Barolo, from the Piedmont region in northwestern Italy, is one of the best and most renowned Italian wines. Alongside other classic wines from Tuscany, the Chianti Classico and Brunello di Montalcino, it represents the Italian wine industry.
The small town of Barolo, in the heart of the Langhe region, has the ideal characteristics to produce this coveted wine that enhances the best tables in the world. Thanks to its agricultural heritage dating back two millennia, its warm climate moderated by the mountains and the sea, and a terroir of clay-limestone rich in marl, its red wines have a perfect combination of body and elegance.
Barolo is made with Nebbiolo grapes, which produce excellent wines with firm tannins and a controlled acidity that provide the quality of a friendly and noble aperitif.
Giacomo Borgogno & Figli is one of the oldest producers of this wine in Italy, with over 250 years of history in the town of Barolo. The winery was founded in 1761 by Bartolomeo Borgogno, although—according to the family—the official date is 1848, the year when the sale of the first wine was documented. The histories of Borgogno and Italy have been intertwined since long ago.
Going back to 1861, when Italy was established as the country we know today, Borgogno Barolo wine was chosen to toast the official celebration of unification. Then in 1886, it was the wine selected to honor the official visit of the Tsar of Russia Nicholas II Romanov to Italy.
With the dawn of the 20th century, Cesare Borgogno became director of the estate and was responsible for preserving the tradition of the best crops and storing them in cellars for almost 20 years. The oldest and most mature Barolo wines have been prepared diligently since before World War II.
Today, Giacomo Borgogno & Figli is one of the few wineries in the Piedmont offering a collection of classic vintages of Barolo wine, spanning more than five decades. They are republished periodically to give collectors a unique opportunity to purchase and enjoy these outstanding wines.
Borgogno Gran Reserva, for example, is made with the best harvests (which are still available on the market) from the years 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2000, 1998, ’97, ’96, ’88, ’85, ’82 , ’78, ’67 and ’61. The 1961 vintage sells for US $800 in exclusive wine stores. The Borgogno cellars have always been an important part of the history of Langhe.
In the mid-1950s, the old cellars were revitalized, and in 1967 the company adopted its current name: Giacomo Borgogno & Figli. Ida, the granddaughter of Cesare Borgogno, and her husband Franco Bochis, managed the company which later passed into the hands of their sons, Cesare and Giorgio.
In 2008, Giacomo Borgogno & Figli was acquired by the Farinetti family, which in 2009 conducted an extensive renovation of this historic winery. It currently has a tasting and sale facility that welcomes visitors from around the world in the heart of the famous town, offering them the opportunity to appreciate the 250-year history of the iconic estate.
With different owners, the firm Giacomo Borgogno & Figli continues the legacy of fine Barolo production, based on centuries of excellence. ■
