Summary
Vietti from Castiglione Falletto is one of the most renowned and history-laden estates in Piedmont. The house, with roots in the late 19th century, was shaped above all by Alfredo Currado, who from the 1960s was among the pioneers of the single-vineyard Barolo (cru), rescued the almost forgotten white variety Arneis and in 1974 introduced the famous artist labels. The focus lies on Nebbiolo for Barolo and Barbaresco, complemented by powerful Barbera, delicate Arneis and sweet Moscato. In 2016 the estate passed to the American Krause family – its reputation as one of the leading addresses of the Langhe remained undiminished.
History
Vietti's roots reach back to the late 19th century, when the family grew wine in Castiglione Falletto. The business developed into an independent estate with its own bottling in the early 20th century under Mario Vietti, who began around 1919 to bottle the wine under his own name – at a time when most Langhe growers still sold their grapes or casks to merchants.
The defining figure, however, became Alfredo Currado, who married into the family and reoriented the estate from the 1950s and 1960s. Currado was among the first producers to bottle a Barolo from a single site – Rocche di Castiglione, first in the 1961 vintage – separately, thereby establishing the idea of the "cru" in the Langhe. Equally far-sighted was his work with the almost vanished white variety Arneis. His son Luca Currado and Luca's wife Elena later carried this philosophy forward. In 2016 the family sold the estate to the American entrepreneur family Krause from Iowa; Luca Currado initially remained in charge as CEO and cellar master.
Location & Terroir
Vietti is based in the hilltop village of Castiglione Falletto, which lies in the middle of the Barolo zone in the hills of the Langhe. This region in the south of Piedmont is marked by steep, alternating ridges and a continental climate with warm summers and cool, often foggy autumn days – the fog ("nebbia") gave Nebbiolo its name.
Decisive is the geological diversity of the Langhe. The calcareous marl soils of the Tortonian era yield fragrant, elegant wines, while sandier, more compact soils of the Serravallian era give rise to more powerful, tannic Barolos. Because Vietti owns parcels in several villages – including Castiglione Falletto, La Morra, Serralunga d'Alba and Monforte d'Alba – the estate can draw out the fine differences of each site individually.
Style & Philosophy
Stylistically, Vietti combines tradition and precision. At its heart is the aim to capture the character of each individual site as clearly and faithfully as possible in the bottle. The Barolos age for extended periods in wooden casks of varying size and show the combination typical of great Nebbiolo: a fine perfume of roses, cherries and tar, a firm tannic backbone and great ageing potential.
Alongside the reds, Vietti is inseparably linked with Arneis: the single-varietal Roero Arneis presented in 1967 contributed significantly to reviving this nearly extinct white variety. The range is rounded out by dense, juicy Barbera – such as the single vineyard Scarrone – and a light, aromatic Moscato d'Asti.
Notable Sites & Wines
Vietti builds its range around several famous single-vineyard Barolos. Among the best known are:
- Rocche di Castiglione – the estate's historic cru, known for finesse and perfume
- Brunate (La Morra) and Lazzarito (Serralunga d'Alba) – powerful and long-lived
- Ravera (Novello) – aromatic and taut
- Villero – the basis of the rare Barolo Riserva in outstanding vintages
- Cerequio – a top site acquired more recently
Added to these are the entry-level Barolo Castiglione, a blend from several villages, the Barbera Scarrone and La Crena, the Roero Arneis and the Moscato d'Asti. The artist labels also make many of these bottles sought-after collector's items.
Awards
Vietti has for decades been regarded as one of the benchmarks for Barolo and is regularly awarded top scores in the leading international wine guides and trade magazines. Beyond the scores, the estate's historical significance lies in its pioneering role: Vietti helped shape the idea of the single-vineyard Barolo, preserved the Arneis variety from disappearing, and with its artist labels created an unmistakable hallmark that still attracts collectors and wine lovers worldwide.