Marchesi di Barolo, the historic Barolo estate owned by the Abbona family, has acquired the Cascina Bruciata winery in Barbaresco from vintner Carlo Balbo for an undisclosed price.
"It happened last week," Valentina Abbona, daughter of owners Ernesto and Anna Abbona, told Wine Spectator. "We didn't even have time to prepare an announcement for Vinitaly."
Cascina Bruciata owns nearly 20 contiguous acres in the Rio Sordo cru in Barbaresco. It's planted to Nebbiolo, of which the oldest parcel is 85 years old, as well as Barbera, Dolcetto and Freisa. Since 2015, the property has been certified organic.
Former owner Balbo, a longtime friend of Ernesto, decided to sell in order to spend more time with his family. "With such beautiful certified organic vineyards, Cascina Bruciata offered a great opportunity and a similar philosophy [in viticulture]," said Abbona. "I have a very long relationship with Carlo and we know the quality of the vineyards and the soil composition." Enologist Francesco Baravalle, who joined Cascina Bruciata in 2009 after four years at Barboursville in Virginia, will stay on as winemaker.
Rio Sordo was the first Barbaresco vinified by Marchesi di Barolo. They stopped buying the grapes to focus on their estate vineyards several years ago.
Coincidentally, Cascina Bruciata also owns a small parcel in Cannubi Muscatel, adjacent to the Marchesi di Barolo vineyards there.
The acquisition adds to the 185 total acres owned by Marchesi di Barolo, among them 5 in Barbaresco, where it produces a Barbaresco, Barbaresco Riserva and Barbaresco Serragrilli from vineyards in the commune of Neive.
