Altre Vie

Altre Vie is the newest venture from Gian Luca Colombo and Federico Scarzello, inspired by the French winemaking tradition and a shared passion for sourcing exceptional vineyards across Langhe and Roero. Launched in 2021, the project focuses on producing wines that express the essence of each vineyard, grape, and vintage, rather than the personal style of the winemaker.

GianLuca Colombo, declared Italy’s best young winemaker in 2014, has long been sought after for his work in the storied subzones of Barolo and beyond. He believes that “only the vineyard, the vintage, and the grape should speak,” balancing tradition and innovation to craft wines that harmonize artistry and science. From testing ripeness by taste rather than machine, to fermenting at cooler temperatures to emphasize subtle aromatics over excessive tannins, Colombo follows tradition only when it serves the wine.

Federico Scarzello, a third-generation winemaker on his family’s 5-hectare (12-acre) estate in Barolo, is recognized as an emerging star of traditional Barolo. He was one of the first winemakers in the region to embrace spontaneous fermentation and co-founded Erpacrife in 1999, a project dedicated to producing sparkling wines from indigenous Piedmontese grape varieties using the classic Champagne method.

For Altre Vie, Colombo and Scarzello carefully select grapes from the best vineyards of Dolcetto, Arneis, Barbera, and Nebbiolo. The Dolcetto is a blend of grapes from one of GianLuca’s oldest vineyards (50%) and a top vineyard on the highest hill of Barolo (50%), while the Arneis comes from a sunny, sandy vineyard in Roero. Both wines are aged in amphora, reflecting the project’s commitment to purity, terroir expression, and artisanal winemaking.