Irene “Nene” Maggiorotti’s passion for winemaking is defined as much by her love of wine as by her veneration for the Italian countryside. Located in a small hamlet of the Langhe called San Carlo, Azienda Agricola Nene was founded in 2023 on the same land where she grew up — land first cultivated by her grandfather, Remo, in the 1950s. Before planting vines, Remo raised goats and sheep, gradually acquiring parcels near the family home where he began planting Muscat. Castiglione Tinella has long been the home of Moscato Bianco, a native grape variety that finds an ideal balance of soil, climate, and farming expertise in this area, allowing it to fully express its unique characteristics. However, it wasn’t until Remo married Nene’s grandmother, Anna, that he began making wine and expanding production. Anna’s family owned a small winery close by, and it was Nene’s great-grandmother who taught Remo everything she knew about winemaking.

Nene’s passion for the countryside was passed down to her by her grandfather, but it is the generations of women before her who most shaped her inclination toward winemaking. Today, her approach — rooted in sustainable viticulture and low-intervention vinification — not only pays homage to her family’s history, but is also helping to pave the way for a new generation of sparkling winemaking in the Langhe. 

For Irene, winemaking begins in the vineyard with a focus on sustainable viticulture. All 11.5 hectares of the family business are maintained by hand, while Nene manages 2 of those hectares. Harvest is completed manually with grapes being picked at peak ripeness after rigorous tasting before they are sorted into small crates to minimize any damage. All the estate-owned vineyards are less than a kilometer from the winery, so delicate transportation has a very low impact as well. From there, Chardonnay and Pinot Nero grapes are pressed three separate times, and the must from each pressing is vinified separately before blending. After pressing, the wines are clarified using temperature-controlled tanks and then chilled for 24-48 hours before they are racked in concrete tanks or barrels to undergo alcoholic fermentation. 

Irene’s Moscato is treated a bit differently as she tries to extract as much acid and texture out of the wine to challenge its traditional sweet profile. Her Moscato is called Instinto (Instict), because when it comes to vinifying Moscato secco, the goal has been to develop her own winemaking method that reflects her personality, following her instincts more closely. Over the years, Irene has experimented with many different processes of vinification — longer or shorter macerations, whole bunch fermentation, destemming – and vows to continue playing with other methods in the years to come until she finds the perfect combination. As Irene puts it, “we’ve experimented with different styles with the goal of finding a personal one, one that satisfies our tastes first and foremost, so we can best pay homage to our roots, but with a personal touch. In short, like the name, the winemaking of Instinto is a search for style that can distinguish us and create an identity.”

What makes Irene’s winemaking truly distinctive is her ability to capture the quintessential flavors for which the Langhe is renowned. At 480 meters above sea level, old vines cling to the steep slopes of San Carlo, rooted in gray-blue marl and sandstone soils. These limestone-rich sedimentary rocks — formed from ancient marine fossils — create alkaline conditions ideal for producing wines of exceptional quality and verve.

Every detail at Azienda Agricola Nene is driven by a commitment to excellence. As Irene continues to refine her craft, trust her intuition, and push the boundaries of winemaking in Piemonte, she is steadily shaping her own legacy — one that both challenges and honors the traditions and generations that came before her.