The Piccini family lands in the majestic scenery of the Langhe, acquiring the historic “Porta Rossa” brand, an ancient winery that helped write the history of Piedmontese wine. Its origins are intertwined with the events of the past and turn back the hands of time to the heroic deeds of Napoleon Bonaparte.
During expeditions to Italian lands, the French general’s officers were stunned by the beauty that unfolded before their eyes. The lands of Piedmont bestowed on their gaze a poetic ups and downs of hills, villages and rows of vines that were lost beyond the horizon. Among the French soldiers who fell in love with this slice of Italy was. Insurance, captain of Napoleon’s army and protagonist of our history. Enchanted by the panorama of the Langhe, Assic decided to erect a palace on the top of a hill in Diano d’Alba, elected as a hermitage during his long Italian sojourns.
Even today, the palace towers among the village streets, with its unmistakable facade dominated by the solemn red doorway. Throughout history, many illustrious personages crossed its red sashes, including the Savoy colonel Giuseppe Castellazzo, who put the palace to wine-making use. But the real guest of honor was the first king of Italy, Victor Emmanuel II. The gentlemanly king loved to lose himself in the pleasures of the table and on his frequent sojourns in the Langhe he crossed the ‘red door’ several times to indulge in good drinking. Finally, in recent decades, the keys of the winery have passed into the capable hands of Pierfranco Bonaventura, one of Piedmont’s most renowned winemakers. Thanks to his technique, Pierfranco has turned the iconic ‘Red Door’ into an international brand, making the winery one of the landmarks of Langhe wines.
“We put our experience at the service of tradition,” Pierfranco stresses, “paying maniacal attention to the raw material and its processing in our cellars. Our goal is to enhance and interpret the territory, which is why our wines are aged exclusively in large barrels. The long rest in wood allows the wine to acquire considerable structure and great aging potential. Our watchwords are quality and excellence. This is how our finest labels are born, including the prince of the Langhe: Barolo.”
Under the able leadership of Pierfranco Bonaventura, “Porta Rossa” has inscribed its name in the golden roll of Piedmontese wineries, carving out a place of honor in the Langhe wine scene. Aware of the illustrious past, the Piccini family collect the legacy of “Porta Rossa,” taking over the reins of the prestigious brand from Piedmont, with its historical archives preserving the company’s old and glorious vintages.
The philosophy of “Porta Rossa” is closely aligned with the mission of the Italian wine family, which for 140 years has been telling the story of Italy through its excellent wines. From today, Piccini 1882’s vast oenological horizon embraces the hills of the Langhe, respecting the production philosophy that exalts the close bond between wines and their place of origin.