Fontanfredda

Like all beautiful things, Fontanafredda was born from the love story of the first Italian king, Victor Emmanuel II, and Rosa Vercellana.

In 1858, the Fontanafredda estate was purchased by Vittorio Emanuele II as a gift for the "beautiful" Rosina, the woman he loved and subsequently registered Fontanfredda in the names of his children Maria Vittoria and Emanuele Alberto, Count of Mirafiore.

In 1866, the king bought the first vineyard in Barolo, from which the name "Tenimenti di Barolo in Fontanafredda" was born, which appears on the first bottles.

In 1870, the first vinification began. Wine production begins in the Fontanfredda cellars, although the mention of Fontanafredda Barolo dates back to 1867.

In 1878, Count Emanuele Alberto founded a winery with over 300 hectares cultivated directly with specialized workers. At that time, this was very unique. In 1886, the first Barolo goes overseas. In 1887, the first concrete tanks in Europe are installed in the Fontanafredda cellars.

In 1894, Emanuele Alberto di Mirafiore, the man who turned Barolo into a myth, dies. It was he who turned Fontanafredda into a real village with a church and a school. His young second son Gastone takes over.

In 1918, under the management of the director Cav. Mollo, the company reached its maximum commercial and productive expansion, with 200 employees and more than 40 families living on the Fontanafredda estate.

In 1931 is phylloxera. Due to the devastation caused by blight, a serious vine disease, and the Great Depression that arrived from the USA, the land and the cellar were sold for 1,050,500 lire to the Tuscan bank Mote dei Paschi di Siena, which took inspiration for the new company name from the toponyms of the area: Tenimenti di Barolo and Fontanafredda. Meanwhile, the Casa E. di Mirafiore brand is sold to the Piedmontese family Gancia for the sum of 100,000 lire.

In the post-war years 1950-1959, Fontanfredda created an image of quality and a strong brand thanks to the work of Cavalier Giuseppe Bressano.

In 1964, the first certified Cru from the La Rosa vineyard began to be produced.

In 1988, the first Barolo Serralunga d´Alba began to be produced.

In 2006, Fontanafredda became the Olympic wine. On the occasion of the XX. Winter Olympic Games in Turin. It is in recent years that the process of increasing awareness of sustainability has begun.

In 2008, a big change occurs. Oscar Farinetti and Luca Baffigo arrive and buy the estate, returning Fontanfredda to Piedmont after 77 years.

In 2012, Barolo La Rosa 2008 was included in the list of the 100 best wines in the world by Wine Spectator.

In 2015, the process of conversion to organic farming begins in all vineyards.

In 2017 Fontanafredda becomes "European Winery of the Year" for the prestigious American magazine Wine Enthusiast and inaugurates the "Villaggio Narrante".

In 2018, for its 160th birthday, the first certified organic harvest is achieved. With 95 points from Wine Spectator for Barolo Property 2013, the first vintage produced, and 94 points Wine Enthusiast Editor's Choice for Barolo Serralunga 2015.

In 2020, a new renaissance, the scenario changes and the values change to achieve the same result of rebirth.

2021 is the first sustainability and certification report. Equalitas, Vegan Product and History Brand certifications are achieved.

In 2022, Barolo Serralunga d´Alba is ranked among the TOP100. In 2023, 165 years since its foundation are celebrated. Sw with confidence in the present and boldly into the future. The winery is ranked among the TOP 100 premium wine and spirits brands in the world and Barolo Lazzarito La Delizioa 2019 enters the TOP 100 Wines 2023 Wine Enthusiast ranking. In 2024 Bosco Vigna, over 150 specimens of forest and fruit plants planted among the Fontanafredda vineyards to promote biodiversity in the Langhe.

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