Cerequio

Cerequio straddles two of Barolo's most important communes, La Morra and Barolo, covering approximately 28 hectares at elevations between 280 and 320 meters above sea level. Its slopes face south, south-southeast, and southeast, capturing maximum sun exposure throughout the growing season. The vineyard benefits from the protection of Ramello Hill, which shields it from cold winds and creates a notably mild microclimate. This warmth has earned Cerequio the affectionate local nickname 'Riviera of the Langhe,' a reference to its Mediterranean-like conditions relative to surrounding sites.

• Spans both La Morra and Barolo communes within Barolo DOCG
• 280 to 320 meters elevation across approximately 28 hectares
• Ramello Hill provides natural wind protection, creating a warm microclimate
• Nicknamed 'Riviera of the Langhe' for its consistently mild growing conditions

Cerequio sits on calcareous clay marl soils known as Marne di Sant'Agata, a Tortonian sedimentary formation of ancient marine origin. These soils are notably rich in magnesium and manganese, minerals that contribute to the aromatic complexity and structural backbone characteristic of wines from this site. The Tortonian formation, shared with the broader La Morra zone, produces wines that are generally more aromatic and approachable in their youth compared to the tougher Helvetian soils found in Castiglione Falletto and Serralunga d'Alba, though Cerequio wines remain powerful and built for long ageing.

• Marne di Sant'Agata calcareous clay marl soils of Tortonian marine sedimentary origin
• Elevated magnesium and manganese content contributes to aromatic complexity
• Tortonian geology shared with the broader La Morra commune
• Produces wines that combine structure with aromatic lift

Cerequio's reputation stretches back well over a century. In 1880, wine writer Lorenzo Fantini singled it out as the 'choicest position' in the Barolo zone, one of the earliest documented recognitions of Barolo's individual crus. The vineyard gained further formal prestige in 1965 when producer and cartographer Renato Ratti classified it as 'Prima Categoria' in his Mappa del Barolo, a pioneering document that mapped and ranked the appellation's individual vineyard sites. Ratti's map became the intellectual foundation for the modern MGA (Menzione Geografica Aggiuntiva) system, introduced officially by the Barolo DOCG to recognise single-vineyard sites on labels. Cerequio holds the designation of 'absolute prestige' MGA under this system.

• Documented as the 'choicest position' in Barolo by Lorenzo Fantini in 1880
• Classified 'Prima Categoria' in Renato Ratti's Mappa del Barolo (1965)
• Ratti's map formed the basis for the modern MGA classification system
• Holds 'absolute prestige' status within the official MGA framework

Cerequio produces exclusively Nebbiolo-based Barolo, and the wines from this site are defined by a distinctive combination of power, elegance, and aromatic intensity. The warm, sheltered microclimate drives full ripeness, while the magnesium- and manganese-rich calcareous soils provide the mineral backbone and fine tannin structure essential to serious Barolo. Characteristic aromatic signatures include eucalyptus, mint, cassis, and cherry, a profile that sets Cerequio wines apart from the more rose-petal and tar-dominated expressions found in cooler or more austere parts of the appellation. These are long-lived wines, capable of extended cellaring.

• 100% Nebbiolo, classified and bottled as Barolo DOCG
• Aromatic notes of eucalyptus, mint, cassis, and cherry are hallmarks
• Powerful structure with fine tannins supports extended cellaring
• Warm microclimate drives consistent ripeness and aromatic concentration

Cerequio attracts some of Barolo's most respected names, a reflection of the vineyard's long-established prestige. Michele Chiarlo has been among the most prominent voices for Cerequio, producing a benchmark single-vineyard Barolo from the site for decades. Roberto Voerzio, celebrated for his meticulous low-yield approach, farms Cerequio with the same exacting standards applied across his portfolio. Vietti and Damilano both produce structured, age-worthy expressions, while the presence of Gaja, the Barbaresco estate that also operates in Barolo, underscores the site's cross-appellation reputation. Boroli rounds out the group with a focused interpretation of the cru.

• Michele Chiarlo: one of the longest-established and most recognised bottlers from Cerequio
• Roberto Voerzio: low-yield, high-precision viticulture produces concentrated, cellar-worthy Barolo
• Vietti and Damilano: reliable producers of structured, terroir-expressive Cerequio Barolo
• Gaja: presence of this iconic Barbaresco house highlights Cerequio's cross-appellation prestige