Bottega del Vino Dogliani is an association of producers of Dogliani Docg appellation whose aim is to safeguard and promote their wines.

The association has also become a sort of permanent forum where members can meet to discuss, share and compare their different experiences, debate new legislative proposals and exchange ideas regarding the direction and future prospects of the denomination.

The idea of joining forces and working together was strongly advocated by all those producers who felt the need to combine their efforts in sustaining and championing their wines, and the Association was eventually set up in 1984, ten years after Dolcetto di Dogliani was awarded DOC status. It is now run with the support of the Municipality of Dogliani.

Housed next to the Church of San Paolo in the medieval cellars of the 16th century Town Hall, originally a Carmelite convent built in the 16th century, the Bottega also functions as a showcase for wines produced by its members, which are available for tasting and purchase. Visitors interested in discovering and learning more are welcome, and guided tastings can also be arranged with members who are always happy to share their products and their passion with guests.

In Barolo since 1870

Company History

The Barale Brothers Winery, (Azienda Agricola Fratelli Barale), was founded in 1870 when Francesco Barale began producing Barolo and other wines typical of the Langa region. Francesco owned vineyards in several local areas, including Castellero, Costa di Rose, Preda and Bussia in Monforte, as can be clearly seen on period maps. Sergio Barale, present owner and producer, carefully attends to every aspect of the cultivation of his 20 hectares of vineyards which are situated in some of the Langa’s most historically important hills.

It is in the vineyard that the quality of a wine takes shape and our winery’s philosophy is to seek quality from the vines – during every vintage, not only the sun-drenched summers when it is far easier to produce great wines. It is during the more difficult years that the skills of green pruning and thinning the bunches are brought to bear, ensuring smaller quantities of top quality fruit. The Nebbiolo grape harvest continues throughout October: in fact, it seems that the grape’s name derives from the word for mist, ‘nebbia’, often a feature of Langa autumns. The fruit is picked by hand with careful selection of the bunches and is taken to the winery, a 19th- century country manor in Barolo’s historical centre. Here, new vinification and bottling areas have been built on to the manor’s historical underground cellars. The crushing and fermentation of the grapes is carried out using up-to-the-minute technology but traditions are fully respected.

It is possible to visit the Cellar from Monday to Friday, 9 am-1 pm. During weekends and holidays is better to call.

The story of the Monchiero family is one full of courage and attachment to its own land.

And brave was Vittorio Monchiero, Vittorio’s grandfather, who, at the end of the Second World War, decided to remain in Langhe instead of following his six brothers, who went to the United States where they found their fortune. Already a father of four children, he remained in what at the time was still a difficult land, to devote himself to agriculture.

As brave as his grandfather was also Vittorio, who, after the loss of his father Maggiorino, decided in 1989, at just over 20 years of age, to continue the activity started by his father and his uncle. That was the year of the turning point: «I had to chose – says Vittorio –, at that time there still hadn’t been a real boom and we were little known, we didn’t have a strong name to support us. Yes, there was a great passion but that was certainly an adventure!»

Company’s History

After the war, Remo and Maggiorino Monchiero specialized in the growing of grapevines. In the ‘60s they started making wine and in the ’70s they also started bottling it. At the same time, thanks to an importer, who still works with the company nowadays, they also started selling wine on the American market, which was quite a unique thing for that time. In ’82 they also started the first bottling chain and in those years Vittorio started to work with the family’s company after graduating at the Oenology School of Alba.

At the end of the ’80s Vittorio took the reins of the company: he replanted the grapevines and flattened the fields in order to adapt them to the modern agriculture machines. At the same time, he started to take part, together with his wife Daniela, in the first fairs in search of new markets in Europe and to strengthen old contacts. Today the company, run by Vittorio and Daniela, is a modern company where tradition meets innovation and it is known and appreciated in many countries of the world.

The Wines

Monchiero’s vineyards stretch out on the municipalities of Castiglione Falletto – where there is the heart of the company with seven hectares of vineyards and where the Crü Le Rocche, the company’s most prestigious Barolo, is produced, – La Morra, where there are the vineyards of the Barolo Roere, second Cru of Cantina Monchiero –, Alba (the little hamlet of Scaparoni) – with the vineyards dedicated to the production of Nebbiolo d’Alba, Barbera d’Alba, Langhe Arneis and Moscato –, Roddi – where the Nebbiolo d’Alba is produced – and finally Verduno, with other vineyards used for the Barolo production.

Even with such an intense activity, Vittorio is always looking for new challenges and the next one may be – as he tells – a sparkling wine: «Here in Castiglione there are the perfect fields which are in a lower and fresh position».

The projects are not only connected with wine: in fact, in 2002, from a family homestead near the cellar, the company opened “Il Girasole”, a farm holidays which works as a bed & breakfast for tourists visiting Langhe. Even this challenge had success as today more and more people are interested in coming here to discover the places where the great Piedmontese wines are produced and where the producers work with passion in order to offer top quality wines.The Farm Holidays

The Cellar

Both groups or single participants can visit the cellar throughout the year, preferably upon reservation.

The Conterno family, proprietors of the Azienda Agricola Sciulun, have been producing wines of uncommon elegance and prestige for several generations. The estate of around twenty-five acres of vineyards is located in the heart of the Langhe hills, in the Bussia area of the village of Monforte d’Alba.

The vines are tended following environmentally-friendly, traditional methods, though none of the benefits made available by modern technology are overlooked. The composition of the soil and the lie of the land, along with the area’s outstanding microclimate, all contribute to the unique qualities of these wines: Barolo “Vigne Le Munie”,  Barolo “Vigna Pugnane”, Barbera d’Alba “Vigna Pugnane”, Dolcetto d’Alba “Vigna Bussia”, Langhe Nebbiolo “Mesdi”, Langhe Chardonnay “Vigna Bujet”, Langhe Freisa “Vigna Bussia-Pugnane”.

The unlimited attention dedicated by the Conterno family to these wines comes to fruition as they ferment in the winery at a low temperature with constant rackings, and then age in oak casks in the silence and darkness of the cellar. These are the secrets that make it possible for lovers of great fine Piedmontese wines to taste a product of absolute quality.

The curiosity for the complexity of tastes and scents leads the work of Abbona wine to undertake a continuous and daily research of new discoveries and keener sharpening.

Company History

Founded in 1970, the farm of Marziano Abbona takes his origins from the work of Celso, Marziano’s father, who, recognizing the area’s potential for the production of top-quality wines, planted the Doriolo vineyard in an area whose soil composition, exposure to sunlight and surrounding environment made it the ideal choice for the production of Dogliani Dolcetto wine. Taken up his father’s challenge and passion, Marziano was able to produce wines of the highest quality, thanks to a great care, patience and insight. Aromas and colors blend to give nectars reflecting the spirit of one of the Langhe area’s most highly regarded vintners.

Vineyards

Today the farm has 12 vineyards which cover an area of 52 hectares and are planted with some of the most famous Crus: Doriolo (Dolcetto), Rinaldi (Barbera), Bricco Barone (Nebbiolo), Pressenda (Barolo), Terlo Ravera (Barolo), Cerviano (Barolo), Occhetti (Arneis) and San Luigi (Dolcetto, Viogner). Just one of these, the Barolo Terlo Ravera 2008 was selected by the prestigious Italian Wine Guide 2013 from Gambero Rosso. Beyond autochthonous wines, Marziano started the cultivation of other grape varieties, as the Cinerino, an extremely enjoyable, charming and aromatic wine made from Viogner grapes.

The Cellar

The wine cellar, built in August 2006 and spreading over an area of 2500 square meters, is where the careful processing of grapes, combined with the use of state-of-the-art technology, takes place to obtain wines reflecting the painstaking work done in the vineyards and meeting the most demanding tastes. The cellar can be visited, on appointment, from Monday to Saturday.

The Amalia Cascina in Langa estate is is in Monforte d’Alba  and is an exclusive starting point to discover the wonders of the Langhe.

It was created in 2003 when the Boffa family, seduced by the serenity of the area, acquired an early 20th century farmhouse and its surrounding vineyards that produced the typical wines of the zone: Dolcetto and Barbera.
The farm served as the basis for a new project that in just a short time saw the creation of new areas and buildings, with the main farmhouse becoming a boutique B&B.
Additional vineyards were then acquired in the prestigious cru of Barolo Bussia and Le Coste in Monforte. A new winery was also built.

Their intention was clear: to produce high quality wine that respected the territory and tradition in an elegant and reserved location.

If the Amalia Cascina in Langhe project continues to expand today, in line with its initial intention, the merit goes to the commitment and professionalism of the Boffa family because here everything is family-run. Maria Angela, the mother, runs the B&B with great passion; Gigi, the father, applies his vast experience to oversee the management of the estate’s general activities; while son Paolo is in charge of the vineyards and the winery with support of a team of top professionals.

Fratelli Alessandria produce wines from their own grapes only, and has kept the family-run management. They have a direct and personal relationship with each vineyards and each cask a sort of invisible thread that they wish will reach and move consumers as well.

Located in a charming XVIII century house boasting a simple yet imposing architecture, just by the historic centre of Verduno town, the winery was founded at the beginning of XIX century. Today the owner Gian Battista together with his wife Flavia, his brother Alessandro and his son Vittore proudly carry on their ancestors’ tradition and passion for wine making.

Crissante Alessandria farm is located in Borgata Roggeri, a Santa Maria hamlet, in the municipality of La Morra. Set within some six hectares of vineyards, it produces only red wines, such as Barolo, Dolcetto d’Alba, Barbera d’Alba and a Langhe Nebbiolo and rosé Nebbiolo. The company is run by the brothers Michele and Roberto Alessandria, assisted by Alberto, the son of Michele, both in the wine production and trade aspects.

The company was founded in 1958 when Crissante Alessandria, a winemaker and the son of winemaking parents, together with his wife Teresa, decided to make wine using the grapes growing in the vineyards owned by the family, grapes which until then were sold to the most important historical wineries in Langa. Within the underground walls of Cascina Roggeri, the farmstead, with the blending of the Nebbiolo grapes from the “crus” Roggeri and Capalot, Crissante produced his first Barolo using the traditional system of aging it in 25 quintal Slavonia oak casks. Over the years, the company grew, new vineyards in excellent positions in La Morra municipality were bought, and, in the 1980s, started a separate wine production with grapes from the cru Capalot, Roggeri and, since 2007, Galina, gradually renewing the woods of the cellar, with special attention to the right balance between barriques (small barrels), tonneaux (big barrels), and classic mid-size barrels.

Wines

The vineyards, an asset of the company, are located in the municipality of La Morra, precisely in the hamlets Capalot, Galina and Roggeri, on some 6 hectares of land. The wines produced are: Barolo Roggeri, Barolo Capalot, Barolo Galina, Barolo La Punta Capalot Mac Magnum, Dolcetto d’Alba, Barbera d’Alba Superior Rugé, Langhe Nebbiolo and a Nebbiolo rosè. With the pomace, the grape skin, resulting from the Barolo vinification, Barolo grapes evolve into two versions of the wine; a young white wine and one allowed to age in oak barrels.

Wine Cellar

The wine cellar is made up of two areas: one used for wine production and bottling and an old underground wine cellar used for the aging process. The process for all wines is mainly traditional with a long fermentation, featuring both pumping over and punching down of the cap. Maturation in small, medium and large oak containers is achieved with proper balance.

VILLA CRISSANTE Holidays in Langa

Villa Crissante is located in a wonderful panoramic position, along the road between Alba and La Morra right after the hamlet of Santa Maria. The facility boasts four elegant apartments for seasonal, monthly, weekly or weekend hire. Each apartment is named after a Barolo Crissante cru and can host up to four people. All apartments are furnished and equipped with all amenities, air conditioning, satellite TV and free Internet. A swimming pool, parking place and tasting room are also available. It is also possible to hire the entire facility. Minimum stay required: 3 nights. Part of the facility is a retail outlet selling the wines of Azienda Crissante Alessandria, open during the week-ends and capable of hosting guided tasting and territory presentation dedicated to visitors and tourists. Beneath Villa Crissante, there is a small cellar for the aging of wines.

The ‘agriturismo’ LE ARCATE is situated in Sinio, a village of the Langhe. Only a few kilometres from Alba, among vineyards and hazelnut trees, the farm LE ARCATE invites you to have a pleasant stay with fresh air. Walking through the vineyards, hazelnut trees and bushes, in contact with nature, you will appreciate the rhythms and flavours of the past. Located 500 meters above sea level, in a panoramic position, there is a magnificent view over the vineyards, the hazelnuts, the castles of the Barolo area Grinzane Cavour, Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga d ‘Alba and the mountains of Cuneo. LE ARCATE gives you the opportunity to enjoy the simple menu of Piedmont tradition. Each season offers a different incentive to spend a few days in the agriturismo: the breath-taking views are always changing, there are cultural and musical events, traditional festivals to welcome you during your holidays in the hills of the Langhe, now a UNESCO Heritage.