Vietti

Alfredo Currado who became the winemaker after his graduation at Alba’s school of ecology, married Luciana Vietti in 1957 and took command of the small cellars at Castiglione Falletto that had been in her family since 1900. Vietti has since become one of the most admired names in Piedmontese wine, further illuminated by a new generation represented by son-in-law Mario Cordero and son Luca. Their prime emphasis has always been on single vineyard Barolo from such prized sites as Brunate at La Morra, Lazzarito at Serralunga d’Alba and Villero on the other side of Castiglione Falletto. The original and still most esteemed Barolo comes from Rocche, a vineyard overlooked from the terrace of headquarters of the Vietti winery and Currado home. Alfredo upholds a traditional style of Barolo in wines of vigorous constitution that acquire regal bearing through ageing in large casks of Slavoninan oak. But, a few years ago, when the cellars were expanded by excavating steep slopes below Castiglione’s 11th century castle, Luca and Mario made sure that the trappings were strictly state of the art. They installed small barrels of French oak for maturing other wines, notably Barbera that can match Barolo in size and constitution. Alfredo was long noted for his astute selections of grapes from growers in Barolo and other zones around Alba. But over time, the family has acquired vineyards to extend holdings to 22 hectares, which provide more than two thirds of the total production of about 200,000 bottles a year. Included in the recent purchases were vineyards of Barbera d’Asti for the acclaimed wines called La Crena and Tre Vigne. Vietti production extends to DOCG Barbaresco Maseria, DOC Barbera d’Alba Scarrone and Dolcetto d’Alba Lazzarito, as well as white Roero Arneis and luscious bubbly Moscato d’Asti. The Vietti labels illustrated by Gianni Gallo have won almost as many awards as the wines!