COUNTRY: Italy
REGION: Piedmont
Cascina Lieto was founded in 2018 by Japanese couple Rie and Hiroto Sasaki, sitting on the border between Langhe and Asti in Piedmont. Hiroto has lived in Italy since 1997, and relocated from Rome to Piedmont in 2016. The estate-owned micro plot of one hectare, plus rented plots in Madonna di Como, lends them around 4,000 bottles per vintage. is the small Piedmontese dream of Rie and Hiroto Sasaki, a Japanese couple who settled on the border of the Langhe and Asti to make wine entirely their own way. Traditional Piedmontese varieties dominate the vineyards: Moscato, Cortese, Freisa and Barbera, with Nebbiolo added from 2020. They make wines that fuse Piedmontese tradition with their own sensibilities, using organic and biodynamic methods.
CUVÉES
Sensazione 2023
Region: Piedmont
Fruit: 70% Moscato Bianco and 30% Cortese
Vineyard Size: n/a
Soil: Tuff and limestone, and calcareous marl with some sandy streaks
Average Age of Vines: The Moscato comes from 32-year-old vines in the Madonna di Como vineyard (outskirts of Alba), 58-year-old vines in the "Brosia" vineyard
Farming: organic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: After destemming and crushing, the two varieties were co-fermented—a first for Cascina Lieto—in a 1,500-liter open-top Slavonian oak vat. A portion of the Moscato was also fermented in 500-liter open-top plastic vats. During the fermentation process, manual follatura (punchdowns) were conducted 3 to 4 times per day.
Aging: aged in a 1,500-liter open-top Slavonian oak vat for 4 months, in bottle for 14 months before release
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: n/a
Lieto Bianco 2023
Region: Piedmont
Fruit: 100% Moscato Bianco
Vineyard Size: n/a
Soil: calcareous marl with some sandy streaks
Average Age of Vines: the "Brosia" vineyard, located directly in front of the winery in Castiglione Tinella, with an average age of 58 years
Farming: organic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: fermentation began spontaneously using only indigenous yeasts in a 1,500-liter open-top Slavonian oak vat. The remaining Moscato fermented in 500-liter open-top plastic vats. During fermentation, follatura (punch-downs) were performed 3 to 4 times daily.
Aging: Following the first racking, the wine was aged in a 1,500-liter open-top Slavonian oak vat. A second racking was performed before bottling, aged 14 months before release
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: n/a
Sage 2023
Region: Piedmont
Fruit: 100% Freisa
Vineyard Size: n/a
Soil: calcareous marl with a high limestone content and subtle sandy inclusions
Average Age of Vines: 58-year-old vines in the Valdivilla vineyard in Santo Stefano Belbo
Farming: organic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: destemmed and crushed, then fermented in 500-liter fiberglass vats using only indigenous yeasts without temperature control. During the fermentation process, follatura (punch-downs) was conducted 3 to 4 times daily to gently manage extraction.
Aging: aged in neutral French oak barriques for about a year, 14 months in bottle before release
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: n/a
Litmo 2023
Region: Piedmont
Fruit: 100% Barbera
Vineyard Size: n/a
Soil: tuff and limestone soils
Average Age of Vines: 32-year-old vines in the Madonna di Como vineyard on the outskirts of Alba
Farming: organic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: fermented in 1,000-liter fiberglass vats using only indigenous yeasts without temperature control, follatura (punch-downs) was performed 3 to 4 times daily during the active fermentation phase.
Aging: aged in neutral French oak barriques for close to two years, 14 months in bottle before release
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: n/a
Mina 2024
Region: Piedmont
Fruit: 100% Moscato Bianco
Vineyard Size: n/a
Soil: tuff and limestone soils
Average Age of Vines: 32-yearold vines in the Madonna di Como vineyard on the outskirts of Alba
Farming: organic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: whole clusters were fermented in a sealed 1,000-liter fiberglass vats to undergo carbonic maceration, pressed after a month
Aging: aged in 500-liter tonneaux, 14 months in bottle before release
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: n/a
Biso 2023
Region: Piedmont
Fruit: 100% Nebbiolo
Vineyard Size: n/a
Soil: tuff and limestone soils
Average Age of Vines: n/a
Farming: organic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: fermented in 1,000-liter fiberglass vats using only indigenous yeasts. No temperature control was applied. During the active fermentation phase, follatura (punch-downs) was performed 3 to 4 times daily to ensure a delicate yet thorough extraction.
Aging: aged in neutral French oak barriques for close to two years, 14 months in bottle before release
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: n/a
