Pio Cesare
Piemontese classics from a 'modern traditionalist'
This historic family-owned estate is named after its founder Cesare Pio, who established the business in 1881. The winery is based in Alba, in the heart of Langhe in Piemonte and is now run by Federica Boffa and Cesare Benvenuto, the fifth generation of the family. Pio Cesare vineyards are nestled between the Alps and the Mediterranean Sea. The surrounding hills are ideal for vine growing with unique micro-climates and varying exposures. The confluence of cold Alpine air with warm maritime moisture regularly creates a mist, or ‘nebbia’, over the foothills, giving name to Nebbiolo, the great red variety of the region.
BAROLO PIONEERS IN THE UK
Pio Cesare developed Barolo’s reputation overseas in the 1950s by being one of the first producers to export the wine to the UK. The founder’s great grandson Pio Boffa was deeply convinced of the importance of cultivating and growing owned land to produce high quality wines and played a key role in the acquisition of vineyards in the same locations where Cesare Pio used to buy his grapes from.
VINEYARDS
Pio Cesare own 70 hectares of vineyards in the hills of Barolo and Barbaresco, including some of the prime sites for growing Nebbiolo: 16 hectares of the ‘Ornato’ vineyard in Barolo and 18 hectares of ‘Il Bricco’ in Barbaresco. The grapes for the ‘Classic’ Barolo are grown in four vineyards belonging to the Pio Cesare family in four of the Barolo communes; Serralunga d’Alba, La Morra, Grinzane Cavour and Novello. (Pio Cesare own a total of 19 hectares used for the production of Barolo and Barolo ‘Ornato’). When blended, the unique qualities of the grapes from each vineyard combine to create a harmonious and perfectly balanced wine. Since the 2015 vintage and the whole wine production comes from only family-owned vineyards.
Pio Cesare is also dedicated to experimentation and their latest addition to the portfolio are Blanc Sauvignon and Rosy. Blanc Sauvignon is a 100% Sauvignon Blanc made from Il Bricco vineyard in Treiso, Rosy is a full bodied yet elegant rosé made from Nebbiolo grapes sourced from the same vineyard. Both wines, made in very limited quantities, show the typical structure and complexity coming from Il Bricco terroir and can age beautifully in the bottle.
MINIMAL INTERVENTION WINEMAKING
Pio Cesare Nebbiolos are made with shorter macerations, separate lot fermentation, judicious selection from barrel and large cask ageing. The wines must reflect the terroir rather than the winemaking.
THE CLASSIC RANGE
There are a total of 11 wines within the portfolio which includes seven ‘classic’ wines representing the significant and diverse terroirs of Piemonte (Barolo, Barbaresco, Nebbiolo d’Alba, Barbera d’Alba, Dolcetto d’Alba, l’Altro Chardonnay and Gavi). Pio Cesare has established itself as a benchmark producer of the classic wines of the region, particularly Barolo. Pio Boffa decided to include this message on the Classic Barolo label: “”Please don’t call it regular”, in order to start the discussion around the true value of the unique wines from the Barolo. They are world-renowned wines with a staggering history.
SINGLE VINEYARDS
Forth generation Pio Boffa created a limited range of ‘single vineyard’ wines; Barolo ‘Ornato’, Barbaresco ‘Il Bricco’, Barbera ‘Fides’ and ‘Piodilei’ Chardonnay. These collectables are only produced in the very best vintages, offering a more modern interpretation of some of the great individual sites in Piemonte, an unparalleled concentration and a remarkable ageing potential.
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