Since 1962 the Aurelio Settimo winery produces only DOC and DOCG status red wines, grown exclusively on estate vineyards and vinified according to tradition: 5.67 hectares (14 acres) growing Nebbiolo and 0.97 (2 acres) planted with Dolcetto. 3.42 hectares of the estate’s Nebbiolo lie facing South-South-West on what is considered to be one of the area’s very finest crus: the celebrated ROCCHE DELL’ANNUNZIATA. Here the fertile,  clave-calcareous soil, together with the altitude (270-300 mt) and exposure, produces a full-bodied but, at the same time, delicate, very fragrant Barolo.

Since the death of Aurelio (March 2007), production and sales have been handled by his daughter Tiziana, who had long been assisting him in the running of the business. The philosophy remains the same, however: to focus on quality, in keeping with tradition.

Our winery is located in Serralunga d’Alba, in the heart of Barolo area. The word “biòca” comes from the Piedmontese language and is used to describe a decisive person often with a “tough head”, just like us that with all our ambitions make our best to express the excellence of this land through the wines we make.

In addition to the vinification area and to the underground cellar for ageing in barrels and in barriques, we have a tasting room with a wonderful terrace and a farmhouse located right next to the cellar, in the tranquil hills and vineyards. We have 6 cozy rooms from which you can admire a fantastic view of the Langhe landscape.

Our vineyards are situated in the villages of Monforte d’Alba (Bussia, San Sebastiano subzones), Novello (Ravera subzone), La Morra (Castagni and Croera subzones), Castiglione Falletto (Piantà subzone), Barbaresco (Secondine and Ronchi subzones).

Our production is 50.000 bottles per year, includes in addition to the tradition wines of Langhe: Dolcetto d’Alba doc, Barbera d’Alba doc, Langhe doc Nebbiolo, Langhe doc Freisa, Barolo docg e Barbaresco docg represented by different crus, also Langhe doc Rosato by Nebbiolo and Barbera grapes, a sparkling rosè extra dry mostly by Freisa grape and a grappa by nebbiolo grapes to Barolo wine.

The winery

The Rizieri winery, owned by Arturo Verrotti di Pianella, is located among the hills of Diano d’Alba, in the heart of the Langhe, in an area always been considered among the most suited to viticulture, the Sörì del Ricchino. The estate extends over an area of 13 hectares, combined in a single body, 6 of which are vineyards and the rest deciduous and mixed woods. The cultivated varieties, implanted between 1966 and 2006 are mainly native species: Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto and Arneis.

“We take care of the vines with the maximum respect for the environment and personally follow all phases of work both in the vineyard and in the cellar with patience, perseverance and, of course, great enthusiasm. We believe that this is the only way to obtain the best from our grapes”.

The philosophy

From the beginning, the path and the growth of our winery has gone hand in hand with a commitment to environmental sustainability. We use only cow manure to fertilize the vineyards that have been stressed, and have abolished the use of herbicides. The natural revegetation of the rows and the frequent and prompt green pruning prevent the onset of fungal diseases. In late July, we make the manual thinning of the bunches, in order to decrease the yield and promote optimal maturation: a production deliberately controlled to obtain the maximum return in terms of quality. The harvest is done strictly by hand to select only the best grapes that are collected in small crates in order to preserve their integrity.

The wines

In the cellar, as in the vineyard, we minimize our intervention so that each wine freely expresses character and personality, becoming the true reflection of its original grapes and terroir. We use a combination of traditional and modern wine-making techniques. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature. We like that the wood harmonizes and completes our wines without dominating their taste. For this reason, we prefer to avoid the use of barriques and opt for lightly toasted barrels wood. Whether it is vinified exclusively in stainless steel or it pauses in wood, each wine is given all the time necessary to express itself. The red wines are bottled without filtration to preserve aroma, color and taste.

The agronomic/enological consulting is entrusted to the experience, sensitivity and expertise of Gianfranco Cordero and its team.

Five are the Rizieri wines, all produced in purity from a selection of the best grapes.

The Barolo, intense garnet red with brick hue, is aged in large Slavonian and French oak barrels of 30 Hl for 24 months. On the nose, it blends hints of balmy spices, orange zest, tobacco and cocoa with clear notes of cherries in liqueur and fresh raspberries. The palate is clean, elegant and full-bodied with fine and silky tannins. A Barolo in which the characteristics of Nebbiolo grapes are expressed in their most delicate and elegant version.

The Nebbiolo d’Alba, bright ruby-red with garnet reflections, matures in traditional large Slavonian oak barrels and French oak tonneau for 15 months in order to harmonize the great structure. Intense nose with aromas reminiscent of marinated cherries and raspberries, and spicy hints of vanilla and dark chocolate in the background. In the mouth, it is elegant, harmonious with good freshness, velvety tannins and a long finish. Perfect reflection of the variety of origin, it shares bouquet and elegance with the Barolo with a lightness that goes well with any meal.

The Barbera d’Alba Superiore, dense and seductively feminine, is aged for over a year in traditional large Slavonian oak barrels and French oak tonneau until it reaches the full aromatic expression. Dark purple-red with violet nuances in the glass, on the nose the bouquet is complex with pleasant fruit, black cherry and red berries, that blends with spicy notes of ginger, almond and green pepper in the background. The palate is elegant, round and fleshy. The finish is fresh and persistent with acidity and tannins well-balanced by the maturation in wood.

The Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba Sorì Ricchino, produced with grapes from a vineyard of over 40 years, an ancient clone with the red stem. It is vinified without the use of wood, in full respect of the tradition. Once completed the malolactic fermentation, it matures in stainless steel for about 8 months. Ruby-red color with delicate violet reflections, almost impenetrable to the eye, is characterized by its intense vinous fragrance with enveloping notes of marasca cherries, blackberry jam and violet. Fresh, fragrant and dry with a typical pleasant almond finish and soft tannins in the mouth. A Dolcetto of great dignity that flows hot and substantial, able also of aging.

The Langhe Arneis Arvià that in Piedmontese dialect means “lively, ready,” is made ​​with grapes from a single vineyard with full West exposure, the best for this variety. We let leaves partially shade the grapes to preserve and intensify their flavors and aromas. It is fermented exclusively in stainless steel with an aging on noble lees for about 4 months. Brilliant straw yellow with delicate green reflections in the glass,  it is intense and harmonious with hints of quince, yellow nectarine and acacia flowers. The palate is sapid, fresh with mineral notes and great acid-sweet equilibrium.

Hospitality

The heart of the winery is the nineteenth-century farmhouse with its unusual horseshoe shape, surrounded by the ideal embrace of vineyards and oak trees. Recently renovated in full respect of architecture and original materials, since 2012 it is in part dedicated to hospitality. The old barn has been turned into 4 double bedrooms individually furnished by mixing found objects and décor design. The agriturismo Rizieri is the ideal place for those wishing to spend a few days in total relax. In the large room, converted from the old stables, you will be able to taste the wines with calm, surrounded by the vineyards that have originated them.

In Monforte d’Alba, surrounded by Langhe hills abd vineyards, you can find Diego Pressenda- La Torricella farm. The cultivation of owned vineyards and the production of a wide rage of healthy, safe and high quality DOC and DOCG wines. Among which we find the classic method sparkling wine “Letizia” obtained from Dolcetto grapes, the Langhe Rosso “a modo suo” and Barolo Bricco San Pietro. Cellar tours with wine- tastings organized in the panoramic room, to share our dedication of production from the vineyard to the glass and the emotion of colors, aromas and flavors of Diego Pressenda wines.

L’agriturismo La Torricella with pool for relaxing stays, perfect starting point  for excursions in the area also by bike and on foot.  The restaurant for a perfect blending of wines with a cuisine that seeks the excellence of other local farms and offer also traditional dishes. www.latorricella.eu

The Winery Spa Ampelo for wellness programs reserved , ideal for the couple but also for small groups, which combines the traditional spa rituals with the beneficial properties of our grapes and derivatives, aperitif  in panoramic jacuzzi with our classic method “Letizia”.

An authentic welcome from the Diego Pressenda family: from Diego father  engaged in the cultivation of vineyards, Silvia winemaker, Oscar accountig-manager, Annalisa physiotherapist, Alessandra and her husband Francesco for the management of the Agriturismo, to her mother Rosanna super grandmother.

Marchesi di Barolo historical cellars are located in the town of Barolo, in the building overlooking the Castle of the Marquis Falletti. Here, Juliette Colbert de Maulévrier, the wife of the Marquis of Barolo Carlo Tancredi Falletti saw the great potential of the wine made in Barolo that, after a complete fermentation and a long aging in wood, would have been able to unveil all the qualities typical of the soil and of the grape variety: Nebbiolo, powerful and austere, able to last long and to express all the characteristics of this extraordinary terroir. In 1864, Juliette’s death marked the end of the prestigious Falletti dynasty: in order to perpetuate the Marquise’s memory and charitable work, the Opera Pia Barolo was founded.

This story was meant to cross path with the story of another family in Barolo: the Abbona family who had its own wine cellars next to the Castle of Marquis Falletti. Thanks to his skill and tenacity, Pietro Abbona was eventually able to acquire the Agenzia Tenuta Opera Pia Barolo: the ancient cellars of vinification and refinement of the Marchesi di Barolo estate.

Thus Massimo Martinelli, in his book Barolo As I Know It, says: «Of the personages connected with the name Barolo, some may be considered of historic importance, real and true pioneers…[of these] people first place goes to Pietro Abbona, undisputed patriarch of Barolo…who, as an unquestionable stand-bearer, made the wine of his region known throughout the world. It was from his winery that Barolo made its first historic steps. His large wood casks (some of which one can still be admired today in the cellars in Barolo) were in fact part of the legacy of the Marquise Falletti. Commendatore Abbona inherited a longstanding tradition, a love of the vineyards, the wineries and wine itself, and he brought his label displaying the castles of Barolo and Serralunga to the furthest tables. And it is with pleasure that we recall this great contribution».

Today the Abbona Family continues the work that began more than two centuries ago producing high quality wines meant to enrich, year after year, the history of this important cellar where modernity and tradition meet and where a great heritage of vineyards and knowledge has been passed down from parents to children for over five generations. Anna and Ernesto Abbona – the 5th generation – firmly believe in the original and distinguished wines produced in this region, characterized by a number of highly prestigious native grapes, a unique soil composition, a rather particular micro-climate and the historical human experience.

Marchesi di Barolo controls approximately 120 hectares of vineyards and produces wines from the major indigenous varieties of Langhe, Roero and Monferrato. In order to better define and enhance their different characteristics, the most prestigious historical crus are made from a single variety, and individually aged and bottled.

In order to accommodate the numerous wine tourists visiting the cellar every year, Marchesi di Barolo has a spacious and functional welcome area to allow visitors and enthusiasts to discover everything that revolves around and enriches the fascinating world of wine.

At the Giacomo Borgogno wine cellar in Barolo, a historic Barolo winery founded in 1761 by Bartolomeo Borgogno, it is possible to take a guided tour by appointment in both Italian and english language and learn the historical information and the particularities that have made and make Borgogno a winery linked to the tradition. Combined with the visit there are different winetasting experiences starting from €25. There are also tastings by the glass.
From April to October (weather conditions permitting) the tastings can be done on the panoramic terrace.
The cellar also has a shop with the various wines produced.

In the ancient Castle of the Falletti Marquisate is based Italy’s most innovative wine museum: WiMu, a journey through the culture and traditions of wine, designed by François Confino, who created many museums all over the world. The tour begins on the top floor, heading down through darkness and light, sound and color, the wine in history and arts. WiMu is also a tribute to the history the castle, and the illustrious figures that have lived here: Carlo Tancredi Falletti, Juliette Colbert and Silvio Pellico, one of the the leading figures of the Italian Risorgimento.

Founded in 1958, with more than three hundred members Terre del Barolo represents all the eleven villages making up the appellation. The winery was created by Arnaldo Rivera, a teacher who was Castiglione Falletto’s charismatic mayor and a man of great sense of community. Exclusively wines from the Langhe area are made at Terre del Barolo, from grapes grown in the 600 hectares of vineyards totally managed by the associate growers.

The farm Stra worked for five generations in a manner remarkably effective in its simplicity, marrying today the indispensable modern technology with the love of the fathers for the earth, its fruits and for the “job”. And perhaps it’s this “manuality” that infuses the true and sensitive soul in the wines. Spend a few days at the guesthouse means today to share the joy of living simply, but with a special attention to the quality of everything and a special ambition to be transmitted to each new guest.

The guests of the guesthouse can go hiking and cycling in the vineyards and walk, starting from the company, the path of Barolo linking the eleven municipalities of the renowned wine. At any time you can take a guided tour of the winery and taste the great wines that will accrue.