Established in the 1920s, Giacomo Conterno has cemented itself as one of the premier Piemonte estates. With a family legacy of three father-son owners - Giacomo, Giovani, then Roberto - the Conterno winery DNA has been created, transformed, and refined for over 100 years, becoming one of the premier producers of fine Barolo. The estate's crown jewel, Montofortino, is credited for setting a new standard in Barolo thanks to its rich and powerful taste and unique barreling process. With years-long bottling requirements, each Conterno winery vintage is produced delicately and perfected for peak drinking enjoyment. 

The Conterno Style

After returning home from World War I, Giacomo ran the winery for almost a decade, creating the first vintage in 1924. The flagship Riserva Barolo, Monfortino gained early recognition as a quality wine and strayed away from the era's popular Barolo formula. While most Barolo's were produced for a cask or demijohn - meant for early drinking - Giacomo envisioned the wine as containing long-term aging potential. From this vision was born the "Conterno style," in which Barolo was barrelled for 6 to 8 years with wild temperature swings during fermentation. The result was a defining vintage, massively structured and capable of long-term development in bottle.

From Father To Son

As other estates tested their own Barolo against the standard set by Conterno, Giovani, Giacomo's son, began his stint as the estate's new leader, transforming Conterno wine and its processes. Understanding that rivaling estates were chasing after Conterno's success, Giovani stopped purchasing grapes, opting to purchase the Cascina Francia vineyard in 1974. Relying on the 9 hectares of Nebbiolo to produce 600 cases of Montofortino and 1500 cases of Francia, a new era presented itself at Giacomo Conterno. Along with the Nebbiolo, the vineyard contained 5 hectares of Barberas, becoming one of the most sought-after wines in the Langhe.

A State of the Art Facility

After passing away in 2004, Giovani's son, Roberto, has run Giacomo Conterno and developed one of the Langhe's finest facilities. Now equipped with modern technology, Roberto mastered the ability to carry on his grandfather and father's traditions while introducing a new style to winemaking for the estate. The vineyards are cared for with unmatchable quality and each corner is pristine, focused, and developed to create unmatched Barolo and Barbera. 

Roberto acquired more land in 2008 and 2015, furthering his late father's legacy. The addition of two hectares of Nebbiolo and Barbera and almost all of the Arione cru has transformed Giacomo Conterno from one of Piemonte's finest wineries into an Italian powerhouse. Immaculate bottling services also ensure that each wine accurately presents the unique spark of Conterno Barolo. 

Unique Aging Practices

Each bottle of Giacomo Conterno wine is notable for the intense aging process undergone. Cascina Francia productions are not bottled until 4 years in large, oak casks, Montofortino takes 7 years to reach a bottle, and Barbera is aged for two years. Such a strict approach to the vinification process has cultivated some of the most age-worthy and brilliant examples of wine to come out of Piemonte.

Continuing The Giacomo Conterno Legacy

Many have argued that since Roberto's appointment in 2004, Giacomo Conterno has reached its highest highs, producing its most exquisite vintages. Must-have vintages to add to your collection include the 1964, 2001, and 2004 vintages which each garnered critical acclaim and mass appreciation from the public. A testament to the estate's 100-year history, each vintage has withstood the test of time and is perfect for any collector looking for well-aged bottles.