Understanding the Labels
Casa Vinicola
Perhaps unfashionably, Giacosa still work closely with select ‘outside’ growers to produce their Casa Vinicola labels. Not just out of respect for these long-standing relationships, but truly central to the brand that Bruno Giacosa built in the 60s and 70s is this association with suppliers from other parts of Barolo, Barbaresco and the Langhe.
Under the Casa Vinicola label come the Dolcetto d’Alba Casa Vinicola, Barbera d’Alba Casa Vinicola and Nebbiolo d’Alba Casa Vinicola, not to be confused with the same varieties that fall under the Falletto labelling. It is more common than not that every year there will be two Dolcetto and two Barbera wines released from Giacosa, one carrying the Casa Vinicola nomenclature and the others under the Falletto sub-brand. Both Nebbiolo d’Alba are Casa Vinicola wines, though the Nebbiolo Valmaggiore is from a single vineyard in Roero.
The Dolcetto, Barbera and Nebbiolo Casa Vinicola labels are finished in matte, while the Arneis and Nebbiolo Valmaggiore are finished in gloss. All Casa Vinicola labels include the image of the historic castle of Neive at the top of the label (easily distinguished because of the flag). Towards the bottom of the front label you can also read ‘Casa Vinicola Bruno Giacosa’.
For wines made with fruit from a blend of vineyards, the bottles are not numbered.
See: Spumante Extra Brut, Roero Arenis, Dolcetto d’Alba, Barbera d’Alba, Nebbiolo d’Alba
Falletto
Before acquiring the vineyard after which it is named, the Falletto designation on labels did not exist. In fact, all wines produced by Giacosa until 1996 carried the designation Casa Vinicola Bruno Giacosa. Certainly the most confusing word in Giacosa lore, Falletto is both the name of Giacosa’s monopole as well as the sub-brand of the own vineyard wines.
The Dolcetto d’Alba Falletto and Barbera d’Alba Falletto use fruit from the Falletto vineyard, as do the Barolos. The Barbarescos all wear the Falletto label even though they do not come from the Falletto vineyard.
All Falletto labels include the image of the ‘Cascina Falletto’ which is the small residence atop the Falletto hill. Requiring a way to distinguish these wines from made with purchased fruit, Falletto signifies the wines controlled by Giacosa from vineyard to bottle*. The Falletto label wines are all finished in gloss and the bottles are numbered.
*Giacosa still manage the majority of the vineyards designated for Casa Vinicola.
See: Barbera d’Alba Falletto, Dolcetto d’Alba Falletto, Barolo, Barolo Falletto, Barolo Falletto Vigna Le Rocche
Red Label / Riserva
The Riserva wines (commonly referred to as Red Labels) are those treated to the DOCG Riserva requirements for Barolo or Barbaresco respectively. They are not made every year and are only produced if the vintage both suits the extended ageing requirements for Riserva and justifies being labelled as Giacosa’s best wine.
In some years, there will be no Riserva, in others there will be one Riserva (these days either Barbaresco Asili or Barolo Vigna le Rocche), and in rare vintages there will be two. If a Riserva is produced from a certain vineyard, it means that cru will not appear as a white label non-Riserva in that vintage.
Only four sites have ever been turned into Riserva wines, Asili (Barbaresco), Falletto Vigna Le Rocche (Barolo), Falletto (Barolo) and Santo Stefano di Neive (Barbaresco).
See: Barolo Falletto Vigna Rocche Riserva, Barbaresco Asili Riserva