CANTINA D'ARCY
Tom Myers
The story of Cantina D’Arcy is inseparable from that of Tom Myers, a New Zealand-born winemaker whose journey to Barolo reflects both determination and a deep intellectual curiosity for great wine. His early path was unconventional, spanning hospitality and even the military before a decisive shift toward viticulture led him across some of the world’s most revered regions. From Burgundy to the Rhône, Jura, Mosel and Australia, he worked alongside producers such as Comte Armand, Benjamin Leroux, Domaine du Pélican and Giuseppe Rinaldi, absorbing a wide spectrum of philosophies while refining his own.
Piemonte, however, became his true anchor from 2013 onward, where he developed a lasting affinity for Nebbiolo and the cultural depth of Barolo. After years of searching for land in an intensely competitive region, he secured a small but significant foothold in the Preda cru. The first vintage was released in 2020, marking the quiet arrival of a project defined by patience and intent. Named after his maternal grandmother, Cantina D’Arcy reflects not only a personal lineage but also a long-term commitment to crafting wines that sit comfortably within the great tradition of the Langhe while offering a distinctly individual voice.
The story of Cantina D’Arcy is inseparable from that of Tom Myers, a New Zealand-born winemaker whose journey to Barolo reflects both determination and a deep intellectual curiosity for great wine. His early path was unconventional, spanning hospitality and even the military before a decisive shift toward viticulture led him across some of the world’s most revered regions. From Burgundy to the Rhône, Jura, Mosel and Australia, he worked alongside producers such as Comte Armand, Benjamin Leroux, Domaine du Pélican and Giuseppe Rinaldi, absorbing a wide spectrum of philosophies while refining his own.
Piemonte, however, became his true anchor from 2013 onward, where he developed a lasting affinity for Nebbiolo and the cultural depth of Barolo. After years of searching for land in an intensely competitive region, he secured a small but significant foothold in the Preda cru. The first vintage was released in 2020, marking the quiet arrival of a project defined by patience and intent. Named after his maternal grandmother, Cantina D’Arcy reflects not only a personal lineage but also a long-term commitment to crafting wines that sit comfortably within the great tradition of the Langhe while offering a distinctly individual voice.
In the vineyard, Tom’s approach is guided by observation and restraint rather than doctrine. Farming is organic in spirit, with an emphasis on soil vitality, biodiversity and the long-term health of the vines. Each parcel is treated as a distinct entity, requiring its own rhythm of work and its own decisions. In Preda, the combination of elevation, east-facing exposure and calcareous marls naturally encourages a more lifted and perfumed expression of Nebbiolo, and Tom’s role is to preserve this inherent finesse.
Vineyard work is meticulous but measured: canopy management is adapted to the season, yields are controlled without excess, and harvest timing is determined with precision to capture both aromatic brightness and tannic maturity. There is a clear avoidance of over-ripeness or forced concentration; instead, the objective is balance wines that carry energy, transparency and a sense of place. His Burgundian influences are evident here, not in imitation, but in the sensitivity with which each site is interpreted and allowed to speak.
In the cellar, the same philosophy of restraint is paired with an evolving and pragmatic approach. Fermentations are carried out with indigenous yeasts, and extraction is deliberately gentle, favouring infusion over force to protect aromatic detail and textural finesse. Whole clusters are used selectively depending on vintage conditions and parcel character, contributing lift and complexity when appropriate. Ageing has become an area of refinement over recent vintages: large-format oak remains important, but extended élevage in barrel has been progressively reduced in favour of shorter time in wood followed by long maturation in concrete, allowing the wines to settle without overt influence from oak. This shift reflects a broader intention to prioritise purity and site expression over winemaking imprint, while still allowing flexibility depending on vintage conditions.
This evolution is particularly visible in the most recent releases. The 2022 “Pre-”, sourced from Preda, comes from a challenging warm and dry vintage where vine stress required careful adaptation. In response, different élevage approaches were used within the same wine, combining components raised in tank with others aged in barrel, before being assembled and ultimately released as Vino Rosso rather than Barolo. The result is a deliberately honest expression of experimentation, acknowledging that no single method is absolute. The 2023 Nebbiolo and the forthcoming 2023 “Pre-” continue this direction with a more unified élevage approach, generally limited to around one year in barrel followed by extended time in concrete. Together, these wines mark a transition phase for Cantina D’Arcy, where the intent is increasingly clear: to produce Nebbiolo that can be approached early for its immediacy, while still carrying the structure and depth to evolve over decades.
In the cellar, the same philosophy of restraint is paired with an evolving and pragmatic approach. Fermentations are carried out with indigenous yeasts, and extraction is deliberately gentle, favouring infusion over force to protect aromatic detail and textural finesse. Whole clusters are used selectively depending on vintage conditions and parcel character, contributing lift and complexity when appropriate. Ageing has become an area of refinement over recent vintages: large-format oak remains important, but extended élevage in barrel has been progressively reduced in favour of shorter time in wood followed by long maturation in concrete, allowing the wines to settle without overt influence from oak. This shift reflects a broader intention to prioritise purity and site expression over winemaking imprint, while still allowing flexibility depending on vintage conditions.
This evolution is particularly visible in the most recent releases. The 2022 “Pre-”, sourced from Preda, comes from a challenging warm and dry vintage where vine stress required careful adaptation. In response, different élevage approaches were used within the same wine, combining components raised in tank with others aged in barrel, before being assembled and ultimately released as Vino Rosso rather than Barolo. The result is a deliberately honest expression of experimentation, acknowledging that no single method is absolute. The 2023 Nebbiolo and the forthcoming 2023 “Pre-” continue this direction with a more unified élevage approach, generally limited to around one year in barrel followed by extended time in concrete. Together, these wines mark a transition phase for Cantina D’Arcy, where the intent is increasingly clear: to produce Nebbiolo that can be approached early for its immediacy, while still carrying the structure and depth to evolve over decades.
REGION OF PRODUCTION
Piedmont - Italy
APPELLATION
Barolo, Langhe Nebbiolo
FOUNDED
2019
VINEYARD
1 hectare
CLIMATE
Mediterranean climate
SOIL COMPOSITION
Limestone, Marl
VARIETIES GROWN
Nebbiolo
AGRICULTURE
Organic Practices