A DELIGHTFUL COUNTRY TALE
Ten vineyards, six houses, a church.
Braida’s story is linked to that of Rocchetta Tanaro, a small town in the Monferrato area.
“My village is not a surprise, it is ten vineyards, six houses, one church”: these are the words of the chansonnier Paolo Frola, who is also the local GP in Rocchetta. The song was written with Gianni Mura, drinking the Barbera of Rocchetta. Some of the ten vineyards in Frola’s song belong to Braida. They were owned by grandfather Giuseppe, who left them to his son Giacomo, and now they are cultivated by Giuseppe and Raffaella Bologna.The estate is the product of the enthusiasm, passion and entrepreneurial courage of a bona fide Rocchettese, Giacomo Bologna
“Braida” was the nickname that Giacomo’s father, Giuseppe Bologna, a professional carter, had earned himself by playing handball, because of his resemblance to the champion of this sport. Along with his father’s nickname Giacomo also inherited his love of the sport and of horses, and a large Barbera vineyard on the Rocchetta hills.
The story of Braida
1961
1961 was the date of the first harvest of the lively Barbera del Monferrato, “La Monella”, which Giacomo Bologna decided to bottle. In 1969 Giacomo presented his wine at the Douja d’Or National Wine Competition in Asti, winning the gold medal, which allowed him to participate free of charge in the wine fairs of Genoa, Turin and Milan, where he shared his thoughts on Barbera with other winemakers.
1982
From the beginning of 1982, Giacomo began to experiment with his innovative idea of pairing Barbera with the barrique: the vintage was exceptional; when the wine, Bricco dell’Uccellone, came out of the barrique, Californian oenologist André Tchelistcheff came to Italy and approved it, decreeing its success. Two other Barbera wines were born in those years in the Rocchetta Tanaro cellar: Bricco della Bigotta in 1985 and Ai Suma, obtained from a late grape harvest (end of October) in 1989. The three Braida reserves are made in the best vintages only.
1988
In 1988, the family bought the Serra dei Fiori estate in Trezzo Tinella, running it together with brothers Renzo and Valerio Giacosa. With the help of Roberto Macaluso, professor of viticulture and oenology, friend and promoter of the defence of native grapes, they planted white varieties, including Nascetta, launching the Braida white wine project.
1990
Ai Suma was the last jewel to be created by Giacomo Bologna, who died on Christmas Day 1990.
Raffaella and Giuseppe Bologna, with their mother Anna Martinengo, then took over the management of the company, continuing o pursue Giacomo’s great dream, innovating and investing at the same time.
Raffaella and Giuseppe Bologna, with their mother Anna Martinengo, then took over the management of the company, continuing o pursue Giacomo’s great dream, innovating and investing at the same time.
1994
The first vintage of Il Bacialè, a project by Giuseppe Bologna that marries the family’s great love, Barbera, with Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, dates back to 1994.
2001
Another important union successfully created by Giuseppe Bologna is that of the many plots of land that now make up the extensive vineyard of Montebruna: the first Montebruna Barbera was harvested in 2001.
2008
Grappa di Bricco dell’Uccellone is made. From an intuition of the master distiller Gianfranco Berta, who wanted to collaborate in making the image of Barbera d’Asti great, a grappa has been added to the Braida family of wines since 2008. The aged Grappa of Bricco dell’Uccellone is obtained from the distillate of the pomace of one of the most famous wines of the Rocchetta Tanaro cellar.
2011
50 years of La Monella.
2012
30 years of Bricco dell’Uccellone.
2016
Completion of the Il Bacialè project with the arrival of Cabernet Franc. With the 2016 vintage of il Bacialé the completion of the project is established, the definition of the vineyards, the different vinifications and the refinements that make up the wine. Cabernet Franc is added to Barbera, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with its contribution of balance, drinkability, clean perfumes.
2018
After a long absence, Ai Suma returns, vintage 2015.
2019
Bricco dell’Uccellone “Wein Legende 2019” and first harvest of Curej.
2021
Braida turns sixty and a new chapter in history opens: the Braida Wine Resort is inaugurated.
Planting of the oak forest in Montebruna.
Planting of the oak forest in Montebruna.
2022
Fortieth harvest of Bricco dell’Uccellone!
Ten vineyards, six houses, a church.
Braida’s story is linked to that of Rocchetta Tanaro, a small town in the Monferrato area. “My village is not a surprise, it is ten vineyards, six houses, one church“: these are the words of the chansonnier Paolo Frola, who is also the local GP in Rocchetta. The song was written with Gianni Mura, drinking the Barbera of Rocchetta. Some of the ten vineyards in Frola’s song belong to Braida. They were owned by grandfather Giuseppe, who left them to his son Giacomo, and now they are cultivated by Giuseppe and Raffaella Bologna. The estate is the product of the enthusiasm, passion and entrepreneurial courage of a bona fide Rocchettese, Giacomo Bologna.
“Braida” was the nickname that Giacomo’s father, Giuseppe Bologna, a professional carter, had earned himself by playing handball, because of his resemblance to the champion of this sport. Along with his father’s nickname Giacomo also inherited his love of the sport and of horses, and a large Barbera vineyard on the Rocchetta hills.
The story of Braida
1961
1961 was the date of the first harvest of the lively Barbera del Monferrato, “La Monella”, which Giacomo Bologna decided to bottle. In 1969 Giacomo presented his wine at the Douja d’Or National Wine Competition in Asti, winning the gold medal, which allowed him to participate free of charge in the wine fairs of Genoa, Turin and Milan, where he shared his thoughts on Barbera with other winemakers.
1982
From the beginning of 1982, Giacomo began to experiment with his innovative idea of pairing Barbera with the barrique: the vintage was exceptional; when the wine, Bricco dell’Uccellone, came out of the barrique, Californian oenologist André Tchelistcheff came to Italy and approved it, decreeing its success. Two other Barbera wines were born in those years in the Rocchetta Tanaro cellar: Bricco della Bigotta in 1985 and Ai Suma, obtained from a late grape harvest (end of October) in 1989. The three Braida reserves are made in the best vintages only.
1988
In 1988, the family bought the Serra dei Fiori estate in Trezzo Tinella, running it together with brothers Renzo and Valerio Giacosa. With the help of Roberto Macaluso, professor of viticulture and oenology, friend and promoter of the defence of native grapes, they planted white varieties, including Nascetta, launching the Braida white wine project.
1990
Ai Suma was the last jewel to be created by Giacomo Bologna, who died on Christmas Day 1990.
Raffaella and Giuseppe Bologna, with their mother Anna Martinengo, then took over the management of the company, continuing o pursue Giacomo’s great dream, innovating and investing at the same time.
Raffaella and Giuseppe Bologna, with their mother Anna Martinengo, then took over the management of the company, continuing o pursue Giacomo’s great dream, innovating and investing at the same time.
1994
The first vintage of Il Bacialè, a project by Giuseppe Bologna that marries the family’s great love, Barbera, with Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, dates back to 1994.
2001
Another important union successfully created by Giuseppe Bologna is that of the many plots of land that now make up the extensive vineyard of Montebruna: the first Montebruna Barbera was harvested in 2001.
2008
Grappa di Bricco dell’Uccellone is made. From an intuition of the master distiller Gianfranco Berta, who wanted to collaborate in making the image of Barbera d’Asti great, a grappa has been added to the Braida family of wines since 2008. The aged Grappa of Bricco dell’Uccellone is obtained from the distillate of the pomace of one of the most famous wines of the Rocchetta Tanaro cellar.
2011
50 years of La Monella.
2012
30 years of Bricco dell’Uccellone.
2016
Completion of the Il Bacialè project with the arrival of Cabernet Franc. With the 2016 vintage of il Bacialé the completion of the project is established, the definition of the vineyards, the different vinifications and the refinements that make up the wine. Cabernet Franc is added to Barbera, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with its contribution of balance, drinkability, clean perfumes.
2018
After a long absence, Ai Suma returns, vintage 2015.
2019
Bricco dell’Uccellone “Wein Legende 2019” and first harvest of Curej.
2021
Braida turns sixty and a new chapter in history opens: the Braida Wine Resort is inaugurated.
Planting of the oak forest in Montebruna.
Planting of the oak forest in Montebruna.
2022
Fortieth harvest of Bricco dell’Uccellone!