Barbacàn is Angelo Sega and his sons Luca and Matteo. Family of farmers and pioneers of natural winemaking in the steep slopes of Valtellina in northern Lombardy and true symbols of heroic winemaking. The deeply territorial nature of this beautiful family-run winery is evident from the name itself, nickname of the family, since Barbacan in the local dialect indicates the typical buttresses present in the terraces.
The words of the Barbacan family when talking about their oenological ethics sound a moving vinnaturist agreement:
"We believe in a natural viticulture in which man and his knowledge are at the service of the territory. Without pretense or artifice we accompany our healthy and living grapes leaving room for spontaneous fermentations. We are farmers in the Alps, we preserve the pluralism of our ancient native vines and the cultural identity of traditional agronomic practices."
The Sega family works about 7 hectares of the traditional Chiavennasca vine (outside the Valtellina known as Nebbiolo) and a series of other varieties (Rossola, Chiavennaschino, Pignola, Brugnola, Negrera, Treunasca, Rossolino Rosa, Chiavennasca Bianca) almost lost and forgotten in San Giacomo di Teglio. All the vineyards are on the millennial terraced slopes and all the work is strictly manual and given the dizzying heights and inclinations, it really could not be otherwise.
The work in the vineyard allows only moderate amounts of copper and sulfur and of course no irrigation. In the same way in the cellar the wines see only wild fermentations with native yeasts in steel and cement tanks and no intervention before aging in large wooden barrels; only extremely moderate amounts of SO2 added to bottling.
The link with a deep historical identity also shines through the evocative labels, which are inspired by the Neolithic cave paintings found among the cliffs of the municipality of Teglio. All Barbacan wines, from the easy-to-drink and convivial Rosso and Rosato, to the austere Söl, Jazpémi, Livèl and Fracia are alive and vibrant with an energy that speaks both of ancient roots and of a burning, free and courageous passion.
