In southeast Piemonte, Valli Unite is one of Italy’s first natural wine cooperative created in the 70’s. Vineyards lie amid beehives, farm animals, orchards, and truffle filled woodlands. From honey to homemade salame, and wine in-between, 30 members work on the 100-hectare farm and call it home. During harvest, you can still stomp grapes with your bare feet here.

Currently, the farm has 20 hectares of vineyards that will most likely grow to 30 in the next few years. There are multiple labels and lines to choose from. PortoVino works with the Uccello  (bird) labels; these bottlings tend to be edgier, picked earlier with lower alcohol and high acidity.

“We believe natural vinification is a social responsibility” is the philosophy; soil humus, livestock manure, native yeasts, local grapes, time, and parsimonious sulphur compose the winning formula. Visit sometime, work hard in the morning, and then stay for the communal lunch to get back to nature – and people – in a honest and genuine way on this working farm. Eco-chic searchers beware!