| Region of production: | Barolo |
| Winery Location: | Montforte d’Alba |
| Year Established: | 1908 |
Vineyard Holdings
56 ha
- Francia (16 ha; monopole): Southwest-facing vineyard at 400 meters elevation. Purchased in 1974.
- Ceretta (3 ha): Planted to Nebbiolo and Barbera. Purchased in 2008.
- Arione (9 ha): Located south of Serralunga. Purchased in 2015.
- Nervi: Gattinara
Top Wines Produced & Inaugural Vintages
- Barolo Monfortino: Inaugural vintage 1920.
- Barolo Cascina Francia: Inaugural vintage 1978.
- Barbera d’Alba Cascina Francia
- Nebbiolo d’Alba Ceretta
Average Total Production
- N/A
Summary
After joining the estate that was founded by Giacomo’s father, Giovanni (who passed away in 1934), Giacomo began his career with a vision to make Barolo with exceptional aging potential. In the 1920’s he achieved acclaim with his first bottling of Monfortino, a wine that lived up to his vision and was made with what today is considered traditional techniques, though at the time were avant garde. He prolonged the maceration period and aged the wine in large, old wooden botti. The estate made wine exclusively with purchased fruit until they acquired the Francia vineyard in 1974. From 1978, this vineyard has supplied both the Monfortino and the Cascina Francia bottlings. For the second time ever, in 2008, the estate purchased new vineyard – the Ceretta cru, also in Serralunga d’Alba. Giacomo passed away in 2003 and the estate is operated by his son, Roberto, who continues the tradition of making superb, powerful, long-lived wines. In 2018 Roberto purchased the historical estate Nervi in the northern appellation of Gattinara, also know as Piemonte Alto. Nervi was established in 1906 and adds 28 ha of Nebbiolo to their overall holdings, which will be continued to be made by the same winemaker for Nervi since 1983, with the assistance of Roberto’s son Gabriele.
Style & Vinification Techniques
Considered the father of the classic Barolo style: grapes have extended maceration periods and are aged in large, old Slavonian oak botti. The Monfortino bottling sees warmer fermentations, longer macerations, and longer ageing than Cascina Francia. Wines are organic.
Producer Website: N/A