Prunotto

Alfredo Prunotto was one of the most admired vintners who brought grapes from choice vineyards in the Alba area in the early part of the twentieth century. The winery’s reputation was enhanced by his successor Beppe Colla, who also led the local producers’ consortium and the orfer of cavalieri dedicated to the legendary white truffles and wines of Alba. Although Prunotto owned no vines, Beppe Colla became an Italian pioneer in citing vineyards on labels. He began with the 1961 vintage from which, along with Barolo from venerated sites, Prunotto released a Barbera Cru Pian Romualdo di Monforte d’Alba. That move marked Beppe as a believer in Barbera decades before the variety became fashionable. Previously, growers had to exploited the vine’s vigor and adaptability to make red wines for everyday. But recently Barbera has undergone a revival that threatens the supremacy of Nebbiolo, source of Barolo and Barbaresco. Thanks to Prunotto, the high vineyard of Pian Romualdo, just beyond the southeastern fringe of the Barolo zone, ranks as a premier cru of Barbera d’Alba. In 1989, Marchesi Antinori of Florence acquired a major share of Prunotto, taking full control in 1994 when Beppe Colla retired. But the Tuscan house, directed by Marchese Piero Antinori’s daughter Albiera, has maintained the traditional tone of Prunotto, while gradually acquiring vineyards in the hills of Alba and neighboring Asti. Today the winery owns 42 hectares of vines, which account for a fair share of total production of about 600,000 bottles a year. These take in a full range of Alba wines, including Barolo from Bussia and Cannubi, Barbaresco from Bric Turot, as well as single-vineyard Barbera, Dolcetto, and Nebbiolo DOC. The firm also make Moscato d’Asti DOCG and two single-vineyard versions of Barbera d’Asti: Castamiole and Fiulot.