The Caldera family has made wine at Portacomaro Stazione, a hamlet of Asti on the road to Casale, for four generations. Prospero Caldera started the business around the turn of the 20th century (the label says 'dal 1899'). Carlo and then Giuseppe followed him. Today Fabrizia Caldera runs it with her husband Roberto Rossi and their son Fabio. Each wine is made from a single grape, using vines 30 to 50 years old with low yields, and is aged in large casks or barriques under the brick vaults of the old cellar. Ruchè is the main focus. They make three: 'Prevost', which won Gambero Rosso's Tre Bicchieri in the 2024 guide, 'Xenio' and 'Genit'. The rest of the list includes the Barbera d'Asti 'Harmonius' and the Superiore 'Balmèt', the Grignolino d'Asti 'Le Serre', and two Viogniers, 'Viò' and 'Forestè'. There are also a Gavi, a Dogliani, a red from overripe grapes and two spumanti.
Visits must be booked by phone or email. 'Incontra e Degusta' costs €20 per person, with a minimum of two. It takes about an hour and covers the old cellar and four wines, with a member of the family as your guide. The €25 version adds a fifth wine and a plate of salumi, cheese and grissini. Experienced tasters can ask for blind or vertical tastings for groups of four or more. Google reviewers describe a warm welcome from Fabrizia and Fabio, and visitors who don't speak Italian say they got along fine in English. On Vivino, the wines average 3.8 across more than 1,700 ratings.