The Dignity of Barolo's Oldest Producer
Borgogno, located in the heart of Barolo village in Piedmont, Italy, was founded in 1761 by Bartolomeo Borgogno, making it one of the oldest wineries among Barolo producers. For over 260 years, they have continued winemaking with the same methods and philosophy as when they were founded, and to this day, fermentation and bottling take place in the original historic buildings.
Its existence extends beyond being just a winery; it is a symbol of Barolo itself, having walked hand-in-hand with "time."Records show that at the celebration of Italy's unification in 1861, Italy's first king, Vittorio Emanuele II, and Giuseppe Garibaldi, a key figure in the unification of Italy, toasted with Borgogno's Barolo.
Time passed, and in 2008, the Farinetti family (founders of EATALY) became the owners of Borgogno, and since 2010, their third son, Andrea Farinetti, has been steering the winery as owner and winemaker.
Borgogno's Vineyard Map
Borgogno is located in the heart of Barolo village and primarily cultivates Nebbiolo grapes in famous single vineyards such as Cannubi, Liste, Fossati, Cannubi San Lorenzo, and San Pietro delle Viole.
In the Bricco Bonpea vineyard in Madonna di Como, about 20km northeast of Barolo village, they cultivate Barbera, Dolcetto, and Riesling. In the Scardapulce vineyard in Tortona, which borders the regions of Liguria, Lombardy, and Emilia-Romagna, they cultivate Timorasso grapes.
The main composition is as follows:
- Nebbiolo: 21.5 ha
- Barbera: 9 ha
- Dolcetto: 2.5 ha
- Freisa: 0.6 ha
- Riesling: 1.5 ha
- Timorasso: 7.5 ha (2 ha producing)
A distinctive feature is their ownership of diverse terroirs spanning from the famous single vineyards of "Cannubi" and "Liste" in the heart of Barolo village to Langhe and Tortona.
The Rise of Young Proprietor, Andrea Farinetti
Andrea took over as proprietor in his 20s and, in order to produce wines with the same flavors as Borgogno's traditionally made wines, he ultimately changed "everything" from cultivation to winemaking.
For example, all vineyards are organically farmed, and since the 2019 vintage, they have obtained EU organic certification. Natural fermentation is carried out using indigenous yeasts, and a cultivation philosophy that respects nature and terroir is thoroughly implemented under his leadership.
In recent years, he has also been actively pursuing new winemaking challenges by purchasing wineries not only in the Langhe region but also in Tortona and on Mount Etna in Sicily.
Borgogno's Philosophy
We value a highly philosophical approach to winemaking that stands in stark contrast to speed and efficiency, achieving its balance through the integration of time, nature, and tradition.
"In Praise of Taking Time"
"To act slowly and take your time is to spend all the necessary time to understand things and execute them correctly. This is what Borgogno has been doing in its vineyards since 1761."
"In Praise of Habit"
"Having fixed habits means repeatedly performing actions and rhythms.
It is connected to nature, the land, and the traditions that govern our work in the Cannubi and Liste vineyards and cellars. It is a sign of tradition that continues to repeat itself."
Borgogno's Stance
How fortunate we are to live in Italy's most important winemaking territory. We were not born in this place by choice; it is simply a "happy accident." We must protect the immeasurable privilege bestowed upon us by this land, show respect for the land, and also for the people who live here. We believe that providing "fair opportunities" to all is the highest form of respect.
