Antinori’s Piedmont Estate Prunotto Buys Vineyards in Serralunga d’Alba

Antinori, one of the top names in Italian wine, has added a key vineyard asset to its Prunotto winery in Piedmont, purchasing 8.4 acres in the Cerretta MGA (Menzione Geografica Aggiuntiva—Piedmont’s system of classified vinegrowing places) of Serralunga d’Alba for $9 million. The deal, signed on November 7, increases Prunotto’s estate-owned vineyards and parcels under long-term lease to 193 acres, including 32 acres in Barolo and 13 acres in Barbaresco.

“We already had a small production of Cerretta since 2017, as we had an agreement with a local grower, and based on that we decided to invest further in this subappellation because we were really impressed by the style [of Barolo] from the place,” Antinori CEO Renzo Cotarella told Wine Spectator. “We were very fortunate to find some vineyards to buy.” The first wines made from the new parcels will be from the 2022 harvest.

Comprising nearly 100 acres, Cerretta is one of the largest MGAs in Serralunga, with several top producers owning vines there, including Giacomo Conterno, Elio Altare, Azelia, Luigi Baudana and Schiavenza.

The latest acquisition reinforces Prunotto’s focus on single-vineyard wines, adding to its crus Barolo Bussia Vigna Colonnello Riserva, Barbaresco Bric Turot (Montaribaldi MGA), Barbaresco Secondine, Nizza Costamiòle and Barbera d’Alba Pian Romualdo.

Prunotto was founded in the 1920s by Alfredo Prunotto. When he retired in 1956, he sold Prunotto to his friend Beppe Colla. With the help of his brother Tino, Colla began to produce wines from single vineyards in the Barolo and Barbaresco appellations. Antinori began distributing the wines of Prunotto in 1989 and took full control of the company in 1994.

Ceretta’s vines occupy a prime spot on the slops of Serralunga d’Alba. (Courtesy Prunotto)

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