ヴィナイオータ カーゼコリーニ｜注目のピエモンテ自然派バルベーラ赤ワイン

Vinaiota Case Corini is a unique natural wine produced by the Case Corini winery, located in Costigliole d’Asti within the Piedmont region of Italy. The winery is run by Lorenzo Corino, a geologist by training, who has long advocated for sustainable agriculture as an alternative to energy-intensive industrial farming. He uses his vineyard and winemaking operation as a demonstration of what sustainable, minimal-intervention viticulture can achieve. The winery practices include avoiding the use of added sulfites and minimizing human intervention throughout the entire production process. This particular cuvee, known as Vinaiota or Vin(ai)ot(a), has a fascinating origin story. Case Corini’s flagship wine, La Barla, is made exclusively from free-run juice — the juice that flows out of the grapes under their own weight, without any pressing. Traditionally, the remaining grape material after the free-run extraction was simply discarded. When Taro Ota, the president of the Japanese importing company Vinaiota, learned about this practice, he passionately requested that Lorenzo press the remaining grapes and create a secondary wine from them. After persistent persuasion, Corino agreed, and the Vinaiota cuvee was born. The label design cleverly plays on the importer’s name, with VINaiOTa styled in a distinctive typographic treatment. The wine is made from Barbera grapes, one of the most important and widely planted red grape varieties in Italy’s Piedmont region. Barbera is known for its high acidity, generous fruit character, and relatively low tannin levels compared to Nebbiolo, the variety used in prestigious wines like Barolo and Barbaresco. According to Wikipedia, Barbera thrives particularly well in low-fertility calcareous soils and clay loam, and smaller-cluster clones tend to produce higher quality wines. The Academie du Vin blog notes that Barbera is a vigorous variety that can become thin and dilute if yields are not carefully managed through proper pruning and vineyard management. The 2023 vintage is presented in a generous 1500ml magnum format, which is ideal for sharing at dinner parties or enjoying over extended periods. As a press wine, it offers a different character from the free-run La Barla — users on Vinica have noted that it tends to show slightly more pronounced acidity while remaining approachable and casual in style. The wine is classified as Vino da Tavola (VdT), reflecting Case Corini’s decision to prioritize winemaking freedom over official denomination restrictions. Being a natural wine, this bottle may exhibit characteristics not commonly found in conventional wines, including unusual color variations, sediment, and distinctive aromatics that can vary from bottle to bottle. These are considered part of the wine’s natural character rather than defects. Temperature-sensitive shipping via cool delivery is recommended during warm months to preserve the wine’s integrity. Case Corini’s approach to winemaking represents a broader movement within Italian viticulture toward minimal intervention and ecological responsibility. Lorenzo Corino’s background in geology gives him a unique perspective on terroir and soil composition, which directly informs his vineyard management decisions. The winery is situated in an area of Piedmont known for producing excellent Barbera wines, with the surrounding hills providing optimal exposure and drainage for the vines. Barbera as a variety produces wines with deep ruby to garnet coloration and typically offers aromas and flavors reminiscent of dark cherries, plums, and sometimes dried herbs. The natural acidity of the variety makes it an excellent partner for tomato-based dishes, grilled meats, pizza, and aged cheeses such as Parmigiano-Reggiano and Pecorino. The wine is available through Toscany Italian Wine Specialty Shop on Rakuten marketplace at a price of 10,560 yen including tax. Free shipping is available when purchasing six or more bottles. Given the magnum size, this represents reasonable value for a wine from one of Piedmont’s most philosophically committed natural wine producers. The combination of sustainable farming practices, minimal intervention winemaking, and the compelling backstory of collaboration between producer and importer makes this a noteworthy addition to any natural wine enthusiast’s collection. The Costigliole d’Asti area where the vineyard is located benefits from a warm continental climate moderated by the surrounding Monferrato hills, with calcareous clay soils that contribute mineral complexity to the wines. Lorenzo Corino’s son Guido also participates in the estate’s operations, ensuring continuity of the family’s winemaking traditions and philosophical commitments for future generations.