Born in Alba and essentially raised in his family’s cellar, it was natural for Walter Salvano to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather and become a winemaker himself. After studying oenology and graduating in 2010, he decided to embrace the “genetics in his line” and officially take the leap into the world of wine. This did not, however, take place in the cellar built 50 years before him by his grandfather, but through chasing the idea of celebrating all varieties of the Langhe region, including the often-overlooked Freisa and Pelaverga.

Walter’s curiosity drove him to explore whether these “secondary” varieties could reach the potential of Langhe’s greats if placed in the right conditions—for Walter, exposure, soil, and management of the vineyard according to minimal intervention, and respecting the plants and surrounding environment as much as possible. After years of working with friends, the perfect opportunity to begin his own project came in 2022.

Walter found a small plot of Freisa in Diano d’Alba, which perfectly embodied what he was looking for: older vines with 45-years of age, southwest exposure, and sustainable vineyard management. Following his minimalist approach in the vineyard, he believes strongly in 100% whole cluster, no clarification or filtration, and minimum use of sulfur, only before bottling. The winemaking is light-handed, but beautifully bright and transparent.

Since his first vintage in 2022, Walter has vinified the Freisa, along with Pelaverga from Verduno. Beginningwith the 2023 vintage, he added a Barolo cuvée. In 2024, the range will incorporate Langhe Nebbiolo, Barbera d’Alba, and Nascetta, another overlooked local variety. Walter wants to continue to celebrate all the Langhe has to offer, and truly believes he can shine the light on these varieties through his fresh energetic approach.