Fontanafredda Barolo DOCG 1961 Bouteille (75cl)

Histoire du domaine

The history of Fontanafredda began in 1858 when Vittorio Emanuele II acquired the estate in Serralunga d’Alba for Rosa Vercellana, known as "Bela Rosin", before assigning it to their children Maria Vittoria and Emanuele Alberto, Count of Mirafiore and Fontanafredda. A first Barolo vineyard was purchased in 1866 and vinifications in the estate's cellars began in 1870, although a Fontanafredda Barolo was already mentioned in 1867. In 1878, Emanuele Alberto founded the wine company Casa E. di Mirafiore, which then cultivated over 300 hectares and rapidly developed its exports; as early as 1887, the cellars welcomed concrete vats among the first installed in Europe. Following his death in 1894, his son Gastone succeeded him. Weakened by the economic crisis and phylloxera, the property was sold in 1931 to Monte dei Paschi di Siena, while the Casa E. di Mirafiore brand was sold separately; the name Fontanafredda, derived from the lieu-dit, then became that of the company. The estate produced its first Contessa Rosa Metodo Classico in 1959, then isolated the Barolo Vigna La Rosa in 1964 and launched in 1988 a Barolo bearing the communal designation Serralunga d’Alba. In 2008, Oscar Farinetti and Luca Baffigo acquired Fontanafredda, which thus returned to Piedmontese ownership after seventy-seven years. The conversion of all vineyards to organic farming began in 2015 and resulted in a first certified harvest in 2018.