Piemonte, Northwest Italy – Italy
Its turning-point in terms of development came in the Sixties, with the arrival on the scene of the second generation: Bruno, who took over the commercial side of the business, and Marcello, who acted as Technical Director. These brothers, polar opposites in nature, worked together to gradually improve the quality of their wines and their vineyards and the reputation of their region. They achieved this by focussing on the concept of terroir and selecting only the finest crus of Barolo and Barbaresco.
In a little more than thirty years, the Ceretto brothers created a network of small independent estates in the Langhe and Roero, purchasing over 120 hectares of land to form a constellation of wineries producing outstanding labels such as the Bricco Rocche Barolos, the Bricco Asili Barbarescos, Blangé Arneis, Moscato from Vignaioli di Santo Stefano, Dolcetto, Barbera, Langhe Monsordo and grappas.
However, not content with just improving the quality of their wines, the brothers also focussed on developing the cultural interests of the family company. They brought in famous designers and architects to develop their winery sites, produced labels that are works of graphic art, and supported book prizes and musical events in the surrounds of Alba, all because of their belief that wine is above-all culture.
In 1999, the next generation joined the family business: Marcello’s heirs, Lisa and Alessandro, in finance & administration and production respectively; and Roberta, Bruno’s firstborn, working in public relations and the promotion of parallel ventures, while her brother, Federico, took on responsibility for the export markets.
Drawing on the craft and temperament, and the aptitude and skills of their fathers, this new generation of Cerettos is demonstrating that tradition also means transition, looking to the future whilst continuing along the twin tracks laid down by their parents.
We invite you to visit the Domaine’s website for more information on this exciting family enterprise, www.ceretto.com.
A painstaking search lasting years led to the selection of four vineyards in the Barolo wine-growing area. At their centre lies the winery in Castiglione Falletto. Designed by Turin architects De Abate according to modern criteria, it was built to meet every functional requirement whilst blending into the surrounding landscape.
Only Barolo is produced here, from the grapes grown on the 11 hectares of estate owned vines situated in the villages of La Morra (Brunate), Serralunga (Prapò), Castiglione Falletto (Bricco Rocche) and Barolo (Cannubi), for an annual production of just 40 000 bottles.
A small château, one of the few examples in Piedmont of a winery in a vineyard, Bricco Asili was the first Ceretto estate, opened in 1973 and still at the top today in the production of Barbaresco.
It is a place of experimentation, where down the years change has been the only constant, though traditions continue to be treated with the greatest respect. A prime example is the adoption as early as the beginning of the Seventies of steel tanks for processing the grapes: an indispensable tool in guaranteeing the utmost cleanliness and perfect temperature control.
The farm works around 15 acres of vineyards divided between two crus – Bricco Asili and Bernardot – for an annual ‘low volume – high quality’ production of around 20 000 bottles.
Finding an old farmstead, and transforming it into a fully-equipped state-of-the-art headquarters: the Monsordo-Bernardina project fully reflected the Ceretto spirit, which is always hovering between tradition and innovation.
Since 1987, this estate on the outskirts of Alba has been the nerve centre where the company’s financial and commercial operations and offices are concentrated, along with the warehouse which brings together all the wines from the various estates.
Some of the firm’s historic labels are also produced here: Arneis Blangé, Arbarei, Monsordo, Dolcetto Rossana, Barbera Piana, Nebbiolo Bernardina, Barbaresco Asij, Barolo Zonchera and Barolo Chinato.
With an almost metaphorical return to their origins, in 1976 the Ceretto brothers – together with two partners (Sergio Santi and the brothers Gianpiero and Andrea Scavino) – founded I Vignaioli di Santo Stefano in the village where their father, Riccardo, was born.
The farm works 20 acres of its own land, as well as the San Maurizio estate leased from Count Carlo Vittorio Incisa Beccaria, a prestigious hillside area of approximately 80 acres in Santo Stefano Belbo.
Around 160 000 bottles of Moscato d’Asti, 20 000 of Asti, and 5 000 of Moscato Passito are produced here on average each year.
