Biography
The Colla family has a long involvement in wine. The first evidence goes back to 1703, when, in a document one hears of a certain Carlo Colla of Santo Stefano Belbo who sold, in various formats, rosé wine, red wine, and white wine. Effectively speaking, the Colla have wine in their blood. Beppe Colla, for many years, was the man behind the success of one of the major wineries of Alba. In 1994, Tino Colla and his niece Federica (but with the involvement of Beppe as well) founded Poderi Colla, headquartered at Cascina Drago, near Alba at San Rocco Seno d’Elvio, one of the loveliest and most fascinating corners of the Langhe hills: though little known, it is one of the finest crus of the zone. Poderi Colla also owns vineyards at Roncaglia in the Barbaresco appellation and at Dardi Le Rose di Monforte in the Barolo DOCG. The family continues to believe in traditional wines expressive of their territory and their vintage. Not all vintages are bottled, only ones of a certain level. Large casks are used for aging in order to refine the wine and avoid dominating it, just as local tradition prescribes, and proper respect for the tradition demands. With this uncompromising philosophy, the Barolo of the Bussia dei Dardi Le Rose has the characteristic medium garnet color with brick highlights, the tannic finesse, and the full and austere structure of a wine for long aging. The Barbaresco Roncaglie is very interesting as well, characterful, long, and persistent. The Dolcetto of Piano Balbo is fragrant and immediately pleasurable. Campo Romano is a very special wine, one of the pioneering examples of Pinot Noir in Piedmont, very fragrant with typical berry aromas. Finally, and well worth mentioning, is Bricco del Drago, the first Piedmont blend of two very different wines, Nebbiolo and Dolcetto, very unusual, supple, and perfumed.