Bovio is a boutique wine estate located in the heart of the Barolo region, in La Morra, run by the third generation of the Bovio family. Originally only a very small operation whose wines were meant to be served in the family’s restaurant (still open today as Ristorante Bovio), they have now established themselves as one of the region’s reference-point wineries, exported around the world.
Gianfranco Bovio began to look after his father Alessandro’s holdings in the 1970s, renovating the old cellars and dedicating himself with passion to making wines from their 6.5 hectares of estate vineyards. Now it is the turn of Alessandra and her husband, Marco Boschiazzo, to continue the family tradition with the cooperation of winemaker Matteo Franchi, and Robert Tofan. The operation has expanded some but still remains relatively tiny - a mere 65,000 bottles from eight hectares.
The production includes the two top Barolo crus in their home village of La Morra - Arborina and Gattera - as well as a classic-style Barolo from a blend of Rochettevino and Annunziata (La Morra). These are raised in large casks of both Slavonian and French oak, and then rest in cement tanks for six months prior to bottling. Traditionally the type of oak was selected according to the personality of each cru (French for Arborina, Slavonian for Gattera, etc.), but winemaker Matteo Franchi is now transitioning to Slavonian oak exclusively, as he believes it to be a better fit for the estate’s traditional aesthetic.
Rounding out their lineup are recent additions of the crus of Rochettevino (La Morra) and Parussi (Castiglione Falletto), a brand-new Barolo Riserva (a blend of Gattera, Parussi, and Arborina), and of course, a classic assortment of representative varietal wines meant for every occasion!