This historic family-owned estate is named after its founder Cesare Pio, who established the winery in 1881. Based in Alba in the heart of Piemonte, it is 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
In the 1950s Pio Cesare was one of the first producers to export Barolo to the UK and thereby developing the wine’s reputation overseas. Today, the founder’s great grandson, Pio Boffa, continues the family tradition producing Piemontese wines in a style that manages to balance the best of the old with the best of the new.
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. From 2015 vintage and onwards, the total wine production will be made from only family-owned vineyards.
MINIMAL INTERVENTION WINEMAKING
Pio Boffa has been responsible for evolving the family style, carefully modernising the wines without losing the classic family traits or the Piemonte character. Shorter maceration, separate lot fermentation, judicious selection from barrel and large cask ageing all respect the individuality of the region’s wines. These are wines that are determined by the vineyard rather than fashion.
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
Innovatively, Pio Boffa has added a limited range of ‘single vineyard’ wines to the range; 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.
Download PDF PrintGavi DOCG, Piemonte
100% Cortese
Pio Cesare’s Gavi has a lovely freshness, with aromas of citrus zest and apple, ripe fruit and mouthwatering zestiness on the palate. A hint of spice makes this Gavi very food-friendly and appetizing. It is greatly balanced and elegant with a long, expressive finish.
Langhe DOC, Piemonte
90% Chardonnay
10% Sauvignon Blanc
L’Altro or ‘the other’ is Pio’s second Chardonnay. It is nevertheless full of character and intensity with lovely citrus and apple pie notes. It is full-bodied, rounded with pleasant acidity on the finish.
Langhe DOC, Piemonte
100% Chardonnay
Burgundian in style, this superior Chardonnay shows complexity on the nose and palate. Notes of apple, citrus, stone fruit and vanilla. It is full-bodied and creamy with ripe fruit and an attractive minerality and freshness on the finish.
Moscato d’Asti DOCG
100% Moscato
Aromas of stone fruit with citrus and honey. The palate is semi-sweet with a delicate fizz and attractive apricot flavours.
Piemonte, Italy
Nebbiolo
The ideal digestif made with China Calissaja and Succirubra barks that macerate in the estate’s classic Barolo for 21 days.The notes of gentian roots, rhubarb, cardamom seeds, sweet and bitter orange blend seamlessly with the purity of Nebbiolo and create an everlasting, rich finish.
Langhe DOC, Piemonte
100% Dolcetto
Deep coloured, the Dolcetto has lovely berry and black cherry fruit with a slight herbal undertone. Fragrant and structured with good body and a touch of spice on the finish.
Langhe DOC, Piemonte
100% Barbera
Aromas of blackberries, plums and ripe berry fruit with a touch of spice and tobacco. On the palate this wine is supple and juicy with a great fruit and complexity.
Langhe DOC, Piemonte
100% Barbera
Aromas of blackberries, plums and ripe berry fruit with a touch of spice and tobacco. On the palate this wine is supple and juicy with a great fruit and complexity.
Langhe DOC, Piemonte
100% Nebbiolo
Vibrant black cherry, rose petals, forest floor and smokey notes on the nose, with finely grained tannins and refreshing acidity adding to the structured mouthfeel. The wine is expressive and full-bodied, with a hint of gentle smokey noteon the finish. Elegant and fragrant, this Nebbiolo is ready to be enjoyed but will develo even more complex aromas with age.
Barbaresco DOCG, Piemonte
100% Nebbiolo
A very elegant style of Barbaresco: fresh and vibrant with ripe and spicy red fruit. Finely grained and structured tannins with a succulent mouthfeel. Good structure and concentration. Excellent to drink now with long ageing potential.
Barbaresco DOCG, Piemonte
100% Nebbiolo
This vintage has extraordinary elegance, complexity and character. Silky and intense bouquet. Full body, great structure, right tannins, incredible aging potential, precise and classic Nebbiolo style. The wine has sweet and very elegant tannins.
Barolo DOCG, Piemonte
100% Nebbiolo
This vintage has extraordinary elegance, complexity and character. Silky and intense bouquet. Full body, great structure, right tannins, incredible ageing potential, precise and classic Nebbiolo style. The wine has sweet and very elegant tannins. It still needs one year in oak for the best maturation.
Barolo DOCG, Piemonte
100% Nebbiolo
Ruby red in colour with excellent balance and a wonderfully long length. Full of dark cherries, smoke, savoury herbs and a hit of white pepper. Hints of licorice, orange peel and lavendar add an intriguing exoticism to this classic Barolo.
Langhe DOC, Piemonte
100% Barbera
Full body, balance and concentration. Ripe fruit with a spicy edge. Can be laid down for a very long life in the cellar.
Barbaresco DOCG, Piemonte
100% Nebbiolo
This wine is powerful and structured, rich in ripe fruit, opulent, spicy and will have a very long life.
Barbaresco DOCG, Piemonte
100% Nebbiolo
“Deep garnet; aromas of mulberry, black plum and thyme. Medium-full with a rich, deeply concentrated mid-palate. Rich young tannins that are beautifully integrated, very good acidity, excellent persistence and nicely managed wood notes. There are notes of balsamic in the finish. Outstanding varietal character, this has exceptional harmony and while approachable now, is structured for peak enjoyment in 10-12 years. Outstanding”, Tom Hyland, Forbes
Barbaresco DOCG, Piemonte
100% Nebbiolo
Bright garnet in colour with perfumes of dark berries and summer fruits, a touch of sweet spice, liquorice and herbal notes. Rich, with delicious juicy fruit, fine tannins and a long, expressive finish with a touch of spice from the new oak.
Barolo DOCG, Piemonte
100% Nebbiolo
This wine has great structure and concentration, with ripe fruit, soft tannins and tobacco. May be appreciated immediately, but with a very long life. It is produced in small quantities and only in excellent vintages.
Barolo DOCG, Piemonte
100% Nebbiolo
Mosconi 2015 wine of incredible power and finess with beautifully ripen and plump red fruit and a bouquet oozing of dried rose petals, truffle and small, dark berries.Very silky texture with an amazingly perfumed finish that feels like it’s going on for minutes.