Borgogno

Region: Piemonte

Winemakers in Barolo since 1761

When a great wine connoisseur hears the word “Barolo”, he will inevitably think about Borgogno. Founded in 1761, it is in fact the oldest winery of Piedmont. Furthermore, it can boast other achievements: in 1861 the elebratory lunch for the Unification of Italy was celebrated with a toast of Barolo Borgogno; in 1886 Nicola II Romanov, zar of Russia, opened a bottle of Barolo Borgogno during the dinner organized in his honor by the Savoy family.
Cesare Borgogno was the genius who decided the fate of the cellar starting in 1920: he invented the first model of wine distribution in Italy, he was among the first to promote Barolo in the world, and he made the smart move of putting aside 20,000 bottles of each great vintage of Barolo as “Riserva” for at least 20 years, a move that marked the future of Borgogno.

1968: Cesare Borgogno dies and the management of the estate is passed on to his grand-daughter Ida and her future husband Franco Boschis.

1972: A bottle of 1886 vintage Borgogno Barolo goes under the hammer at the historical wine auction held in Turin for the sum of 530,000 lira. An absolute record for the time and the highest figure ever reached by any Italian wine.

1984: Ida and Franco’s sons, Cesare and Giorgio Boschis, join the business.

From 2008, a new philosophy… Don’t change anything! Remaining classic and traditionalist

TODAY

2008: The Farinetti family acquires the winery, firmly committed to strictly following traditions. In 2010, Andrea Farinetti, after graduating from the oenological school in Alba, takes over the company’s leadership as heir to the Boschis family’s legacy.

2009: An important renovation of the main building takes place, bringing it back to its original appearance.

2013: Back to concrete. Borgogno decides to go back to using concrete cement as the exclusive material for fermentation tanks.

2015: A couple of big changes occur: the beginning of the conversion to organic practices, and the purchase of 3 ha of vineyards in the Tortona area for the production of Timorasso.

2016: Borgogno begin an important renovation of the historical cellars in Barolo, restoring old concrete fermenters and refurbishing other production facilities. Furthermore, 11 ha of vineyards in one of the best locations near Alba, Madonna di Como, are added to the existing 20 ha owned by Borgogno.