Three Sisters, One Hectare

The story of Castello Conti begins in 1963, when Ermanno Conti established the estate in Maggiora, a small village in the Boca DOC of Alto Piemonte — a region renowned for its noble Nebbiolo-based wines and a viticultural history that stretches back centuries. Ermanno planted the family's first hectare of vines on two hillside parcels, choosing varieties that were traditional to the area: Nebbiolo (locally known as Spanna), Vespolina, Croatina (Bonarda), Uva Rara, and Barbera. These were not commercial decisions; they were acts of faith in a terroir that had produced some of Italy's most elegant and long-lived wines long before Barolo became famous.

For decades, Ermanno tended these vines with the patience and rigor that only a small-scale farmer can afford. He worked the land by hand, harvested manually, and made wine in the traditional manner — spontaneous fermentation, extended maceration, ageing in large old casks. He was not following trends; he was following the land. And when the time came to pass the torch, it was not to a son but to three daughters — Elena, Anna, and Paola — who together represent the second generation of the Conti family's viticultural legacy.

The Conti sisters have not merely inherited the estate; they have expanded it, deepened its commitment to organic viticulture, and brought a new energy to the cellar while preserving the traditional methods their father established. They have grown the family's holdings from the original single hectare to 2.5 hectares, divided into seven distinct parcels that capture the full range of Boca's volcanic terroir. Under their stewardship, the estate has become a beacon of what small-scale, family-run viticulture can achieve — wines of extraordinary precision, minerality, and authenticity that speak with unmistakable clarity of their origin.

The name "Castello Conti" evokes the medieval castle that dominates Maggiora — a reminder of the deep history of this corner of Piedmont, where viticulture has been practiced since Roman times. The Alto Piemonte is a territory of ancient volcanic soils, steep hillsides, and a climate tempered by the proximity of the Alps and the Monte Rosa massif. It is a landscape that demands patience and respect from those who farm it, and the Conti sisters have answered that demand with unwavering dedication. Their work is not about volume or market share; it is about preserving a piece of Piedmontese viticultural history and expressing it in every bottle.

At Castello Conti, the cellar philosophy is one of minimal intervention and maximum respect for the grape. The Conti sisters continue the approach their father established: indigenous yeasts for fermentation, extended macerations to extract the full structural potential of the varieties, and ageing in large Slavonian oak casks and carefully chosen French barriques that bring complexity without overwhelming the purity of the fruit. Temperature-controlled fermentations preserve freshness and aromatic integrity, while natural yeasts and minimal sulfur guarantee authenticity and stability. The result is a portfolio of wines that are precise, terroir-driven, and expressive of the Boca denomination — structured, age-worthy reds that embody both heritage and innovation.

The techniques are traditional, meticulous, and deeply rooted in Alto Piemonte's winemaking history:

Harvest & Selection: All grapes are meticulously hand-harvested from the estate's seven hillside parcels. The Conti sisters monitor each vineyard daily in the weeks leading up to harvest, tasting berries and waiting for the moment when phenolic ripeness, sugar concentration, and acid balance align. The harvest is selective and careful — only the finest bunches are chosen, and they are transported quickly to the cellar to preserve freshness. The old vines of the original Ermanno Conti parcels receive particular attention, their concentrated fruit handled with the care that decades of history demands.

"Il Rosso delle Donne" Boca DOC — The Flagship: The estate's most celebrated wine is the "Il Rosso delle Donne" — "The Women's Red" — a powerful statement of identity and a tribute to the three sisters who now lead the estate. This is a traditional Boca blend, dominated by Nebbiolo (Spanna) with smaller percentages of Vespolina, Croatina, and Uva Rara — the field blend that has defined Boca for centuries. The grapes are hand-harvested, destemmed, and fermented with indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled tanks. Extended maceration on the skins — typically 20–30 days — extracts the full tannic backbone and aromatic complexity that Nebbiolo demands. The wine is then aged for approximately three years in a combination of large Slavonian oak casks and carefully chosen French barriques, which add subtle spice and structure without masking the wine's volcanic minerality. The result is a wine of extraordinary depth: rose petal, tar, wild cherry, tobacco, and a distinct mineral earthiness that speaks of the porphyry beneath the vineyard. The tannins are firm yet refined, the acidity vibrant, the finish long and savoury. It is a wine that demands patience — 10–20 years of cellaring will reveal more truffle, dried fruit, and earthy complexity. This is not merely a wine; it is the Conti sisters' declaration of who they are and what Boca can be.

"Origini" Vino Rosso — The Field Blend Tribute: The "Origini" is inspired by the local tradition where families cultivated small vineyard parcels to produce wines for personal consumption — field blends of whatever varieties were planted, co-fermented and co-aged to create something uniquely expressive of place. The Conti sisters reclaimed and revived a half-hectare of old vines in the Novara hills, creating a field blend that reflects the region's rich viticultural heritage. Primarily Nebbiolo, with 15% of Vespolina, Croatina, Uva Rara, Dolcetto, Barbera, and other local varieties, the grapes are hand-harvested and undergo spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts. The wine is aged for approximately 15 months, with a portion in stainless steel tanks and the remainder in large old oak casks — a method that preserves freshness while adding subtle complexity. The result is a lively, approachable red with bright acidity, moderate tannins, and flavors of red berries, herbs, and a hint of spice. It is a wine that honors the past while remaining utterly drinkable in the present — a bridge between tradition and immediacy.

"Spanna" Colline Novaresi — The Nebbiolo Expression: The "Spanna" is a pure expression of Nebbiolo from the Colline Novaresi denomination — the broader appellation that encompasses the hills around Novara, including Boca. Made from selected parcels of the estate's oldest Nebbiolo vines, it undergoes the same meticulous hand-harvesting, indigenous yeast fermentation, and extended maceration as the flagship Boca. Ageing is in large old oak casks for approximately 18–24 months, followed by bottle ageing. The result is a wine of structure and elegance: rose, tar, cherry, leather, and the unmistakable mineral imprint of volcanic porphyry. It is slightly more approachable in its youth than the Boca DOC but still possesses the backbone and acidity for long ageing — a wine that speaks of Nebbiolo's Alto Piemonte soul with clarity and conviction.

Experimental Cuvées — Zero Sulfur: In addition to their core portfolio, the Conti sisters produce several experimental cuvées that are bottled entirely without the application of sulfur — a bold statement of their confidence in the health of their grapes and the cleanliness of their cellar practices. These wines represent the frontier of the estate's exploration, pushing the boundaries of natural winemaking while maintaining the precision and balance that define the Conti style. They are limited in quantity, available only to select markets and visitors, and represent the sisters' willingness to take risks in pursuit of authenticity.

Ageing & Bottling: The estate's approach to ageing is deliberately traditional. Large Slavonian oak casks (botti grandi) provide the slow, gentle micro-oxygenation that develops complexity without adding dominant wood flavors. For selected wines, carefully chosen French barriques add subtle spice and tannin refinement. There is no new oak dominance, no toast or vanilla excess — only the gift of time and the unique character of each vessel. After ageing, the wines are bottled with little to no sulfur, preserving their natural texture and layers of flavor. Several experimental cuvées are bottled entirely sulfur-free. The result is wines that are pure, unadulterated reflections of their volcanic origin — alive, evolving, and unmistakably honest.