In 1973, a good century’s worth of quality family winemaking in Valtellina nearly all went up in smoke. Guido Pelizzatti, owner of the Arturo Pelizzatti estate, was diagnosed with cancer. Guido was father to four kids, but his son Arturo was the only one who followed him into the family business.
Without consensus among Guido’s heirs, the Pelizzattis were forced to divide their fifty hectares of vineyards and sell their cellars and successful Valtellina brand; a brand which had been founded by their great, great grandfather Giovanni in the 1800s. Arturo’s inheritance was at risk, but rather than sell his share of the family vineyards, he pivoted to renting them out on long-term contracts. While heartbreaking, this was a fortuitous maneuver.
These days, Arturo’s children, the fifth generation of the Pelizzatti-Perego family, spin this tale with the immense pride of having overcome a myriad of obstacles that would have proven fatal to other family businesses. Again and again, what should have been a classic Greek tragedy instead turned into the vinous underdog story of all time.
In 1984, after waiting out the rental contracts on his six hectares of vineyards, Arturo Pelizzati-Perego refounded the family winery under an acronym of his name, ARPEPE. Despite the change in name, Arturo never wavered from the cantina’s motto “Il giusto tempo del Nebbiolo,” or, “The right waiting time for Nebbiolo.” For Arturo, the more Nebbiolo aged, the better it was. This meant the 1984 vintage wines weren’t even released to the market until the 1990s, by which time not only had the family name run the risk of being forgotten, but fashion had changed: they were producing classically-styled, elegant wines during the explosion of the barrique!
These were not easy times, but “Arturo was the first to catch sight of a new dawn for the Valtellina,” Isabella Pelizzatti-Perego told me. Arturo’s devotion to his vineyards as well as his commitment to traditionally made wines was inextinguishable. He persisted, against all odds, and eventually was able to re-buy the last portion of the cellar he and his father had built in Grumello. Dug into the hill, with zero environmental impact, the winery encourages the perfect long aging of Nebbiolo that Arturo so prized.
Tragedy struck the family again in 2004 when Arturo lost his battle with cancer, but once again, the Pelizzatti-Perego family prevailed. Arturo’s three adult children were ready to seamlessly take the reins of the family business, and have kept the torch burning ever brighter since. Isabella, who joined her parents at ARPEPE in 2001, had already built an enviable professional experience in Valtellina as well as in Piedmont. Her brother Emanuele oversees the vineyards and cellar. Their brother Guido specializes in communications.
And so the story continues. Among the many accolades bestowed on this family’s wines, one is a particular point of pride: In 2018, Gambero Rosso’s Vini d’Italia awarded the honor of Best Italian Red Wine of the Year to ARPEPE’s Sassella Riserva Rocce Rosse 2007. A perfectly aged Nebbiolo, of course.
The 2020 Releases, now available in NY, NJ, CT, PA, IN, & KY!
Rosso di Valtellina, ARPEPE
THE STORY
Since then, they produce it almost every year with few exceptions. The vineyard source depends entirely on the vintage, but the estate hedges and declares that the fruit comes from their vineyards in Sassella and Grumello under 400 meters above sea level.
TECH NOTES
- Proprietary vineyard sources in Sassella & Grumello under 400 meters above sea level
- Average age of the vines: 50 years old, but also up to 100 years old
- Spontaneous fermentation
- 110 days of maceration on the skins
- Aging 6-12 months in 50HL casks, chestnut, Slavonian or French, but all coopered by steam without toast.
- Approximately 2,500 cases produced annually
Valtellina Superiore ‘Il Pettirosso’, ARPEPE
THE STORY
“It marries the sweetness of Grumello with the minerality of Sassella,” says Isabella Pelizzatti-Perego.
TECH NOTES
- Proprietary vineyard sources in Sassella & Grumello above 400 meters above sea level
- Average age of the vines: 50 years old, but also up to 100 years old
- Spontaneous fermentation
- 100 days of maceration on the skins
- Aging 12 months in 50HL casks, chestnut, Slavonian or French, but all coopered by steam without toast.
- Rested 24 months in bottle prior to release
- Approximately 2,000 cases produced each release
THE STORY
TECH NOTES
- 100% Grumello-sourced fruit from the Buon Consiglio and San Antonio single vineyards.
- Average age of the vines: 50 years old, but also up to 100 years old
- Spontaneous fermentation
- 110 days of maceration on the skins
- Aging 18 months in 50HL casks, chestnut, Slavonian or French, but all coopered by steam without toast.
- Rested at least 24 months in bottle prior to release
- Approximately 2,600 cases produced each release
Valtellina Superiore Sassella ‘Stella Retica’, ARPEPE
THE STORY
TECH NOTES
- 100% Sassella fruit from the Rocce Rosse, Nuova Regina, and Ultimi Raggi single vineyards.
- Average age of the vines: 50 years old, but also up to 100 years old
- Spontaneous fermentation
- 120 days of maceration on the skins
- Aging 18 months in 50HL casks, chestnut, Slavonian or French, but all coopered by steam without toast.
- Rested at least 24 months in bottle prior to release
- Approximately 3,750 cases produced each release
For further reading…
From top to bottom, the wines are deserving of serious attention. The super-traditional style will leave lovers of translucent Nebbiolo weak at the knees. Ar.Pe.Pe. releases many of their top wines with a good bit of bottle age, which makes them terrific choices for readers looking for Nebbiolo with the nuances that can only develop over time.
Perhaps most importantly, Ar.Pe.Pe. shows just how pedigreed the wines of Valtellina can be.Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Wine Spectator’s Write-Up on Ar.Pe.Pe
Nebbiolo’s Northern Summit – Extreme Nebbiolo, Part 2: Inside Ar.Pe.Pe.
In the Drink
Episode 165 – Isabella Pelizzatti Perego of Ar.Pe.Pe
