TENUTA CA' GROSSA - BARBARESCO - FIRST PART

TENUTA CA' GROSSA 

The Tenuta Ca’ Grossa (i.e . Ca' Grossa Estate) is located in the municipality of Barbaresco (CN), within the renowned Valle degli Asili, directly opposite the La Martinenga Estate (Tenuta). Until the 19th century, both estates belonged to the Cisa Asinari di Gresy noble Family. Over time, the family retained the west-facing portion – today’s - as said - Tenuta La Martinenga – while the east-facing property became the Tenuta Ca’ Grossa.

Until 1977, Tenuta Ca’ Grossa and the adjacent Tenuta Ca’ Nova formed a single estate, covering a total area of 37 hectares. Following the 1977 division, Tenuta Ca’ Grossa, with 20 hectares, remained the largest contiguous vineyard parcel in the entire Barbaresco district – a distinction it still holds today.

This estate has also lent its name to its corresponding Cru, or more precisely - in Italian - its Geographical Added Sub-Denomination (MGA i.e. "Menzione Geografica Aggiuntiva), reflecting its historical significance. In fact, the Tenuta Ca’ Grossa is already highlighted on the 1810 cadastral map commissioned by Napoleon (listed as “Ferme Grossa”) and even earlier on the first cadastral map of 1759, preserved at the State Archive of Turin.

It is worth noting that the name "Ca’ Grossa" comes from the Piedmontese language, where “Ca’” stands for “house” and “Grossa” (pronounced in Piedmontese as “grussa”) means “large,” reflecting its exceptionally generous size, unusual for the Langa region.

The entrance to the Estate

The Tenuta Ca’ Grossa, like its “cousin” La Martinenga Estate, is located within the renowned Valle degli Asili. This valley represents, in every sense, the pinnacle of Barbaresco and of all the zones within the Barbaresco wine district, being undoubtedly the most famous.

Specifically, the Valle degli Asili (named after the Asili Cru, directly opposite Ca’ Grossa Estate) is a small, horizontally U-shaped valley with its open side facing the nearby Tanaro River. It resembles a large natural amphitheater, benefiting from temperate air currents throughout the year and creating a unique microclimate within the district. The valley stretches from the valley floor at just over 150 meters above sea level, rising to several peaks around 300 meters.

The Valle degli Asili comprises a total of 11 Cru's, of which 9 are entirely included and 2 partially (the Roncagliette and Roccalini Cru, which straddle the western ridge). The largest Cru in terms of surface area is Ca’ Grossa, where the east-facing exposure allows the grapes to preserve their quality even during the hottest summers. The western side of the valley is entirely planted with vineyards, while the eastern side is currently being converted into new Barbaresco D.O.C.G. vineyards.

The valley extends approximately 2.200 meters from the Tanaro River to Provincial Road No. 3, and about 1.300 meters from the top of the Asili Cru to the top of the Ca’ Grossa Cru. However, not all of this area is suitable for viticulture, as highlighted in the following map in the part white coloured (map nr. 1). Non-arable areas include the valley floor (where the railway runs), a north-facing section between the Ca’ Grossa Cru and Rio Sordo Cru, and the area adjacent to the Tanaro River, totaling about 71.7 hectares of non-usable land. This leaves approximately 208,9 hectares suitable for vineyards (though not all are currently planted). Of this, 9.28% of the vineyard-suitable land in the Valle degli Asili is owned by the Ca’ Grossa Estate (map nr. 2).

Map No. 1 - The "Valle degli Asili and its cru"

The map above (nr. 1) highlights the 11 Cru overlooking the Valle degli Asili, along with their respective altitudes. The elevation range starts at 200 meters above sea level for the Pora Cru, drops to 170 meters at the valley floor, and then rises to the Martinenga Cru between 200 and 250 meters. Similarly, the Rio Sordo Cru ranges from 200 to 250 meters, while the Ca’ Grossa Cru extends from 180 to 290 meters above sea level.

Map No. 2 - Percentage of Tenuta Ca Grossa

In the following map (Map No. 3), the actual view of the Valle degli Asili with its 11 Cru is depicted. The aerial perspective clearly illustrates both the basin shape of the valley and its opening towards the Tanaro River, whose temperate air (as shown in Map No. 4) creates a truly unique microclimate. This microclimate makes the wines produced in the Valle degli Asili distinct and exceptional compared to other Barbaresco wines and those from surrounding production areas.

Map No. 3 - Barbaresco the Valle degli Asili and its Cru

Map No. 4 - Barbaresco. La Valle degli Asili's air flows

It is certainly also useful to locate the Tenuta Ca’ Grossa (Map No. 5) and its eponymous Cru within the entire Barbaresco wine district, both to give an idea of the size of its Cru in comparation to the Barbaresco territory and to visualize its exact location. On the map, an arrow highlights the position of the Ca’ Grossa Cru, while the estate’s boundaries are outlined in black, showing that it represents approximately 50% of the total surface of the eponymous Cru.

Map No. 5 - The Cru Ca Grossa and the Tenuta Ca Grossa

Within the Estate, the following vineyards and plots are present (Map No. 6):

• Vigna Costanza d’Altavilla: Barbaresco D.O.C.G. – Cru “Ca’ Grossa” (yellow)

• Vigna San Michele Alto: Barbaresco D.O.C.G. – Cru “Ca’ Grossa” (brown)

• Vigna San Simone: Barbaresco D.O.C.G. – Cru “Ca’ Grossa” (blue)

• Vigna San Simone: Barbera d’Alba D.O.C. (azure)

• Vigna Conte Maximilian: Barbaresco D.O.C.G. – Cru “Ca’ Grossa” (red)

• Vigna Conte Alexander: Langhe Nebbiolo D.O.C. (green)

Map Nr. 6 - The Vineyards of the Tenuta Ca' Grossa

In the following map (No. 7), a satellite view of the vineyards is shown (numbered 1 to 5), with Vineyard No. 3, “San Simone,” divided between Barbera d’Alba D.O.C. and Barbaresco D.O.C.G. “Ca’ Grossa.”