Alta Langa DOCG represents Italy’s first classic method sparkling wine, with its origins dating back to the mid-1800s in Piedmont.

ASTI – The 2024 grape harvest in Alta Langa has officially begun with the first clusters of Pinot Noir being picked. In the coming days, the harvest will also include Chardonnay grapes, signaling the progression of this vital period for the region’s renowned sparkling wines.

Harvesting commenced in the early-ripening and sun-drenched areas of Strevi (AL), Serralunga d’Alba (CN), and Castel Rocchero (AT). As the days go by, the activity will intensify, moving up towards vineyards located at higher elevations, such as those in Roddino (CN) and Bossolasco (CN), where the ripening process, or “veraison,” is still underway. Despite a slight reduction in yield due to unstable weather conditions during flowering, a harvest of average quantity and good quality is anticipated.

The season has been marked by a rise in temperatures at the beginning of spring, followed by an unusually rainy and cool period. Rainfall was nearly double the average, making the 2024 agricultural year the wettest in the last 67 years. In the vineyards across the provinces of Asti, Cuneo, and Alessandria, the experience and timely interventions of the viticulturists have been essential in preventing the spread of diseases.

With the arrival of summer, weather conditions stabilized, allowing for the regular ripening of the grapes. This has placed the harvest period between the last decade of August and the beginning of September.

“We are confident that this will be an excellent vintage, thanks to the unwavering commitment of our viticulturists,” says Vice President Giovanni Carlo Bussi. “The grapes are beautiful and healthy. In a context where climatic conditions are becoming increasingly unpredictable, the role of the viticulturist is more crucial than ever. For this reason, the Alta Langa Consortium has initiated a series of events for its members in recent months, aimed at spreading knowledge of the best agronomic techniques in the vineyard and ensuring the high-quality standards of the grapes destined to become Alta Langa DOCG wines.”

The Alta Langa Consortium

The Alta Langa Consortium was established in 2001 after many years of thorough research and documentation on the area’s potential for viticulture. It brings together passionate and forward-thinking viticulturists and producers who, driven by deep Piedmontese pride, have founded and nurtured this young denomination with deep historical roots. The grand challenge uniting all members is to produce a wine of great importance, which will not be ready for at least six years after the vineyards are planted.

Today, the Consortium includes more than 80 sparkling wine producers and 90 associated viticulturists. Since 2022, Mariacristina Castelletta has served as the Consortium’s president, with Giovanni Carlo Bussi as vice president.

Alta Langa DOCG

Alta Langa DOCG represents Italy’s first classic method sparkling wine, with its origins dating back to the mid-1800s in Piedmont.

The denomination produced 3.2 million bottles from the 2023 harvest. Alta Langa DOCG is made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, either pure or in varying blends. It can be produced as white or rosé, brut or pas dosé, with extended aging on the lees for at least 30 months, as required by its strict regulations. A distinctive feature of Alta Langa is that it is exclusively vintage, meaning each bottle is made from the grapes of a single harvest year, with the vintage always clearly displayed on the label. This ties the wine indelibly to the specific characteristics of that year’s harvest.

Produced in a hilly area (over 250 meters above sea level) that spans the provinces of Asti, Cuneo, and Alessandria, Alta Langa is a land that gazes at the snow-capped Alps and breathes the air of the sea. It is a territory that has preserved the legacy of its ancestors, remaining largely unchanged unlike the lower hills. Alta Langa is a precious region, rich in biodiversity, where traditions have been maintained, adapting to change without losing its rich cultural and historical identity.

Alta Langa received DOC status in 2002 and DOCG status in 2011, retroactive to the 2008 vintage.

Consortium and Alta Langa DOCG Numbers:

  • Over 80 sparkling wine houses associated with the Consortium
  • 455 hectares of vineyards across Alessandria (46 hectares), Asti (185 hectares), and Cuneo (224 hectares)
  • The Alta Langa vineyard is cultivated with two-thirds Pinot Noir and one-third Chardonnay
  • 3.2 million bottles produced from the 2023 harvest
  • Domestic market: 90%
  • Export: 10%