Ferdinando Principiano

The estate has roots in the Piedmont region dating back to the early 1900s when the family began purchasing vineyard land. Ferdinando's grandfather established the current agricultural foundation by planting vines on the hills of Monforte d'Alba in 1934. For several decades, the family sold grapes and wine in bulk under the direction of Ferdinando’s father, Americo. Ferdinando took control of the property in 1993, initially following the modern winemaking trends of that era before shifting his approach. In 2003, he transitioned toward natural viticulture and traditional cellar practices to better reflect the local terroir.

The winery manages approximately 21 hectares of vineyards situated in Monforte d'Alba and Serralunga d'Alba. Key holdings include parcels in the Ravera di Monforte and Boscareto crus, with the latter located on limestone soils near the border of Serralunga. Farming is conducted using organic principles and a focus on biodiversity, evidenced by the maintenance of forests, fruit trees, and a man-made pond to support local wildlife. In the cellar, fermentations rely on indigenous yeasts and occur without temperature control. The Barolo wines undergo long submerged-cap macerations and age in large Slavonian oak barrels ranging from 20 to 40 hectoliters.

Ferdinando Principiano is best known for Barolo wines from the Boscareto and Ravera sites, which are characterized by moderate alcohol levels and aromatic clarity. The producer also gained attention for Dosset, a Dolcetto made without added sulfur that emphasizes freshness and accessibility. Beyond Nebbiolo, the estate produces Timorasso from high-altitude vineyards at 750 meters in the Alta Langa, as well as rare local varieties like Freisa and Slarina. The winery has earned a reputation for transparent, drinkable wines that depart from the high-extraction styles common in late 20th-century Piedmontese production.