Scarpa
Historic Piedmontese Icon: Founded in 1900, Scarpa is a cornerstone of traditional winemaking in Piedmont, with over a century of commitment to quality and craftsmanship.
Terroir-Driven Philosophy: Scarpa produces elegant, age-worthy wines exclusively from estate and top-tier vineyards across Barolo, Barbaresco, and Nizza Monferrato.
Patience Over Haste: Known for long cellar aging, Scarpa releases its wines only when they’ve reached peak maturity, often years after others.
Native Varietal Mastery: From the structured Barbera La Bogliona to expressive Dolcetto, Ruche, and Freisa, Scarpa showcases the full character of Piedmont’s indigenous grapes.
Scarpa – A Legacy of Piemontese Excellence Since 1900
Tucked away in the heart of Monferrato, Piedmont, Scarpa stands as a quiet icon of Italian winemaking, blending traditional craftsmanship with a timeless philosophy of patience, precision, and place. Founded in 1900 by Antonio Scarpa, an oenologist of Venetian origin, the winery has long been a champion of long-aged, terroir-driven wines that reflect the noble character of Piedmont’s diverse landscapes.
Though born from Venetian roots, Antonio Scarpa fell deeply in love with Piedmont and its potential for world-class wines. He established the winery in Nizza Monferrato, recognizing the region’s ideal conditions for cultivating native varieties like Barbera, Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, and Freisa. Scarpa’s early focus on quality over quantity, an approach that was ahead of its time, set the foundation for a legacy that would unfold over the next century.
In the post-war years, Scarpa passed into the hands of Mario Pesce, a visionary who trained in France and brought with him a renewed dedication to meticulous vineyard work and extended cellar aging. Under his guidance, Scarpa cemented its reputation for crafting wines that were not just drinkable, but collectable. Pesce insisted on using only estate-grown grapes and sourced fruit from some of Piedmont’s most hallowed sites, including vineyards in Barbaresco, Barolo, and the Asti and Alessandria hills. He also formalized Scarpa’s practice of releasing wines only when they were ready, often years after their peers.
Today, the winery continues to uphold this ethos, producing age-worthy wines with elegance and restraint. Scarpa’s vineyards span over 50 hectares, with a deep respect for biodiversity and sustainable farming. The jewel of their holdings is the La Bogliona vineyard in Nizza Monferrato, the source of their flagship Barbera d’Asti Superiore, one of the first truly terroir-driven Barberas, structured yet vibrant, with immense cellaring potential.
Scarpa’s range showcases the full depth of Piedmont’s viticultural identity. Their Barbera d’Asti wines, particularly La Bogliona, offer a masterclass in balance and longevity. The Dolcetto d’Acqui is savory and nuanced, while their Ruche di Castagnole Monferrato and Freisa Secco embrace the more aromatic and rustic side of the region. Scarpa is also one of the rare houses to vinify and mature Nebbiolo wines from both Barolo and Barbaresco with equal reverence, aged for many years in large oak casks and only released when they’ve reached their optimal expression.
What sets Scarpa apart is not just its history, but its devotion to tradition without compromise. In a world that often rushes to market, Scarpa insists on taking the long view, giving each wine the time it needs to truly speak. The result is a portfolio of wines that are not only reflections of Piedmont, but of a winery that has remained steadfast in its principles for over 120 years.