At the northern edge of the Barolo zone, the sun-bleached, sandstone homes in the village of Verduno glow in the soft morning light. A cool breeze from the river Tanaro rustles the leaves of oak trees that border south-facing vineyards, soaking up the sun’s early rays. The Alessandria family since the mid-19th century has called this gentle landscape home. In 1870, when the family first established their farm, calling it Fratelli Alessandria, Verduno was the center of Barolo winemaking — it was here where families first crafted dry Nebbiolo wines in the style we know today, and also bottled wines individually instead of shipping in cask. Because of this, the village was internationally recognized as the face of Barolo and sought out by collectors across the European continent. Today Verduno is experiencing a renaissance, and it is the 'brothers' Alessandria who are guiding the wines of Verduno back to the heights they once held. It is of course a family affair — the brothers Gian Battista and Alessandro, and today, Alessandro’s son, Vittore, are the stewards of this generations-old estate.

Such history has given the family a deep understanding of how to work the vines in their local soils, called “marne di Sant’Agata,” a mix of sand and clay with a high proportion of limestone, unique to Verduno. Vineyards are farmed according to organic practices, grapes are harvested by hand, are destemmed and fermented on indigenous yeasts. Wines are aged in the family’s 19th-century underground cellar, the Alessandria family provides a “mirror to the landscape,” Vittore says, respecting the history of their forefathers yet "looking ahead” to ensure that what’s in each bottle reflects the true essence of Verduno.