# Pineto Brachetto d'Acqui (2025)

- **Producer:** Azienda Agricola Marenco
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** sparkling
- **Grapes:** Brachetto
- **Region:** Piemonte, Italy
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 5.5%
- **Average price:** €15
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now
- **Serving temperature:** 8–10 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** strawberry, raspberry, rose

## About this wine

Produced by Azienda Agricola Marenco in Strevi, Piemonte, this wine comes from the historic Pineto vineyard situated in a natural amphitheater with ideal south-southeast exposure. Founded in 1896 by Giuseppe Marenco, the estate is now passionately managed by his three daughters: Michela, Doretta, and chief winemaker Patrizia Marenco. The family specializes in preserving and showcasing indigenous aromatic varieties of the Monferrato region. Rather than blending, this wine is crafted as a single-vineyard Cru to express the unique limestone and sandy soils of Strevi.

## Interesting facts

- The estate is run by three sisters, with Patrizia Marenco acting as the head winemaker.
- Pineto is produced as a single-vineyard 'Cru', showcasing a distinct sandy limestone terroir in Strevi.
- Fermentation is naturally stopped by cold filtration, preserving natural unfermented grape sugar.

## Food pairing

The vibrant sweet effervescence and high aromatic intensity harmonize beautifully with fresh red berries and light pastries. It also creates a classic, contrasting sweet-and-savory match with salty charcuterie like prosciutto.

## Wine making process

Hand-harvested in early September, the grapes undergo 2 to 3 days of cold skin maceration to extract gentle color and primary aromas. After clarification, the must is stored near freezing. Fermentation takes place in pressurized stainless steel tanks following the Charmat method and is stopped naturally via cold filtration once the wine reaches 5.5% alcohol. No sugar is added, leaving natural residual sweetness and a gentle effervescence. The wine matures entirely in stainless steel before bottling.