Among the vineyards of outstanding prestige owned by the Tenimenti Terre Imperiali is also the Vigna Contessa Elżbieta, located in the Municipality of La Morra (CN), dedicated to the production of Barolo DOCG Cru Berri. This is a parcel of land facing south–southwest, with the distinctive feature of having no physical barriers to the west (such as a hill), other than the Alps, with Mount Monviso in the background. As a result, during the long summer evenings the sun sets on the horizon only when it dips behind the Alps in France, with nothing in front of it but the plain of Cherasco.
This is a highly distinctive and uncommon location in the Langhe, where hills typically follow one another like waves, creating a landscape of extraordinary beauty but also a system of shading that alters the quality of the grapes.
The vineyard owes its name to Countess Elżbieta of a very old Polish noble family, a direct descendant of Aleramo and of Emperor Otto I the Great, through Marie Louise of Habsburg, wife of Napoleon and later Duchess of Parma. It is, in effect, a journey through land and time and, ultimately, a return to origins, when more than a thousand years ago the ancestors of Countess Elżbieta ruled these lands. Vigna Contessa Elżbieta lies within the Barolo production area, in its north-western sector (Municipality of La Morra), where the soils are more similar to those found in the Barbaresco area.
In detail (see the map bottom), the Municipality of La Morra comprises 39 officially recognized crus, characterized by differing exposures, geomorphological features, and qualitative potential. In particular, the crus shown on the right-hand side of the map have a predominantly eastern exposure, while those located to the west of the town of La Morra are mainly west-facing.
From an oenological and viticultural perspective, a particularly significant aspect is that Cru Berri runs directly alongside the Tanaro River, without the presence of natural barriers. This proximity—clearly visible from Vigna Contessa Elzbieta—plays a meaningful role in shaping the vineyard’s mesoclimate. The moderating and cooling effect generated by the river positively influences vine physiology and grape ripening dynamics.
The Tanaro River effectively functions as a natural climatic corridor extending from the holding in La Morra towards the Asili Valley, where the Tenuta Ca’ Grossa is located, creating a gradual transition zone between the Barolo and Barbaresco areas.
As a result, compared with crus situated further east—both within the Municipality of La Morra and, more broadly, within the Barolo production zone—Vigna Contessa Elzbieta benefits from a distinctive temperate and well-ventilated microclimate. This is particularly advantageous during hot growing seasons, as well as during wetter periods, when prevailing west–east air currents facilitate rapid drying of the canopy and soil after rainfall, reducing drying times by approximately 70%. Such conditions significantly limit the development of fungal and pathogenic pressures on the grapes, especially during the critical pre-harvest phase, thereby contributing to higher sanitary quality and greater precision in phenolic and technological ripeness.
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| Pedoclimatic effects of Cru Berri Left: Inflow of tempered air during winter. Right: Ventilated air currents along a west–east axis |
With regard to geological formation, Cru Berri can be traced—both in the presence of young soils (less eroded, nutrient-poor and highly permeable) and evolved soils (characterized by greater mobility of nutrients)—to two distinct soil typologies: the Cassano–Spinola Sandy Formation and the Laminated Fossil Marls of Sant’Agata.
Also noteworthy is the considerable altitude of Cru Berri, which ranges primarily from 350 to nearly 500 metres above sea level, an elevation particularly well suited to viticulture even in seasons characterized by extreme summer heat.
Specifically, Vigna Contessa Elzbieta is located in the highest part of Cru Berri, on evolved soils of the Cassano–Spinola Sandy Formation, characterized by gentler, less steep hillsides.
This type of soil has the following characteristics:
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