05/27/2026
Most people visit wineries.
Our guests step inside family legacies.
During our recent VIP Winery Vacations journey through Piedmont, Jamie and I had the incredible privilege of bringing our group to Fontanabianca in the heart of Barbaresco.
And this was special.
Matteo Pola personally guided us through his family’s estate, a winery started by his grandfather and built over generations into one of the hidden gems of Neive.
This is not a massive production winery.
They produce only about 160,000 bottles annually.
Small.
Focused.
Hands-on.
Deeply connected to the land.
And the land here is extraordinary.
The estate is much more than vineyards. The Pola family also farms hazelnut trees throughout the surrounding hillsides, creating the kind of authentic agricultural landscape that defines Piedmont.
Standing on the terrace overlooking Neive, surrounded by vineyards, orchards, rolling green hills, and tiny villages in the distance, our guests experienced the kind of beauty that photos almost cannot capture.
Then Matteo brought us underground into the cellar where things became even more fascinating.
Inside the cellar walls, portions of the earth are intentionally exposed, allowing you to literally see the geological layers beneath the estate. Limestone, clay, marine sediment, and ancient deposits stacked through time.
Matteo explained how these soils shape everything:
the vine growth,
water drainage,
root depth,
aromatics,
tannin structure,
minerality,
and ultimately the personality of the wine itself.
This is the kind of insider experience that changes how you think about wine forever.
And of course, the wines were stunning.
Elegant Barbaresco.
Beautiful Barbera.
Fresh Arneis.
And an Alta Langa sparkling wine that absolutely wowed our guests.
This is why Jamie and I created VIP Winery Vacations.
Not to check wineries off a list.
But to create meaningful access to the families, vineyards, cellars, and stories behind the wines.
These are the moments that stay with people long after the trip ends.
If you’ve ever dreamed of experiencing wine country from the inside, come travel with us.
