Nervi

Origins (1555–1906)

The Nervi family had been making wine for more than 350 years before the winery was founded. Guglielmo Nervi became interested in winemaking soon after he was elected mayor of Gattinara in 1555. In 1697 Benedetto Nervi recorded in the local archives the purchase of vineyards that later belonged to Carlo Nervi, Luigi's father.

Luigi Nervi (1906–1953)

Luigi Nervi founded the winery in 1906 and is described as making Nervi the oldest winery in the Gattinara region. He sourced grapes from Molsino, Parmolone and Ronco from his father, Carlo, and bought fruit from local farmers. Carlo's facility stood at the crossroads of important trade routes, which gave Luigi access to grapes from different terroirs that he blended in his own way.

In 1910 Luigi married Margherita Ferretti. The winery grew quickly, and in 1913, the year their only son Italo was born, turnover reached 4000 lire.

During the First World War Margherita ran the winery alone while Luigi served on the French border. Many of his fellow officers were restaurant and hotel owners. After returning home in 1919, Luigi began supplying these contacts throughout Italy. In three years Nervi's capital increased nine times, and the couple invested in historic cellars on Corso Vercelli. They later acquired 30 ha of vineyards in the Gattinara region.

Italo Nervi and the heirs (1953–1991)

Luigi stepped down in 1953 and Italo took over. Italo devoted his life to winemaking and died without heirs. In his will he left the company to five cousins, his secretary Carla Ferrero and consulting oenologist Giorgio Aleata. They found it difficult to run the business together and sold it in 1991 to Germano Boccilone.

Norwegian families (2011–2018)

In 2011 Boccilone sold the winery to four Norwegian families: Astrup, Moestue, Skjelbred and Wiklund. They moved to Gattinara and, with oenologist Enrico Fileppo, who had worked at Nervi since 1984, began a new chapter.

Conterno era (2018–)

In early 2018 Roberto Conterno acquired Nervi. Since 2018 the Conterno name has appeared on Nervi labels.