Italian Wine, Piedmont

About Pio Cesare Winery

Cesare Pio founded his estate in 1881, establishing close relationships with the best growers of Barolo and beginning a tradition of top quality production. Cesare’s son Giuseppe introduced their Barolo to foreign markets; in fact, he himself traveled around Europe delivering his wine and entering it in tastings where it earned prizes as early as 1910. The winery was then handed down to the next generation, and after Giuseppe’s daughter married Giuseppe Boffa she named their sons Pio and Cesare to keep the spirit of the family business. The estate now encompasses parts of the Ornato cru in Barolo’s Serralunga and Bricco di Treiso in Barbaresco, totaling 44.5 hectares of vineyards that they manage themselves. However, they also still purchase grapes from the very same families who sold to Cesare Pio when he was just starting out.

Throughout the years, each generation has maintained the exacting family standards, and the name Pio Cesare has been synonymous with top quality Barolo made in a staunchly traditional style. Current owner Pio Boffa continues to make these same classic Barolos, but he has also introduced a cru Barolo and modern techniques like using barriques as well as botti in different proportions for his four main wines (both Barolos and both Barbarescos). Pio believes in the value of blending – while each site imparts a distinct character to its wines, he feels that the most complete, balanced wines are composites of these distinct personalities – so even his cru Barolo is a medley of grapes picked in the four corners of the vineyard. This ‘modern’ addition to his line demonstrates a different side of Barolo nevertheless, evidencing the versatile talent of this master.