White Barolo and the Soul of the Colli Tortonesi: Welcoming Vigneti Repetto

Orazio Campoli K&L Italian Wine Buyer Vigneti Repetto Colli Tortonesi Piedmont

When people think of Piedmont, they almost always think of the Langhe: Barolo, Barbaresco, the rolling hills around Alba that have defined Italian fine wine for generations. And for good reason. But I have always believed that some of the most exciting and paradigm-shifting wines in Piedmont are being made far from that spotlight, in the steep, fiercely independent hills of the southeast: the Colli Tortonesi.

I like to think of the Colli Tortonesi as Piedmont's best-kept secret. This is a region with its own character, its own identity, and, most importantly, its own grape—Timorasso. For years, I have been searching for a producer in this zone that perfectly captures the nervous tension and profound salinity that this terroir is capable of. I am thrilled to say that I have finally found it. We are proud to welcome Vigneti Repetto as K&L's newest Direct Import partner. Because we are bringing these wines in directly, we are able to offer them at prices that simply cannot be matched anywhere else on the national market.

The Engineer's Cellar: "Ancient Method, Modern Technology"

To understand these wines, you have to understand the man behind them. Gian Paolo Repetto was born into a farming family here in the Colli Tortonesi, but he left the countryside to pursue a successful career in engineering. However, the pull of his roots proved too strong. In 2013, he and his wife Marina returned to the land and launched Vigneti Repetto.

Winemakers at Vigneti Repetto in Piedmont sitting among their vineyards. Wines available at K&L Wine Merchants.

What I love about Gian Paolo is that his engineering background did not lead him to a technological or manipulative approach to winemaking. Quite the opposite. His motto—"Ancient Method, Modern Technology"—perfectly captures his philosophy. He uses his technical expertise not to intervene in the wine, but to protect its purity.

The centerpiece of his cellar is an innovative device called VinoOxygen. This technology allows Gian Paolo to vinify his wines completely without racking — the traditional process of moving wine from tank to tank to separate it from sediment. By eliminating racking, the wine is never exposed to unnecessary oxidation. This allows him to bottle unfiltered wines while keeping sulfur additions to an absolute minimum, without any risk to stability or quality. As a bonus, eliminating racking dramatically reduces the winery's water consumption — a reflection of his deep commitment to sustainability.

The result is a collection of wines with a staggering, uncorrupted purity that I find deeply moving.

The Magic of Timorasso

Timorasso is a rare white variety native to the Colli Tortonesi. For most of the 20th century, it was nearly extinct. It was difficult to grow, low-yielding, and misunderstood. It was only through the heroic work of a handful of producers—most notably the legendary Walter Massa—that this grape was rescued and given the recognition it deserves. Today, Timorasso is celebrated as one of Italy's great white grapes. It is often called the "White Barolo"—and I think that comparison is entirely justified. If you crave verticality, structure, and a vibrating saline finish in your white wines, this is your grape. It has the acidity of Chablis and the aging trajectory of great dry Riesling, developing profound notes of beeswax, flint, and hydrocarbon as it matures in the bottle. This is not a wine you drink and forget. This is a wine you think about for days afterward. The historic name for 100% Timorasso from the Colli Tortonesi is Derthona—a reference to the ancient Roman name for Tortona, the main town in the appellation. When you see Derthona on a label, you are holding a piece of Piedmontese history.

The Whites: Two Vintages of Derthona, Side by Side

We are launching our Repetto partnership with a rare and genuinely exciting opportunity: two different vintages of the Derthona, available at the same time. This is the kind of vertical comparison that shows you exactly what Timorasso is capable of across time.

2023 Vigneti Repetto "Quadro" Timorasso Derthona DOC $24.99 This is Timorasso at its most athletic and high-tension. The 2023 is electric, racing out of the glass with aromas of crushed white stone, green apple, and white flowers. On the palate, it is crystalline and savory, finishing with a sharp, lip-smacking salinity that begs for raw seafood or rich, bloomy-rind cheeses. This is the vintage for those who want to understand what all the excitement is about.

2021 Vigneti Repetto "Quadro" Timorasso Derthona DOC (Vintage Release) $39.99 The 2021 proves exactly why collectors around the world are beginning to cellar this grape. With just a couple of years in the bottle, the wine has already begun to broaden and evolve—shifting from primary citrus into a deeper, more honeyed profile. You can start to detect those signature Timorasso notes of chamomile, dried apricot, and flinty minerality. It is textural, weighty, and profoundly complex. This is what I love about Timorasso—it rewards patience in a way that few Italian white wines can.

The Reds: Barbera as the Main Event

While the whites are the star of this story, I do not want you to overlook what Vigneti Repetto is doing with Barbera. In the Langhe, Barbera is often treated as an everyday wine — something to drink while you wait for your Nebbiolo to mature. In the Colli Tortonesi, Barbera is the main event.

2021 Vigneti Repetto 'Sfera' Barbera Colli Tortonesi $19.99 The name "Sfera" speaks to the wine's shape—round, pure, and unbroken by heavy oak. This is a wine of incredible, crunchy energy. It is intensely aromatic, bursting with wild blackberry, dark cherry, and a streak of violet. The acidity is bright and motivating, making it an incredibly versatile, vibrant red that you will want to reach for every night of the week.

2018 Vigneti Repetto 'Evoluta' Monleale Barbera $39.99 "Monleale" is the elite subzone designation for Barbera in the Colli Tortonesi — requiring longer aging and stricter yields than standard Barbera DOC. The name "Evoluta" — Evolved — tells you everything. This 2018 has shed its primary fruit to reveal savory layers of black plum, worn leather, dark chocolate, and a touch of balsamic. The tannins are fully resolved, leaving a wine of deep, velvety concentration. I think of this as Barbera built for a steakhouse — a wine that demands a serious meal and rewards it completely.

Why This Partnership Matters

I am genuinely excited about Vigneti Repetto in a way I have not felt about a new producer in some time. The Colli Tortonesi is a region on the verge of the recognition it deserves, and Gian Paolo Repetto is exactly the kind of producer who will help make that happen. By bringing these wines in as a Direct Import, we are able to offer them to you at prices unavailable anywhere else nationally. This is what the K&L Direct Import program is for — finding producers of genuine quality and passion and making their wines accessible to the customers who deserve to drink them. I hope these wines move you the way they have moved me.

— Orazio Campoli, K&L Italian Wine Buyer