Cascina Penna-Currado
At first glance, Cascina Penna-Currado might look like just another name on a label—but those three words say everything about this deeply personal and passionately crafted project. The winery represents the shared vision of enologist Luca Currado Vietti and his wife and business partner Elena Penna, who have poured decades of expertise, heart, and heritage into this new chapter. With their children Michele and Giulia now involved, it’s truly a family affair.
The estate is housed at the historic Cascina Lazzarito, a 16th-century farmhouse near Serralunga d’Alba. Though it had been sitting abandoned, Luca had long dreamed of bringing it back to life. Now undergoing extensive renovation under strict UNESCO preservation guidelines, the property serves as the symbolic and literal foundation of the Penna-Currado family's next generation of winemaking. Despite the restoration still being underway, Cascina Penna-Currado officially launched in 2023, with wines already in bottle and vineyards firmly rooted nearby.
This isn't just a new winery—it’s a reimagining of legacy.
For over three decades, Luca was the force behind Vietti, the iconic Barolo producer founded in 1873. After Vietti was acquired by the Krause family (owners of U.S. chain Kum & Go) in 2016, Luca remained as CEO for seven more vintages. But in 2023, after 35 harvests, he and Elena chose to return to something smaller, more intimate, and entirely theirs.
Cascina Penna-Currado (CPC) reflects that shift. It’s rooted in Langhe tradition, run hands-on by the family, and crafted with a focus on purity, sustainability, and expressive terroir. Elena, a seasoned hospitality and cellar management pro, partners with Luca in both the vineyards and winery, bringing balance and continuity. Their children are actively learning the ropes, ensuring the family legacy continues.
Vineyards with Vision
CPC farms organically, and vineyard selection is key. Their holdings are all within 30 minutes of the estate, creating a tightly focused local footprint. Most red varieties come from Monforte d’Alba, including a prized 13-hectare block in San Sebastiano. Soils here are classic Piedmont—marine sediment, marl, and sandstone—ideal for structured reds like Nebbiolo, Barbera, and Dolcetto.
Their white wine, Timorasso, comes from Derthona in Colli Tortonesi, grown on fossil-rich Sant’Agata marls and calcareous clay that bring tension, minerality, and savory depth. It’s a wine that speaks of place and precision.
In an age of climate change, Luca's site selection strategy leans toward cooler, sometimes north-facing vineyards, anticipating warmer vintages and evolving palates.
2025 marks CPC’s second release of Nebbiolo, Barbera, and Dolcetto—the Barolos are still aging and eagerly awaited. We at Hart & Cru will announce their arrival as soon as they’re ready.
In the Cellar: Precision with Soul
CPC's cellar work mirrors their vineyard ethos—meticulous yet soulful. Reds are fermented whole-cluster with gentle extraction, building complexity without overpowering ripeness. For the Timorasso, skin contact and submerged cap fermentation add weight and aromatic nuance while preserving freshness.
One of the many personal touches? The wine labels. The debut artwork was created by Giuseppe Stampone, one of Elena’s favorite artists, using only blue BIC pen ink. The image of children looking toward the horizon captures CPC’s spirit: hopeful, rooted, and forward-looking.
At Hart & Cru, stories like this are why we do what we do. We’ve long championed Vietti, and seeing the creative force behind it step out with a renewed vision is nothing short of inspiring.
With Cascina Penna-Currado, Luca and Elena have delivered wines that are both elegant and powerful, steeped in tradition yet unafraid to evolve. It’s a project built on deep experience, bold decisions, and a desire to make wine the right way—for their family, their land, and the future.
We can’t wait to share what’s next.
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