In Piedmont, noble wine land, north from the renowned Langhe there is an interesting wine area which is called Roero and recently it is getting more and more successful and esteemed. Whether Roero was successful in becoming a reference wine area of the Italian enology, it owes its fame to a young vintner, talented and of genial intuitions, as well as being convinced of the potentiality of the wines of his land: Matteo Correggia. In little more than ten years Matteo Correggia was successful in leaving an indelible sign in the history of the Piedmont's enology: his wines, since the beginning of his activity, have always been successful and appreciated everywhere, conquering awards and appreciations in every place. Fate wanted Matteo Correggia not to be with us anymore. An absurd and tragical accident happened in June 2001, while he was working in his vineyard, took away one of the most brilliant and genial wine producers. The ones who knew him, unfortunately, we did not have this privilege, remember him as a modest and talented person, everyone considered him as a master for the teachings he left, not only as a wine producer. It is not hard to believe because if it is true that a wine resembles the personality of the one which made it, Matteo Correggia's wines have always been examples of greatness and of excellent quality.

The cellar where Matteo Correggia's wines age

 Most of the estates now part of the Matteo Correggia Winery have been inherited by the homonymous Matteo's grandfather, who in 1935 divided with his brothers the patrimony of great grandfather Giovanni Battista. The farm was started by Matteo Correggia's grandfather and subsequently by his father Giovanni, and it was mainly oriented to the typical polyculture of Roero until 1980's. Viticulture has always been a fundamental activity of the farm, however they also cultivated fruits, in particular peaches, and the winery business was limited to the processing of a small part of grapes harvested in the vineyards. The production of wine was, at that time, an activity destined for the familiar consumption and for few friends.

 The sudden and premature death of Giovanni Correggia, happened in 1985, forced Matteo, at that time 23 years old, to take the responsibility of the farm and he then decided to further orient the business towards wine production. Two years later Matteo Correggia bottled for the first time part of his wine production, therefore beginning a course oriented to wine production of absolute quality. This choice also forced the consequent abandoning of the production of all the other farm products. Matteo Correggia modifies the farm's business and decides to make quality wine only and he started the renewal from the vineyards, trying to adopt the best productive results, from pruning to the selection of bunches done in summertime, and continuing this work in the cellar thanks to the adoption of modern equipments. Matteo Correggia's winery evolved from the initial 8 hectares (about 20 acres) to the present 20 (about 50), with a yearly production of about one hundred thousand bottles and eight different wines.

 In the dreams of Matteo Correggia there is also the firm will to make Roero's wine great. There was an abandoned house in Bricco Pecetto, among the Rocche, which attracted Matteo Correggia's attention, convinced that in that place so rich in history could begin the research for his future Roero wine. The history of that bricco is dated back to 1242 and it was property of Counts Malabaila and of Roero and later of some anonymous farmers. Matteo Correggia finally succeed in buying that bricco and sees his dreams to turn into reality and therefore begins a work that will lead to the creation of one of his great wines. He decided that place should have a name and in picking one he was inspired by the word Pecetto used in that place, a dialectal term used to call pessere, that is the pine trees bordering the vineyard. He then decided to call it Ròche d'Ampsej, a lexical form perpetuated by the rural culture of that place: it was the first step towards the creation of a great wine that will have the same name.

 On June 13th, 2001, a cruel fate wanted that two days after his family, his land and his people would be deprived of Matteo Correggia. His work is still remembered by the ones who knew him, in his wines and in his land. His name has remained in his winery and to the memory of humanity. The asteroid 1984 EQ discovered on March 6th, 1984 by Edward Bowell in the Observatory Station of Anderson Mesa in the astronomical observatory Lowell at Flagstaff (Arizona, USA), thanks to the impulse of the friend and astronomer Vincenzo Zappalà, was named after Matteo Correggia therefore passing its name to the memory of time and humanity. Once again the history of this family and of its work was marked by a cruel fate and, once again, the determination and will of the ones who were remained continued the course in the respect of the ones who preceded them. Thanks to the support and help of friends and of the ones who knew Matteo Correggia, today is his wife Ornella who continues the valuable work of his husband, by continuing to realize the projects Matteo with determination and foresight started, supported by Luca Rostagno, the young and talented wine maker Matteo wanted to work in his winery. It is right in this spirit that Ms. Ornella runs the winery, aiming everything to quality and because the name of Matteo Correggia will not be forgotten, because his teachings may still be alive in the wines of the winery, symbols of excellence without compromises, masterpieces the human genius can get from its work.

 The wines produced by the winery are all interesting and of excellent level. The monumental Roero Ròche d'Ampsej, the most representative one of the winery, is a great wine produced with Nebbiolo grape and aged for 20-22 months in cask, Barbera d'Alba Marun, aged in cask for 18-20 months, and Nebbiolo d'Alba La Val dei Preti, aged in cask for 18-20 months, represent the top wines of Matteo Correggia winery. Of remarkable interest is also Anthos, a dry wine produced with Brachetto grape according to an ancient local tradition, and Langhe Bianco Matteo Correggia, produced with Sauvignon Blanc and aged in barrique with intense and pleasing flavors and aromas. The winery also produces a Roero Arneis, made with the homonymous local white berried grape, a very good Barbera d'Alba and the valuable Langhe Rosso Le Marne Grigie.

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