Marchesi di Grésy

The family connection to the land stretches back to 1650, when they acquired the Monte Aribaldo estate. Martinenga, the jewel of the holdings, came into family ownership in 1797. For most of its history the property operated as a traditional mixed farm, selling grapes to other producers rather than bottling under its own label. That changed in 1973, when Alberto di Grésy made the decision to vinify and bottle the estate's own wines, releasing the first vintage that same year. Additional vineyard acquisitions followed in 1899 and 1996, expanding the estate to its current four properties.

• Monte Aribaldo estate acquired by the family in 1650
• Martinenga vineyard in continuous family ownership since 1797
• Grapes sold to other producers until Alberto di Grésy's first estate vintage in 1973
• Alessandro and Ludovica di Grésy joined the operation in 2013

The estate covers 45 hectares across four properties: Martinenga, Monte Aribaldo, La Serra, and Monte Colombo. Martinenga faces south-southwest at 280 meters elevation, benefiting from a favorable microclimate influenced by proximity to the Tanaro River and the moderating effect of the Maritime Alps. Soils across the estates include blue marl, a calcareous clay with chalk and limestone, alongside volcanic soils, sandy soils, and blue marl with tuff. Elevations across the holdings range from 210 to 288 meters. The south-southwest orientation maximizes sun exposure during the growing season, a key factor in achieving full Nebbiolo ripeness.

• Martinenga faces south-southwest at 280 meters elevation
• Dominant soil type is blue marl, composed of calcareous clay, chalk, and limestone
• Maritime Alps moderate the climate; Tanaro River proximity creates a favorable microclimate
• Total holdings span 45 hectares across four separate estates

Nebbiolo, planted in the Lampia, Rosé, and Michet sub-varieties, anchors the estate's production. Three Barbaresco DOCG wines are produced from Martinenga alone: the estate Martinenga bottling from 6.5 hectares, Camp Gros from 2.6 hectares, and Gaiun from 2.3 hectares. Beyond Nebbiolo, the estates grow Barbera, Dolcetto, Moscato d'Asti, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. The winemaking philosophy blends traditional and modern approaches, with a consistent house style emphasizing elegance, softer tannins, and hedonistic ripe fruit in a supple, early-maturing style. An underground cellar equipped with solar panels reflects the estate's commitment to environmental sustainability.

• Three Nebbiolo sub-varieties are cultivated: Lampia, Rosé, and Michet
• Camp Gros has been bottled as a separate cru since 1978
• An experimental plot with 11 Nebbiolo clones is monitored by the National Research Council
• Underground cellar built with solar panels for environmental sustainability

All three Martinenga Nebbiolo wines carry Barbaresco DOCG status. Martinenga's standing as a monopole sets it apart: no other producer can source fruit from the vineyard. Though Italy's wine classification system carries no official Grand Cru tier equivalent to Burgundy, Martinenga is widely regarded as Barbaresco's de facto first Grand Cru. The estate is consistently recognized for producing some of Piedmont's most elegant wines, with a house style that prioritizes refinement over power.

• Barbaresco DOCG is Italy's highest wine classification tier
• Martinenga is a monopole, meaning the di Grésy family is its sole owner
• Widely considered Barbaresco's first Grand Cru, though no such official category exists in Italian law
• Recognized as producing among Piedmont's most elegant, hedonistic expressions of Nebbiolo