Monleale, Colli Tortonesi, Piedmont. Nestled between Monferrato and Olrepò, this is one of the territories most intertwined with the art of winemaking. A territory renowned and known throughout the world for its great red wines. Walter Massa, at the helm of the family winery since the 1970s, has become a legendary figure, a courageous winemaker, sometimes considered a bit of an anarchist, 'the maestro' who has breathed new life into an indigenous white grape variety that was in danger of extinction: Timorasso, known as Derthona, a wine with great expressiveness and structure. Today the property boasts 23 hectares at an altitude of 300 metres, dedicating itself to the typical vines of the area: Barbera, Croatina, Freisa, Timorasso and Moscato Bianco. Alcoholic fermentation takes place spontaneously, resting on fine lees with frequent batonnage, no clarification or filtration. The grapes are grown with scrupulous attention and farmer common sense, limiting treatments to a minimum. Opposed to any form of bureaucracy, Walter Massa is convinced that wine is made in the vineyard and not in the cellar, not with trademarks and documents, which is why he has chosen not to forcibly resort to appellations on the label, on the strength of his well-established reputation as a true wine craftsman
