Available from December 2025, it marks the fourth chapter of the “Airali” collection
Piobesi d’Alba, September 2025 – Airali Rosé Extra Brut 2022 is the latest addition and fourth chapter of Tenuta Carretta’s (link) project dedicated to Alta Langa DOCG. Made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes, this inaugural release is produced in a limited edition of only 3,000 bottles and will be available on the market starting December 2025.
“Airali Rosé Extra Brut stems from a precise need, both technical and commercial: to offer consumers the broadest possible range of Alta Langa Metodo Classico wines from Tenuta Carretta. After the Brut and Pas Dosé cuvées, and then the Blanc de Blancs (first edition with the 2021 vintage), the warm and complex 2022 vintage provided the perfect opportunity to take on the challenge of crafting a pure Pinot Noir rosé,” explains Paolo Scaiola, Tenuta Carretta’s Technical Director and winemaker.
Alta Langa and the Cissone Vineyard
The Pinot Noir comes from a single plot planted in 2015 in Cissone, at the heart of Alta Langa, where Tenuta Carretta was the first to establish vineyards.
“Cissone was a gamble – but a deeply intentional one” Scaiola continues. “At an average altitude of around 630 meters, the north-facing slope is breezy and cool—a deliberate countermeasure against the effects of climate change. The pedoclimatic conditions here help slow down ripening, allowing us to pinpoint the ideal harvest window. This is also key in preserving acidity and aromatic freshness, thanks to significant day-night temperature swings, with harvesting taking place about two weeks later than the local average. We usually begin in early September, when most Alta Langa producers have already completed their harvest. This timing allows us to make precise picking decisions and, in this case, to craft an elegant, distinctive, and precise rosé sparkling wine.”
The Guyot-trained vineyard is planted at high density (6,000 vines per hectare) to promote healthy vine competition, particularly valuable in warmer or drier vintages. This deliberate slowing of phenological development enhances vine balance and grape quality. Grapes are rigorously hand-harvested into crates and pressed whole.
“This practice proved essential in 2022. Despite the heat, we were not caught off guard: while vineyards across the Langhe suffered, Cissone’s conditions ensured complete and balanced ripening. That vintage gave us the confidence to attempt pure Pinot Noir vinification as a rosé,” Scaiola concludes.
Alta Langa DOCG Rosé Airali Extra Brut 2022
This Alta Langa is produced from 100% Pinot Noir. “After hand-harvesting, we leave the whole clusters in cold storage for up to two days to allow minimal skin contact and delicate color extraction. A second short maceration follows pneumatic pressing, with skins removed within two hours. We use a very low pressing yield (about 50%) to ensure gentle extraction of anthocyanins,” explains Scaiola. Fermentation and maturation take place entirely in stainless steel. The result is a brilliantly elegant rosé, onion-skin in color with pink highlights. On the nose, notes of peach, violet, and small red fruits emerge—subtle yet persistent, and mirrored faithfully on the palate. Acidity forms the backbone, balanced by structure and a faintly tannic touch from the controlled skin contact. The Extra Brut style was chosen to highlight authenticity and the direct connection to the vineyard.
Opting for pure Pinot Noir confirms the high-quality ambition of the Airali project. Pinot Noir is among the noblest yet most demanding grape varieties for metodo classico winemaking, particularly in a “millesimato style” such as Alta Langa DOCG, which does not allow blending with reserve wines. “Pinot Noir demands great precision when it comes to color management, oxidation control, and aromatic definition. Tenuta Carretta’s decision to vinify it solo is a statement of intent to express the identity of the Cissone terroir, drawing on the technical expertise we’ve developed over time,” Scaiola adds.
Alta Langa DOCG Rosé Airali Extra Brut is crafted for curious wine lovers seeking elegance without rigidity, freshness with complexity. “Rosé metodo classico is highly in demand today—for its color, fragrance, and versatility. It’s perfect as an aperitif but pairs equally well throughout the meal: with raw seafood, shellfish, grilled fish, and white meats. As consumer trends show, rosé is no longer confined to summer—it’s now a year-round wine with a rightful place at the table,” Scaiola concludes.
