GREAT ITALIAN WINES TASTING
Barbera Grapes: Blended
Castello del Poggio
Asti
	Castello del Poggio is entirely located in the Monferrato area of Asti, one of the most generous wine-growing areas in Piedmont. The vineyards are located in Portacomaro (80%) and Costigliole d’Asti (20%). The Estate takes its name from the fortified Mediaeval residence that dominates the area, once belonging to the aristocratic Bunéis family. The northernmost part is still today called Val del Temp in the local dialect: meaning "Temple Valley", since the Templars once owned property hereabouts. The Guyot espallier vine-growing method is used, as always adopted in all the wine-growing areas of Piedmont.      The Estate covers 174 hectares, of which 158 with production vineyards in Portacomaro and Santa Margherita di Costigliole d'Asti. Exploitation techniques seek to ensure equilibrium in leaf-grape growth for high quality wine production. Such exploitation techniques have helped the Estate - already boasting a great vocation for red wines - also to develop impressive capacity for white and sparkling wines. Over and above Moscato d'Asti Docg, other Doc wines are also produced: Barbera d’Asti, Grignolino d’Asti, Dolcetto Monferrato, Brachetto Spumante, Masaréj and Bunéis.
The wine: Bunéis Piedmont Doc 2001
	Grapes used: Barbera 90%, Merlot 10% Production Characteristics: the grapes come from the vineyard in the Val del Temp that enjoys the most favourable south-facing position. Conventional vinification in small horizontal fermentation vats, with delicate maceration of the skins, after pressing and separation of hand-picked grapes. Refinement for 1 year in 700 lt. barrels and for a further 8 months in the bottle. Alcohol: 14% vol
Presented by Domenico Zonin
	Born at Vicenza  on July 18, 1973, Domenico Zonin received a degree in law from Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan in 1997 after completing studies in classics. He received a diploma as agronomist in 1998. Between September 1997 and November 1999, Zonin accumulated experience abroad. He attended courses in enology at the University of California at Davis and Victor Segalen in Bordeaux. He engaged in training programs at Seagram Chateau & Estate Wines Company and Gallo Sonoma in California and at Société Ginestet and Société Mestrezat & Domaines in Bordeaux as well as at Châteaux Lafite Rothschild at Puillac in France.      During 2000 he made two study trips. On the first, he focused on the distribution system of the markets in Asia and the emerging countries. The second journey involved visits to wine-producing countries of the New World (Chile, Argentina and Australia).      Since November 1999, he has been collaborating in the Zonin family’s production complex in Italy. The Zonins operate wine estates in the Veneto, Piedmont, Friuli, Tuscany and Sicily as well as in Virginia in the United States, where the Zonin family owns the Barboursville estate. Domenico Zonin has been involved specifically in production and in all activities connected with it.
Winery
	Castello del Poggio Frazione Poggio 9, 14038 Portacomaro Stazione (At) Tel: 39 0141.202543 Fax: 39 0141.202682 Email: info@poggio.it