Scarpa Wine: The Rebirth of Heritage Winemaking Houses

Scarpa, one of Piedmont’s oldest private wineries, is experiencing a resurgence that has caught the attention of the European wine industry. Under the leadership of owner Evgeny Strzhalkovsky, a Monaco-based entrepreneur, the estate has delivered a dramatic 300% revenue increase in under a decade – from €800,000 in 2016 to an estimated €3.2 million in 2025. This exceptional commercial growth has created the conditions for a broader strategic transformation, marking a new era for the historic house and setting the stage for Scarpa’s global ambitions.

The storied estate, founded in 1900, has long been recognised as one of the most reputable producers of Barbera and Barolo. Scarpa’s lineage is woven into the fabric of Piedmontese wine history, and, for more than a century, it has preserved the meticulous craftsmanship and terroir-led philosophy that defines the region’s winemaking.

Founded by Antonio Scarpa in Nizza Monferrato, the estate quickly became known for uncompromising quality and was celebrated as an exemplary producer by the 1930s. When Antonio retired, he passed the estate to Mario Pesce – a young wine trader and innovator who helped elevate the region’s winemaking standards. Pesce became President of the Commission for the elevation of Asti wines, bringing crucial investment and technical advancement to Monferrato.

His nephew, Carlo Castino, later took the reins, continuing Scarpa’s reputation for excellence and traditional craftsmanship. Today, Castino still lives above the historic cellars, a living link to the estate’s storied past.

The modern era of Scarpa began in 2017, when the winery was acquired by Strzhalkovsky. Since then, the transformation has been striking – with exemplary growth being driven by renewed brand strategy, international expansion and disciplined investment.

Strzhalkovsky’s approach has been both respectful and ambitious: preserving the Scarpa soul, but pairing it with innovation, multi-market reach and a willingness to experiment in emerging terroirs.

Under his leadership, the house has entered a bold new chapter: a strategic transformation that blends its deep-rooted heritage with a forward-looking, global vision.

With the guidance of winemaker Silvio Trinchero – trained in the famed “Scarpa school” – the estate has strengthened its technical operations, refined its stylistic identity, and embraced modernised production methods without compromising tradition. Scarpa continues to produce some of Italy’s most admired Barbera and Barolo wines, but it is also expanding beyond Piedmont, testing and proving its winemaking capabilities in France, and now looking further afield.

This expansion marks Scarpa’s evolution into a globally oriented wine house. The next decade will see the winery pursue ambitious projects in Argentina – in Valle de Uco and Salta – two high-altitude regions whose climatic precision offers tremendous potential. Scarpa is also exploring New Zealand, with a focus on Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, signalling a new diversification strategy: combining heritage winemaking in historic regions with innovative production in more challenging, unconventional climates.

A major milestone comes in 2026 with the debut of Poggio al Fiore, an exclusive boutique label from Montalcino. Crafted with meticulous attention to terroir and tradition, Poggio al Fiore launches with two flagship high-end releases. The label represents Scarpa’s commitment to small-volume luxury production – an elevated expression of the dedication to craftsmanship that has defined the estate for over a century.

But what distinguishes Scarpa is not only the preservation of its heritage, but its ability to translate that heritage into sustained commercial success.

Today, Scarpa stands as a model for how historic wineries can thrive in a global, trend-driven market: by honouring tradition, embracing innovation, and remaining unafraid to evolve. Its journey proves that legacy, when paired with vision and investment, is not a constraint; it is a foundation for a new era of excellence.