It is an uphill road that leads to Treiso, a small village located at the meeting point of five hills. Here, the Rizzi Cru is located in the heart of Barbaresco and compelled Ernesto Dellapiana, together with his wife, to leave the city of Turin and his career as an entrepreneur to return to the lands that have always belonged to the family. The Dellapiana family has produced grapes and wines since the 18th century, but the estate only began bottling in 1974. Rizzi farmhouse and its vineyards on the two sides of the hill (Cru Rizzi and Cru Nervo) were the starting point. In 1984, the family acquired the Boito farmhouse and the adjacent Vigna Boito, still inside the Cru Rizzi, and in 1997, purchased the Manzola farmhouse and its vineyards. Between 2004 and 2018 new acquisitions were made: three hectares in the Cru Pajorè, 5 hectares of Podere Stella at Neviglie and finally 1.5 hectares in the Cru Giacone and 3 hectares of the Cru Bricco di Neive. Today, Rizzi reaches over 44 total hectares. Ernesto and his wife Lia are joined by their two children: Jole, who deals with the management of the winery and sales network, and Enrico, engaged in the farming, vinification and export markets.
“Graceful, harmonious Barbarescos from Ernesto Dellapiana and his son Enrico, two of the kindest individuals I have met in Piemonte. The wines are all aged in large casks and display beautiful Nebbiolo purity, silky tannins, very good acidity and ideal structure for a decade or more of aging. Yet the wines are so appealing upon release, you may not want to wait!” Forbes, The 25 Best Producers of Barbaresco