The Rocca di Angera, which dominates the Varese shore of Lake Maggiore, is one of the most important monuments in Lombardy. Of medieval origin, it is one of the best preserved and most monumental forts, also for its internal decorations, in the whole region. It was, and is, the property of the Borromeo family, an aristocratic Milanese family that gave birth to personalities of the calibre of San Carlo and Cardinal Federico. Apart from the cultural-historical side, few people remember that the entire Varese shore of Lake Maggiore was almost completely planted with vines until just over a century ago, as was the entire province of Varese, if we consider the abundant production of wine that involved even Saronno and Busto Arsizio. Today, after the gradual abandonment of the countryside, the vineyard area barely exceeds ten hectares, and much of this recovery is due to the Cascina Piano winery.
Franco's is a wonderful fairytale: in a territory that was no longer considered suitable, he obtained not only the IGT appellation but also a very positive University of Milan evaluation. The result? The bottles are sold like hotcakes and even receive national recognition in the main industry guides. The eco-sustainable typicality and a well-diversified range did the rest. The grapes are varied, a sign of a still experimental recovery. But they are vinified with splendid results, as well as according to the most solid principles of eco-sustainability. There are the Oltrepò grapes, with Croatina, Barbera, Uva Rara, with the addition of Merlot, Vespolina and an extraordinary interpretation of Nebbiolo – indeed, on the other side of the lake we find ourselves in upper Piedmont. Among the white wines, Chardonnay and the local Bussanello stand out, as well as Trebbiano. The labels are very well cared for and show various frescoes of the area, to underline the historical-cultural link of the winery with the territory.
Primenebbie is Cascina Piano's finest wine. The name itself is a tribute to the great grape of which it is the son: Nebbiolo. The grapes, in this case, are dried to 20% of the harvest, and after vinification in steel, the wine rests about 18 months in medium-sized oak barrels. This process already identifies a product devoted, at the same time, to austerity, longevity and a greater cross-section consumption. Ruby, but transparent in the glass, the nose has notes of red flowers, rose and violet, gradually moving towards hints of cherry and currant jam, small red fruits, and then incense, black pepper, humus, woody touches. It is fresh on the palate, straight-forward, with a subtle, elegant tannin, but at the same time sumptuous and structured. Red in character, it cries out for the company of red meats, roasts, game and mature cheeses.
