A village which is at the centre of the world. It all began with the nickname “Braida”, which was acquired by the great-grandfather Giuseppe Bologna who was a champion in playing “pallone elastico” on town and church squares, a typical sport of the Piedmont region. Giacomo Bologna inherited both vineyards and nickname from his father, but above all an unconditional love for his land and wine.
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. Since 1961 until today Braida has been the amplified and faithful image of the philosophy of Giacomo and Anna, their prospect of life, earth, wine and friendship. Raffaella and Giuseppe Bologna, both oenologists, are the third “Braida” generation and are united by the initial dream to elevate the Barbera grape into a noble status which for some would seem to be reserved only for international varieties.
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’..!
"Il Bacialè”, in Piedmont dialect means the matchmaker and describes the person who arranged marriages between members of noble families in the area. This wine in fact originates from the perfect marriage of Barbera and other grape varieties
Giacomo Bologna’s father used to select in the cellar the most rebellious and exuberant Barbera, calling it “La Monella” (cheeky girl) which was renowned for its characteristic and irrepressible fizzyness
Uccellone is one of the best vineyards on the hilltops of Rocchetta Tanaro. The vineyard takes its name from the old woman who lived in the house adjacent to the vineyard. The lady was always dressed in black and therefore given the nickname “l’uselun” (big bird)
“Here we are. It’s the right level”; this is the meaning of the dialect term “Ai Suma”. This wine is only produced in particular favourable years which represents the “zenith” of the company
The Bigotta is a vineyard sites in Rocchetta Tanaro. It takes its name from the old lady who lived nearby and paid more attention to religious appearance than its real essence
A terrain that speaks. This is the philosophy on which the project that led to this label was based. The letters that make up the name represent the numerous parcels of land that were purchased to reconstruct Montebruna
One of the most elegant dessert wines as it shows its full fragrance of red berries: an aromatic expression of Bulgarian rose and wild strawberries, the wine is an explosion of pure fruit and freshness and is best drunk young
Grignolino is one of the characteristic wines of Piedmont and its value is enhanced even more by the limited quantity produced. The name derives from the dialect term for the grape seed known as “grignola” as it contains several seeds compared with other varieties