Giacomo Conterno, established in Piemonte in the 1920s, is renowned for its rich family history in winemaking. Giacomo Conterno, who first labelled the family's wines, took over the estate after his father Giovanni passed away in the 1930s. Giovanni also made wine; however, it was primarily consumed at the family tavern, and whatever surplus was sold locally in barrel. Giacomo's sons, Giovanni and Aldo, began running the winery in the 1960s, with Giovanni adhering to traditional practices and Aldo eventually starting his own winery in 1969, where he experimented with more modern ideas.
Currently, the estate is led by Roberto Conterno, the third generation, who has continued to elevate the winery's reputation. Conterno's Barolo is known for its ultra-traditional methods, including long maceration and extended aging in large oak casks. Regular Barolos age for four years, while Monfortino ages for six to seven years.
Initially sourcing grapes, the family bought the 14-hectare Cascina Francia vineyard in 1974. Today, they own vineyards in three top Crus in Serralunga, including Cerretta and Arione. Conterno produces three single-vineyard Barolos and the Monfortino Riserva, which is only released if it meets high standards. In the 2015 vintage, grapes from Arione were included in the Monfortino blend for the first time.
In addition to Barolo, Conterno also produces Barbera d'Alba from the Cascina Francia and Cerretta vineyards, which are recognised for their age-worthiness and quality.