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Braida Winery Guide

EXPLORE ALL OUR RECOMMENDED ITALIAN WINERIES

Last updated: July 9, 2024

Winery Overview

The Italian red Barbera grape accounts for over 50 percent of all the vineyards planted in Piedmont. A hardy and exuberant varietal, it’s appreciated for its adaptability; a Barbera can be anything from cherry-scented and cheery to rich and robust to smooth and sultry. Yet, the grape was not always so valued here. It owes its skyrocketing prominence almost solely to one man: Giacomo Bologna. In the 1960s, this now-legendary winemaker was the first to prove that, under the proper planting and aging conditions, Barberas could rank with the great wines of the world.

The winemaker’s son, Giacomo Bologna, established the small Braida Winery in Rocchetta Tanaro in Asti, Piedmont, in 1961. By the early 1980s, Braida di Bologna Giacomo had produced three stellar crus: Uccellone, Bricco della Bigotta, and Ai Suma, a “Super Barbera,” extremely high-quality wines and some of the most famous in Italy. By planting with care and then aging the wines in small, French oak barrels to compensate for Barbera’s lack of tannins, Bologna was able to stun the Piedmont wine world by creating intensely flavorful, complex wines out of a variety normally considered to be an acidic filler.

Bologna’s widow, Anna, and children, Raffaella and Giuseppe, run the wine estate these days. With their state-of-the-art cellars and forward-thinking work ethic, they have made Braida one of the most respected wineries in Piedmont. Their wines – mostly made from indigenous varieties – are well known among wine lovers as refreshing, easy-to-drink ambassadors of the region.

Highly rated wines include:

  • Il Bacialé is an elegant blend made with Barbera, Pinot Nero, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.
  • Montebruna is made in a large wooden barrel according to ancient tradition.
  • Brachetto d’Acqui is a sparkling, fresh, and delicate red.
  • Moscato d’Asti (“Vigna Senza Nome”), an elegant, aromatic wine.

Wines produced

  • Bricco dell’Uccellone

    DOC Barbera (14.5° alc./vol.)
  • La Monella

    DOC Barbera (12.5° alc./vol.)
  • Brachetto d’Acqui

    DOCG Brachetto (5.5°alc./vol.)
  • Vigna Senza Nome

    DOCG Moscato (5.5° alc./vol.)
  • Grignolino d’Asti

    DOC Grignolino (12.5° alc./vol.)
  • Il Bacialè

    DOC Barbera, P.Nero,Cab.S,Merlot- (13.5° alc./vol.)
  • Montebruna

    DOC Barbera (13.5° alc./vol.)
  • Ai Suma

    DOC Barbera (15° alc./vol.)
  • Bricco della Bigotta

    DOC Barbera (14° alc./vol.)
  • Dolcetto d’Alba Serra dei Fiori

    DOC Dolcetto (12.5° alc./vol.)

Winery Contact Details

Braida

Via Roma n.94
14030 Rocchetta Tanaro (Asti)


Email: [email protected]
Tel +39 0141 644113
Fax +39 0141 644584
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Facts & Figures

Appellation

Barbera d'Asti, Brachetto d'Acqui, Dolcetto d'Alba, Langhe, Moscato d'Asti, Monferrato Province: Asti (Piedmont)

Founded

1961

Area under Vine

56 Ha

Age of vines

12 to 35 years old

Oak barrel origin

Reserva wines such as Bricco dell’Uccellone, Bricco della Bigotta and Ai Suma Barbera’s are aged in small French oak barrels (225 L) for 6 to 18 months. Montebruna and Il Bacialè blend are aged by one year in large oak barrels.

Winemaker

Giuseppe Bologna

Owner

Anna, Raffaella and Giuseppe Bologna

Production

600,000 bottles

Grape varietals

Barbera, Moscato, Grignolino, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Riesling.

Grape Varieties Used by the Winery

  • Chardonnay

    Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape varietal native to the Burgundy wine region in France and one of the most popular varieties worldwide.

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  • Moscato

    Discover the Rich Tradition of Muscat Wine: From Ancient Air-Drying to Sweet and Sparkling Varieties | Explore Muscato Giallo

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  • Riesling

    Discover Riesling's charm, a white grape from Germany's Rhine region, cherished in Alsace, France. Unveil its secrets and delights

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  • Barbera

    Discover Piedmont and Nebbiolo: A Noble Marriage of Grape and Terroir. Explore the essence of Nebbiolo in the Langhe hills of northern Italy.

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  • Cabernet Sauvignon

    Discover the irresistible allure of Cabernet Sauvignon—a worldwide favorite with robust, dark-bodied flavor. Unleash your wine journey today!

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  • Grignolino

    Grignolino is a red wine grape from Piedmont, Italy, producing pale, tannin-rich wines with high acidity. Lacking depth, it's not widely appreciated beyond its local area. The grape's abundance in pips hints at its tannic nature. Despite the potential suggested by its structure, Grignolino remains overshadowed by Piedmont's renowned varieties and hasn't achieved the success once anticipated for it.

  • Merlot

    Merlot is the most cultivated grape in Bordeaux and closely related to Cabernet Franc

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  • Pinot Noir

    Pinot noir is a light-bodied red wine varietal closely related to the Vitis vinifera grape and produces the most sought-after red wines in the world.

    Find out more

Winery Appellations

Author

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Genevieve Mc Carthy

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