MOSCATO D’ASTI CASCINA PIAN D'OR: WHEN SNOW IS A KEY FACTOR

Valter Barbero of Cascina Pian d’Or, a producer of Moscato d’Asti who cares about the climate

WAITING FOR THE SNOW. When we talk about snow, we immediately think about ski tracks and winter sports. That’s correct, but it is not the sole possibility, at least for Valter Barbero, owner of Cascina Pian d’Or in Mango (www.cascinapiandor.com) and experienced producer of Moscato d’Asti.

Why snow? Why is this atmospheric phenomenon so essential for the vine development? Let’s discover it with Valter Barbero: “Snow is very important for Moscato d’Asti, because it supplies water to the soil. In the past people used to say that snow is nourishment for the plant. It works better than rain, because the water absorption is slower. The soil stores precious resources that the roots will use in the warmest season”.


WINTER, AN IMPORTANT SEASON. In winter the plant does not rest: “The trunk – explains Valter – seems to sleep, but actually it is working”. The vine is always active, since it absorbs nourishment through the roots. With snow the microclimate is more balanced and the vine is more responsive in spring, since snow protects it from freeze. Let’s think about January 2012: bitter cold caused serious damage everywhere.

In winter snow is a basic element, since the microclimate is more balanced: snow protects the soil. Last year, freeze at the end of January damaged the plants”.
Balanced climate, humidity and snow are the perfect ingredients to enhance the aromatic features of Moscato d’Asti according to Valter Barbero, and the microclimate of the area of Mango has all these elements. This interesting analysis continues the study on the role of climate in the vine development made by Cascina Pian d’Or in a previous article, (http://www.cascinapiandor.com/web/news-dett.php?ID=19). The producer of Moscato d’Asti: eyes to the soil and to the sky, to offer the end consumers a wine with the character of the Langhe, where hills in summer turn yellow as Moscato d'Asti.


Livio Oggero
Copywriter
338/1729440
www.liviooggero.it
comunicare@liviooggero.it