The family-run Vigni Marina Coppi estate is located on the hills of Castellania in eastern Piedmont. It was established in 2003 by Francesco Bellocchio, the grandson of Fausto Coppi, one of the greatest cyclists of the 20th century and five-time winner of the Giro d'Italia. Fausto was born in Castellania, and it was Francesco's dream to revive the vineyards to obtain quality grapes and produce unique wines from this forgotten region that once yielded the best fruit. Marina is the name of Francesco's mother. He only has four hectares under cultivation, the choice of grape varieties governed by the historical traditions of the region: therefore only the white Timorasso and Favorita, and the red Barbera, Nebbiolo and Croatina are grown and farmed organically. The Castellania hills enjoy a continental climate and a sunny exposure with one of the lowest rainfalls in Piedmont. The vines are planted in a natural amphitheatre, which protects them from the cold north winds and creates a special microclimate. The ancient soils date back to the Serravallian and Tortonian ages, composed of sedimentary calcareous clayey marls, interspersed with the blue Marls of Sant'Agata consisting of a mixture of sand, clay and limestone. This imbues the wines with a particular elegance and finesse with pure aromas. The grapes are hand-picked and the wines are made with extreme care and passion, honouring tradition, but with a modern approach. These are artisanal wines; the production is only around 25,000 bottles a year. They are wines with unique personalities, and are something a little different from this off-the-beaten track corner of Piedmont.