The Barolos and Barbarescos of Bruno Giacosa

Below are links to tables listing all the Barolos and Barbarescos made by Bruno Giacosa.

Table of Giacosa Barbaresco

Table of Giacosa Barolo

Explanation of Giacosa Labels (in PowerPoint format).
This should be very helpful in matching bottles to the entries in the Barolo and Barbaresco charts.

If you do not have PowerPoint on your computer, you can download my Explanation of Giacosa Labels in pdf format (without animation); or you can download a free PowerPoint Viewer here for Windows, or here for Mac.

General Notes on the Giacosa Winery and Labels

• The first wines bottled and sold by the Bruno Giacosa Winery were a Barolo and a Barbaresco from the 1961 vintage. While not stated on the label, the Barolo was from the Falletto vineyard and the Barbaresco was a blend from the Gallina and Santo Stefano vineyards.
• Wine was made by Bruno's grandfather Carlo and his father Mario as far back as the 1890's. Most of this wine was sold to customers in demijohn as was common practice in the region at the time. Bottling at the winery was not at all common until after World War II.
• Here is a label for a 1911 Barbaresco from Carlo Giacosa & Figli sent to me by the winery.
• While the reserve is often referred to as the "red label", the label has never been a true red, varying from maroon to reddish brown. In fact, the earliest non-single-vineyard Giacosa Riservas had a tan label. See this photo for a set of older Riservas including a 1961.
• Starting in 1996, Giacosa has divided into two winery names based on whether the grapes are estate grown (i.e. if he owns the vineyard). This is fairly typical in Piedmont now and has something to do with tax breaks for "Azienda Agricola" which only bottle estate bottled wine.
  • "Azienda Agricola Falletto di Bruno Giacosa" makes wines only from estate vineyards, currently
    • Barolo Falletto
    • Barolo Rocche del Falletto
    • Barbaresco Asili
    • Barbaresco Rabajà
  • "Casa Vinicola Bruno Giacosa" makes wines using grapes purchased from selected growers including
    • Barbaresco Santo Stefano
    • Barolo Villero
  • Prior to 1996, all his wines were made under the "Casa Vinicola Bruno Giacosa" name.

Some other Giacosa labels (other than Barolo and Barbaresco)

• Arneis:
• 1974 Roero Arneis.
• 1996 Roero Arneis.
• 1997 Roero Arneis.
• 2004 Roero Arneis.
• 2005 Roero Arneis.
• 2006 Roero Arneis.
• 2007 Roero Arneis.
• 2008 Roero Arneis.
• 2009 Roero Arneis.
• Barbera:
• 1974 Barbera d'Alba from Ginestra di Monforte. Note that 1974 is the same year that Giacosa made a Barolo from Ginestra di Monforte.
• Grignolino:
• 1988 Grignolino d'Asti from Valdeperno.
• Nebbiolo:
• 1971 Nebbiolo d'Alba from Valmaggiore di Vezza d'Alba.
• 1988 Nebbiolo d'Alba from Valmaggiore di Vezza d'Alba.
• 2001 Nebbiolo d'Alba from Valmaggiore di Vezza d'Alba.
• 2004 Nebbiolo d'Alba from Valmaggiore di Vezza d'Alba.
• 2006 Nebbiolo d'Alba from Valmaggiore di Vezza d'Alba.
• 2008 Nebbiolo d'Alba from Valmaggiore di Vezza d'Alba.
• Sparkling:
• 2007 Rosé Spumante Extra Brut.

Winemaker News

• As reported by Vino Wire, Dante Scaglione stepped down as enologist for Bruno Giacosa on March 7, 2008. He was replaced by Giorgio Lavagna, son-in-law to the manager of Giacosa's Falletto estate. Dante began working at the winery in 1991 with then enologist, Giuliano Noé.
• Update: As reported by Antonio Galloni and Vino Wire, Dante Scaglione returned to the Bruno Giacosa Winery in May 2011 as Consulting Winemaker.
• A special thank you to Bruna Giacosa and the staff at the winery for some of the information on these pages.

Related Links

Giacosa Winery Homepage

Giacosa Page at his former US importer, Winebow.

Folio Fine Wine Partners, a Michael Mondavi family-owned company, announced that it will be the new United States importer for the critically acclaimed Italian wine producer, Bruno Giacosa, effective January 1, 2012. Folio's Giacosa page.

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All original content © Ken Vastola