FENOCCHIO®&FENOCCHIO GIACOMO Azienda Agricola dates back to 1864, when Stefano Fenocchio was born in Bussia Sottana. Then it was just a small farm comprising several vineyards planted with Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto, plus a vat for crushing the grapes with the feet and a few casks made of chestnut, oak and acacia: all local woods as used in those days and still for several decades afterwards.
Our grandfather, Giovanni Fenocchio - who I was fortunate enough to know until the ‘70s - used to say that everyone made their wine in the same way, simply because that was how it was done. Giovanni himself inherited this knowledge and duly followed the method by the book, but he also enlarged the company, buying vineyards in Barolo, in the Castellero growing area. Giacomo Fenocchio, our father, carried on using what was believed to be the wine-making method. At a time when Barolo, one of the few single-variety wines in the world, was a target for important business interests, and new techniques and woods were becoming popular.

Giacomo. did not want to become involved, stubbornly standing by the experience and culture of the past, in common with the grand patriarchs of Barolo wine. So much so that he would say: “You don’t change a method or a culture, because they are not ours to change; pitching various new formulas against centuries of experience may be interesting, but one thing is for sure: the more outstanding these new wines may prove to be, the more ours will remain unique”. The estate continued to expand under Giacomo, with the acquisition of vineyards in one of the best known growing areas, Cannubi Boschis. Alberto and Claudio Fenocchio, who are the owners today of the FENOCCHIO®&FENOCCHIO GIACOMO Azienda Agricola wine company, has great respect for all the work performed by previous generations, and is proud to carry on the traditions handed down from both his grandfather, Giovanni, and father, Giacomo.