Wines
Summary
Cascina San Michele is a young estate based in Castigliole d’Asti that started 2015 with the partnership agreement between Marco Minucci, a young and energetic wine lover, and the Swiss restaurateur Arno Sgier. However, the business started 5 years earlier when Marco decided to take over the vineyards of this estate. Cascina San Michele cultivates the local varieties on about 6.5 hectares, which are distributed in two areas: one hectare that surrounds the estate in the San Michele area and most of them 100 meters away in Santa Margherita. The soils are calcareous, andpositioned on that long strip of land that crosses the Asti area, called Briccone, particularly suited to the cultivation of Barbera grapes.
The estate is surrounded by meadows of poppies and daisies, where insects and animals live. In the background are the hills of the Asti area, covered with medieval villages and ancient castles. In this natural environment Barbera, Dolcetto, Cortese, and Nebbiolo grapes grow well.
Marco has a very hands off approach in the cellar using only healthy grapes, indigenous yeasts, naturally present on the skins. Aging takes place in steel or in small used wooden barrels. The additions of sulfur are reduced to a minimum and the wines are bottled without being filtered.