Barolo · Winery · Curated profile

Pio Cesare

Pio Cesare

Founded in 1881 by Cesare Pio in the historic center of Alba, Pio Cesare remains one of only a handful of producers still making wine within the town itself, its cellars built into Roman walls dating to around 50 BC and extending four levels underground. Cesare's son Giuseppe Pio expanded the business, and in 1940 Giuseppe's daughter Rosy married engineer Giuseppe Boffa, who left his career in Milan to run the winery full-time. Their son Pio Boffa led the estate for over 40 years, transforming it into a family-owned-vineyards-only producer and a global ambassador for Langhe wine, before his death in 2021. The fifth generation, his daughter Federica and nephew Cesare, now run the estate with cousin Augusto, farming around 80 hectares across Barolo, Barbaresco, and the Colli Tortonesi with a traditionalist style of long maceration.

At a glance

Region
Barolo, Piemonte, Italy
Address
Via Cesare Balbo 4, 12051 Alba (CN)
Winemaker
Federica Boffa and Cesare Benvenuto Boffa, with cousin Augusto
Tours
Available
Tastings
Available
Wines listed
10
Website
https://www.piocesare.it

Visits & tastings

Tours and tastings are by appointment only, Monday to Saturday morning (excluding national holidays). Booking ahead is advised in September, October and November.

Tours

  • Historic cellar tour followed by a wine tasting, subject to availability

Good to know

  • By appointment only
  • The cellar was built on the Roman walls of Alba and runs over four underground levels

Contact

Wines from Pio Cesare

  • Barbaresco: Barbaresco DOCG, Nebbiolo, Red. Pio Cesare's classic Barbaresco blend, drawn from the estate's Treiso holdings.
  • Barbera d'Alba: Barbera d'Alba DOC, Barbera, Red. An everyday Barbera d'Alba from the estate's Alba-area vineyards.
  • Barolo: Barolo DOCG, Nebbiolo, Red. Pio Cesare's classic Barolo blends grapes from six communes across the appellation, chosen to showcase the range of Barolo terroir in one wine.
  • Dolcetto d'Alba: Dolcetto d'Alba DOC, Dolcetto, Red. The estate's everyday red, made in an approachable, early-drinking style.
  • Fides: Barbera d'Alba Superiore DOC, Barbera, Red. A single-vineyard Barbera from the same Mosconi cru that produces the estate's Barolo Mosconi.
  • Il Bricco: Barbaresco DOCG, Nebbiolo, Red. Il Bricco, in Treiso, is Pio Cesare's single-vineyard Barbaresco.
  • L'Altro: Langhe DOC Chardonnay, Chardonnay, White. L'Altro is Pio Cesare's Chardonnay, blended from three communes across the estate's Barolo and Barbaresco holdings.
  • Langhe Nebbiolo: Langhe DOC Nebbiolo, Nebbiolo, Red. An accessible, early-drinking Nebbiolo from outside the Barolo and Barbaresco zones.
  • Mosconi: Barolo DOCG, Nebbiolo, Red. Mosconi, in Monforte d'Alba, gives Pio Cesare a second single-vineyard Barolo alongside Ornato.
  • Ornato: Barolo DOCG, Nebbiolo, Red. Ornato, in Serralunga d'Alba, is Pio Cesare's flagship single-vineyard Barolo.