Ugo Lequio is a story unto himself. In 1981, he started his own small, almost ‘garage’-style winery, without owning a single vine. Born and raised in Neive as the youngest son of a winemaking family, he knew the area and the best vineyards like no other. His winery is located near the famous Gallina hill, home to the historic Cascina Nuova, now owned by the Marcarino family.
Since the family vineyards did not belong to him, Ugo chose a different path: he went in search of the best grapes. He started with Barbera from the Marcarino family and built a relationship of trust with them over the years. Eventually, he managed to convince them to sell him a portion of their precious Nebbiolo as well. These grapes previously went to the legendary winemaker Bruno Giacosa.
Ugo does almost everything himself and personally oversees vineyard management. His grape selection is extremely meticulous and his winemaking is distinctly traditional. Furthermore, he deliberately gives his wines more time than the regulations require. Aging takes place in large wooden botti, followed by further rest in his wine cellar in Neive.
That combination of patience, precision, and craftsmanship produces wines with depth, structure, and a distinct character of their own. Ugo is a true artisan who prioritizes quality over production and only releases his wines when he feels they are ready.
What appeals to us so much about Ugo Lequio is his drive. He didn't have his own vineyard, but he had the will to make wine himself, and he consistently pursued that will: he chooses every grape himself, and he follows every step himself. You can taste that precision in all his wines, including two that we would like to highlight.
Kerin O’Keefe of Wine Enthusiast described his Arneis as “a fantastic expression of Arneis” from one of the best, yet still remarkably little-known producers in the Langhe.
