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Wines by Ceretto |
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Ceretto Riccardo Ceretto founded the Casa Vinicola Ceretto in the late
thirties, setting the stage by raising his two sons in the wine
business of Alba. The next generation saw the sorry state of
winemaking, the squandered resources of their precious land
– all the conditions of the sixties that pushed a small
group of dedicated young men to rebuild the Langhe and prove
to the world its merit as a great wine zone. Two of these men
were Bruno and Marcello Ceretto, the “Barolo Brothers”
who describe themselves as simili al punto che più diversi
non potrebbero essere – so similar they could not be more
different. While the reserved Marcello developed skills in enology
and took control of production, dynamic big brother Bruno analyzed
the business side of the wine world. It was Bruno’s innovative
approach to marketing that brought attention to his sibling’s
top-notch creations: a fresh new face for the bottlings caught
the eyes of experts and wine lovers; highlighting Roero Arneis
helped keep Piemonte on the map in the 80’s when whites
were all the rage and Friuli had captivated the world; and the
establishment of a distinguished literary prize for wine and
food writing framed a grand image of Ceretto as a leader in,
and guardian of, excellence in enogastronomy.
The Ceretto brothers have never tried to change their Barolo
or Barbaresco – innovation is the exclusive realm of the
marketing department – but rather strive to perfect what
comes naturally from the earth. Their wine production covers
seven separate estates, while an eighth (I Vignaioli di Santo
Stefano) is co-owned along with two other growers. The first
estate to be established was the Azienda Bricco Asili. These
8.5 hectares lie in the Barbaresco communes of Bricco Asili,
Bernardot, and Faset, and a cru Barbaresco is produced from
each of these three sites. The other principal estate is the
Azienda Bricco Rocche, located in the heart of Barolo and comprising
11 hectares in La Morra, Serralunga, and Castiglione Falletto.
Only Barolo is made here: Brunate and Prapò are made
in most vintages (the vintners pass grapes from difficult vintages
to the central estate, where the Zonchera is made) and exceptional
harvests brew the Bricco Rocche.
In addition to the traditional Barolos Bricco Rocche and Prapò
and the Barbaresco Bricco Asili for which they are renowned,
Ceretto makes wines like Monsordo that blend international varieties
such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Nero with the
native Nebbiolo. Their purview of varied sites allows Ceretto
to produce a wide range of wines that are distinct to the vineyard
from which they are reaped, and with the help of consultant
Donato Lanati (also of Schiopetto, Russiz Superiore, Colterenzio,
and Isole e Olena) each bottling is of outstanding quality.
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You may also enjoy reading about these additional producers:
Abbona,
Altare,
Anselma,
Bovio,
Cascina Ebreo,
Ceretto,
Clerico,
Aldo Conterno,
G.B. Burlotto,
Giacomo Conterno,
Conterno Fantino,
Cavallotto,
Alessandro & Gian Natale Fantino,
Gaja,
Giacosa,
Bruna Grimaldi,
La Spinetta,
Marchesi di Barolo,
Bartolo Mascarello,
Massolino,
Mauro Sebaste,
Parusso,
Pio Cesare,
Prunotto,
Giuseppe Rinaldi,
Roagna,
Rocche dei Manzoni di Valentino,
Sandrone,
Scavino,
Vietti,
Virna di Borgogno,
Voerzio
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