Braida
The Vineyards
The Winery
The People
Extension: 135 acres
Rocchetta Tanaro - (160 m above see level)
The soil is composed of equal proportions of sand and clay; this medium-heavy textured soil produces wines with rather intensely aromatic and savoury flavourscompared to looser soils.
Castelnuovo Calcea - (230 m above see level)
The loose soil made of calcareous sand and is therefore lighter. The soil heat up quicker, even the deeper layers of subsoil, allowing the roots to start working earlier.
Costigliole d’Asti - (240 m above see level)
Clay and calcareous soil with excellent hill- side exposure, which helps to give our wines considerable body and intense fragrance.
Mango d’Alba - (500 m above see level)
The mainly calcareous-sandy soil provides excellent drainage in order to give the plants vigour without encouraging excessive vegetative growth.
Production: 500.000 bottles
At the winery Braida the courage of the young generation is combined with firmly rooted traditions. Indigenous varieties such as Moscato, Brachetto, Grignolino and the famous Brabera grape, vinified into its typical “petillant” version ‘La Monella’ or the traditional still red wine ‘Montebruna’, are kept as basis of the product line alongside with varieties that are corresponding with the taste of the international market: therefore Merlot, Pinot Nero and Cabernet are used in the modern style blend ‘Il Bacialè’..!
Giacomo ventured to produce a Super Barbera vinifying the grapes into a quality wine and maturing it subsequently in French barriques barrels, a practice unknown to most at that time but widely used nowadays. Bricco dell’Uccellone, the flagship wine of the company, has now become one of the world’s leading Italian wines.
Proprietor: Bologna family
Winemaker: Giuseppe Bologna
In the '80s, Giacomo Bologna led a movement to elevate the Barbera grape from an everyday table wine to a noble wine. He reduced the yields in the vineyards, harvested the grapes later than his neighbors, and aged the wine in French barriques. The results were met with mixed reviews. His persistence and dedication to his vision eventually paid off with Braida earning a reputation for world-class wines. Thanks to Giacomo, the Barbera grape is now known as one of Italy’s top grapes.
Today, the commitment to perfection continues with Giacomo’s son and daughter, third generation winemakers, at the helm. Rafaella manages the winery and Giuseppe manages the growing and production. Norbert Reinish, Rafaela’s husband, manages the export market and Cristina, Giuseppe’s wife, handles the administration. The Braida operation is a family affair that places great importance on environment, tradition, and passion resulting in wines that impart big emotions.
Paolo Pellizzari (left), Norbert Reinish (right)