Giacomo Conterno

The History of Giacomo Conterno

The story of Giacomo Conterno begins in Monforte d'Alba in the early 20th century. Returning from the First World War, Giacomo Conterno set out to create a Barolo capable of aging for decades, at a time when wine was mostly sold in barrels for early drinking. In the 1920s, he made one of the first Barolos bottled under the family name. Called Monfortino in tribute to his home village, it established him as a pioneer of age-worthy Barolo.

His son Giovanni carried on that vision and established the estate’s reputation as the definitive benchmark for traditional Barolo. A turning point came in 1974 with the acquisition of the Cascina Francia vineyard in Serralunga d'Alba: from the 1978 vintage onward, the estate no longer needed to buy grapes and made wine exclusively from its own fruit. Today, Roberto Conterno runs the winery with rigor, having added the Cerretta cru in 2008 and Arione in 2015, then acquired the historic Nervi estate in Gattinara in 2018.

Giacomo Conterno’s Terroirs and Vineyards

At the heart of the estate is the Cascina Francia vineyard, a contiguous parcel of about 14 hectares at the southern end of Serralunga d'Alba. Facing south and southwest, its limestone soils give the Nebbiolo late ripening, great structure and remarkable freshness. This emblematic parcel is complemented by five hectares devoted to Barbera, the source of one of Piedmont’s finest Barberas.

Roberto Conterno has strengthened the winery’s roots in Serralunga d'Alba, the commune he knows best, with the Cerretta and Arione crus. Arione borders Cascina Francia and has very similar soil and climate conditions. Beyond the Langhe, the Nervi-Conterno estate adds 27 hectares in the Gattinara appellation of northern Piedmont, where Nebbiolo, locally known as Spanna, grows on volcanic soils.

Winemaking at Giacomo Conterno

Winemaking at Giacomo Conterno remains resolutely traditional, faithful to old-school Barolo. Grapes selected in the vineyard undergo long, temperature-controlled macerations of three to four weeks, followed by extended aging in large Slavonian oak casks. The classic Barolos age for about four years before bottling, while Monfortino spends six to seven years in cask.

The best grapes of each vintage are reserved for Monfortino, which is produced only in exceptional years. The Barberas also spend about two years aging in large casks, giving them unusual longevity for the variety. Untouched by passing fashions, these powerful, structured wines often need 10 to 15 years in the cellar before revealing their full depth.

The Cuvées of Giacomo Conterno

Barolo Riserva Monfortino: a legendary cuvée and the estate’s flagship, produced only in exceptional vintages. Made from the best grapes of Cascina Francia, supplemented since 2015 by a portion from Arione, it offers noble austerity, monumental structure and almost limitless aging potential.

Barolo Francia: the estate’s signature cuvée, long known as Cascina Francia before being renamed Francia starting with the 2010 vintage. Rich, deep and remarkably refined, it reveals aromas of red fruit, rose, tobacco and licorice, and is a benchmark for Serralunga Barolo.

Barolo Cerretta: from the Cerretta cru acquired in 2008, this appealing, complex Barolo reveals notes of rose petal, mint, sweet tobacco and licorice, supported by an elegant, persistent tannic structure.

Barolo Arione: a cuvée born from the 2015 acquisition of the Arione cru, next to Cascina Francia. Powerful and refined, it expresses the full nobility of Serralunga Nebbiolo and has excellent aging potential.

Barbera d'Alba Francia: an exceptional Barbera from Cascina Francia, aged for about two years in large casks. Dense, floral and mineral, it ranks among Piedmont’s greatest and most sought-after Barberas.

Barbera d'Alba Cerretta: a flavorful, deep Barbera from the Cerretta cru, with vibrant acidity and notes of dark fruit, made with the same exacting standards as the great Barolos.

Nebbiolo d'Alba Arione: a cuvée from the Nebbiolo d'Alba portion of the Arione cru, offering a more approachable, immediately expressive take on the estate’s signature grape in an elegant style.

Nervi-Conterno Gattinara: a fine wine made from Spanna (Nebbiolo) at the Nervi estate in Gattinara, northern Piedmont. Grown on volcanic soils, it reveals finesse, freshness and minerality. The range also includes sought-after single-vineyard crus such as Molsino and Valferana, as well as a Nebbiolo rosé that rounds out this winemaking venture.