Since 1897 we produce Barolo in the heart of Cannubi, in family.

Our roots date back to the mid-nineteenth century, when the Cavalier Francesco Borgogno began producing his own wine, selling it in the small tavern of his wife in Barolo. At the time of his death he left the family house and cellar to Lodovico Borgogno. At that time these were located in the historical centre of Barolo. In that house Lodovico passed on to his sons Serio and Battista the art of wine-making and the deep love for his land. At his death Serio and Battista Borgogno inherited some land and a small farmhouse in Cannubi. With immense effort and hard work they managed to turn a dream into reality: building their house and their winery on top of Cannubi, buying more vineyards all around for a total of 3 ha, in the heart of Cannubi.

In the heart of wine-growing Piedmont – in the hills of the Langhe – Fontanafredda was born: an area of 54 hectares of the property of Giacomo Roggeri in Serralunga d’Alba, was registered under the private estate of Vittorio Emanuele II King of Sardinia, in 1858.

The king, who had fallen in love with Rosa Vercellana, also known as “La Bela Rusin”, a commoner and daughter of a drum major at his majesty’s service, gave the entire parcel of land to her, making her Countess of Mirafiori and Fontanfredda a year later. The history of Fontanafredda had begun, but it did not start operating as a business venture until twenty years later, in 1878, thanks to the farsightedness of Emanuele Guerrieri, Count of Mirafiore, son of the king and Bela Rusin, a noble entrepreneur who devoted his life to wine with a very modern approach.

The estate’s noble pastis still evident at Fontanafredda today in the hunting lodge, hamlet, extensive cellars and vineyards, but it continues to innovate and experiment, perfecting what nature and history have handed down. This is why Fontanafredda continues to stand out as a point of reference: the expression of a wine culture that stems from the land and the vineyard, and matures through the work and creativity of men.

The Vineyards

The vineyards of Fontanafredda lie on mostly evenly-contoured, rounded hillsides at altitudes between 200 and 400 metres, in the municipal areas of Serralunga d’Alba, Diano d’Alba, Barolo and Murisengo: in all, 85 hectares, planted mostly with the traditional Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto and Moscato grape varieties.

The Cellars

At Fontanafredda, beneath high brick vaulted ceilings, the oak casks and steel vats housed in the majestic nineteenth-century cellars accommodate the noble red wines for their ageing, while newer buildings are equipped with all the technology that is essential today to bring out the best in the characteristics of the white and sparkling wines.

The Estate

Fontanafredda is open to visitors every day of the year, offering a wide variety of opportunities, in a magical atmosphere which is a blend of memory and reality, man and nature, land and vine, where, more than ever before, the working rhythm is marked by the changing of the seasons. This is the world of Fontanafredda: the cellars, the village, the Royal Villa and the Wood of Thought, where memories of the first King of Italy and of Countess Rosa are still very much alive.

“Langa is the Italian Burgundy: the potential of this terroir is what the world should know”.

Company History

The son of a vine grower and grandchild of a bottler (maternal grandfather), Sergio Germano developed the desire to create a complete wine company, to grow its own grapevines and produce its own wine. In 1985, as soon as he finished his studies, Sergio started working for the family company in Serralunga and, together with his father Ettore, planted the first Chardonnay grapevine. He also made a system to bottle immediately from 3,000 to 5,000 bottles (among which about a thousand of Chardonnay): «these were the years of the great “revolution”, when many vine growers started to make wine on their own» Sergio explains.

Since his oenology studies, Sergio Germano has been fascinated by the production process of white wines, a passion he inherited from the father, a very inquiring man, who loved experimenting, as Sergio himself describes him. A great amount of travelling in Europe allowed him to discover Riesling and so Sergio decided to start his first experiment with a 300 plant vineyard in Serralunga, «almost as a bet», as he likes to tell… Few years later, the great occasion arrived: while he was producing Dolcetto wine in the Dogliani area, after a friendly chat, he was proposed to plant some white grapevines in that area. And so, for this reason, today, the company Ettore Germano, managed by Sergio Germano and his wife Elena together with their children Elia and Maria, has, beside the 10 hectares of land covered with vineyards in Serralunga, also 10 hectares in the municipality of Cigliè, in Alta Langa. Sergio and Elena work on the growing of the vineyards, the wine making, and the selling of the wine, by keeping the family tradition untouched.

The Wines

In Cigliè, the company exclusively produces white wines and sparkling wines. On the contrary, in Serralunga, the production exclusively involves red berry varieties used to produce Dolcetto d’Alba DOC, Barbera d’Alba DOC, Langhe DOC Nebbiolo e Barolo DOCG. The choice of the vineyard derives from very precise rules: Barolo, for example, starts to be produced in a vineyard only 15 years after the Nebbiolo grapevine has been growing, by using a traditional method of production, which includes a long maceration (at least 20 days). Three Barolo selections are the flagship of the company: Prapò and Cerretta, coming from 40-year old vineyards, and Lazzarito, produced in a vineyard which is over 80 years old.

The Bond with Langhe

Ettore Germano is certainly the person who, more than anyone else, has influenced Sergio’s path: «At school, I learnt the theory, but then my father passed to me the passion to properly work in the vineyard, keeping the grapevines in good health and avoiding the use of pesticides: the respect for our territory comes first of all; this territory is generous, everything can grow well, but it must be protected and defended, by protecting the biodiversity and without producing in a massive way».

From Sergio Germano’s words it is easy to understand how strong is the bond that he has with Langhe: «As Carlo Petrini, a man who did a lot for these lands, said, “Langa is the Italian Burgundy” and I think what we should tell the world, besides how great Barolo is, is the great potential of this terroir, all of it, including the areas of the Alta Langa, which provide an added value: it is for this reason that I decided to take up this challenge by producing white wines. Moreover, there is not only the wine, the value of Langhe is also given by the entire experience one can live here, thanks to the landscapes, the monuments, the wine and the food. Here the tourism is very careful: only those who really want to know, decide to come here getting the maximum benefit from what nature has to offer».

The Cellar

It is possible to visit the cellar all year round, preferably after booking. The tour includes a tasting and, if the conditions allow it, a stroll in the vineyards.

The Grinzane Cavour Castle houses the “Cavour” Regional Enoteca, the first to be set up in Piedmont in 1967. This is a prestigious showcase for the very best Piedmontese wines and grappas, foremost amongst them being Barolo and Barbaresco. The wines undergo a strict selection process before being displayed and placed on sale along with leading local food products. Tastings possible.

Housed in the Castle of Barolo, the “Enoteca Regionale del Barolo” was established in 1982 by a specific regional law. It is the prestigious showcase of wine production in the eleven municipalities that make up the area of origin of the “king of wines”: Barolo, Castiglione Falletto Cherasco, Diano d’Alba, Grinzane Cavour, La Morra, Monforte d’Alba, Novello, Roddi, Serralunga d’Alba, Verduno.

It currently represents 195 producers, whose wines are allowed only after an examination of a special wine tasting committee, operating strictly on anonymous samples to make an objective judgment.

The Barolo selected are then exposed in the tasting rooms and retail, made in the old cellars of Marchesi Falletti, historic birthplace of Barolo, in the same picturesque setting in which more than one hundred and fifty years ago it began to gain notoriety and fame.

Founded in 1974 on an old farmhouse dating back to the middle of the 18th century, the Dosio Vigneti winery stands in the heart of Langhe, on the highest point of La Morra, on the Serradenari hill: it is here that the highest Barolo of the entire denomination is born.

With 2010 the winery sees a new rebirth: the founders are succeeded by new owners who give the company a new look, always respecting the traditions and the territory.

The large structure, completely surrounded by the estate’s vineyards, enjoys an enchanting position: at five hundred meters above sea level, the view sweeps over the Cuneo and Turin plains as far as the splendid backdrop of the Alps, from the Maritime Alps to the Rosa Massif. Here, the excellent position – with a completely southern exposure – ensures the right ventilation and temperature for the vineyards, guaranteeing the production of extreme elegance and finesse wines.

The production philosophy is carried forward by pursuing the founding values of quality and tradition, with an eye to innovation and an unavoidable respect for the territory thanks to production and cultivation methods aimed at reducing the impact on the environment as much as possible. Following nature as closely as possible is in fact the spirit that guides the company’s choices and, in particular, those of vinification: the company follows the principles of integrated pest management on the entire vineyard area, thus implementing sustainable agriculture with a low environmental impact; the same principles are also respected in the cellar, with a low-impact enology that enhances the quality of the raw material at every stage. These values will also be attested, starting from the next harvest, by SQNPI certification, “Sistema di Qualità Nazionale Produzione Integrata” (National Quality System for Integrated Production).

The company currently owns vineyards in 3 important Barolo crus – Serradenari, Fossati and Bussia – from which born 5 different Barolo wines of great personality and elegance.

Preserving and enhancing the typicality of our territory, together with hospitality, are among our main objectives. Consistent with our approach of continuous evolution, we have started work on the renovation of the manor house of Dosio Vigneti, which – in autumn 2022 – will become a luxury resort. Our vision, in fact, revolves around the idea of excellence. This means that the restyling will lead to a resort that speaks to guests about the land, to represent the authenticity of the land and the value of our products. It will be a true customized break experience.

Damilano Wine Company is one of the oldest wineries in Barolo with historic traditions.

The Damilano family business dates back to 1890 when Giuseppe Borgogno, the great grandfather of the winery’s current owners, began to vinify his own estate wines in the town of Barolo. It is with great passion that Giacomo Damilano, the founder’s son-in-law, developed with his children a love for the vineyards, selecting and maintaining them with great care in order to improve the quality of the wines.  Over time, the winery’s production was transformed into a jewel that was passed down with pride in 1997 to Giacomo’s grandchildren, who continue to manage the winery today. Paolo, Mario and Guido Damilano, the fourth generation, have brought new vigor to the family business, strengthening and developing the fruit which this extraordinary land has to offer.  Always looking forward, they continually seek innovations to further refine Damilano’s production.  Guido Damilano is entrusted with the scrupulous running of the winery, while Paolo and Mario Damilano are in charge of the commercial side.

The winery, visible from the provincial road Alba-Barolo, is about 1.5 km from Barolo in the direction of Alba and is almost at the same elevation as La Morra.  The winery was renovated and now features a modern and practical architecture. The grapes are cultivated in 53 hectares of prestigious and select vineyards that the company looks after with the same attention and respect as the winery’s founders, as well as the skills of modern winemaking in order to pursue the highest quality. Damilano’s Nebbiolo production culminates in the great cru wines:  Cannubi, Liste, Brunate and Cerequio.

The vineyards are located in Barolo, Verduno, Grinzane Cavour, Novello, La Morra, Castiglione Falletto, Casorzo, Serralunga, Diano d’Alba and Vezza d’Alba. The winery produces 322,000 bottles a year of predominantly red wines, but it is in Barolo that the production reaches the height of its quality.

Beyond the Italian market, Damilano is present in 26 countries.  The most important foreign markets in terms of sales include:  Canada, Russia, Great Britain, Switzerland and Germany.  Damilano wines are also well distributed in the American market (50%), where the success of the Damilano brand was reaffirmed by the 2001 Barolo’s ranking in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list.