension and profound depth. A benchmark for all lovers of pure, vibrant and authentic Nebbiolo.