Barbera/Freisa. From estate parcels scattered about the steep hills of the Monferrato zone of Asti around the Verruàs' home village of Scurzolengo. The family farms organically, tending and harvesting the vines entirely by hand. The grapes are destemmed with berries kept whole and gently pressed without breaking the skins, just enough to kick off a native-yeast fermentation in vat. Fermentations go long in this cold cellar, as do macerations, which are up to 2 months. This Vino Rosso blend is aged in a mix of cement, fiberglass and Slavonian oak for about a year before bottling without filtration. Zero sulfur. Label note: while all other Tavijn wines sport clever, cartooned labels from artist Gianluca Cannizzo, this wine bears a simple white label with black script.