Philine Isabelle Dienger is not from Barolo, but this young German with an infectious charm fits right in here - and so do her wines. She makes old-school, classically styled Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto with amazing elegance and harmony.
After years spent working for various biodynamic estates, Philine moved to Piedmont in 2019 to start her own micro-project. At first she sourced fruit from top growers and vinified her wines in the Rinaldi cellars. She has since moved into her own winery and has been slowly acquiring parcels of vines in top sites.
Citing Japanese craftsmanship as an influence - notably the idea that masterworks are made from countless tiny, seemingly inconsequential decisions - she uses biodynamics and progressive farming techniques such as tressage, where vines are woven into arches, to aid ripening and protect the plants from stress.
When we first tasted Philine’s wines, we were mesmerised by their quality, culminating in the almost Vosne-Romanée-esque nobility of her Barolo ‘Preda’. Piemonte-lovers take note - these are must-try wines from one of the region's most ambitious, exciting young producers.
