Bruno Giacosa is a towering figure in the history of Italian wine, revered for his role in shaping the global reputation of Barolo and Barbaresco. Based in Neive, in the Langhe region of Piedmont, the Giacosa estate has long been synonymous with uncompromising quality, traditional craftsmanship, and wines that combine intensity with remarkable finesse.
Born in 1929, Bruno Giacosa began working in the family’s négociant business as a teenager, learning to select and vinify grapes from some of the Langhe’s finest vineyards. For decades, he built a reputation as a master “negoziante-vinificatore,” sourcing exceptional fruit from top growers and bottling wines that quickly became benchmarks of Piedmontese Nebbiolo. His obsessive attention to detail and refusal to release anything that did not meet his exacting standards earned him the nickname “the Genius of Neive.”
The estate’s philosophy has always centred on respect for terroir and the expression of Nebbiolo in its purest form. Giacosa’s wines are traditional in style yet never rustic: fermentation in stainless steel, long macerations, and extended ageing in large Slavonian oak casks (botti grandi) allow the wines to develop complexity while preserving the grape’s aromatic delicacy. Over time, Bruno Giacosa began acquiring his own vineyards, adding estate-bottled wines to his range and ensuring greater control over quality.
Today, the domaine encompasses around 20 hectares, including parcels in some of Barolo and Barbaresco’s most prestigious crus, such as Falletto, Rabajà, and Asili. The estate produces both red-label (“Etichetta Rossa”) Riservas in exceptional years, wines of legendary power and longevity, and white-label (“Etichetta Bianca”) bottlings, which offer benchmark expressions of their terroirs. Alongside Nebbiolo, the estate also produces small quantities of Dolcetto, Barbera, and even Arneis — the latter helping to revive interest in this once-overlooked Piedmontese white.
After Bruno suffered a stroke in 2006, his daughter Bruna Giacosa took over the running of the estate, continuing her father’s legacy with the same rigour and dedication. Though Bruno passed away in 2018, his influence remains indelible. His wines, particularly the great Barolos and Barbarescos, are celebrated for their purity, balance, and capacity to age for decades.
Bruno Giacosa is more than just a producer: he is a legend who elevated Piedmont to the highest rank of the wine world. His name is synonymous with authenticity, tradition, and the pursuit of perfection — qualities that continue to define the estate today.