Storia
Creation of the estate
Serra dei Fiori takes its name from the hilly locality where the estate stands in Trezzo Tinella, in the province of Cuneo. The property was purchased in 1988 and established as an equal partnership between the Bologna family and the brothers Renzo and Valerio Giacosa of Neive. The project was conceived specifically around white wines in the higher, more rugged part of the Langa.
Following the acquisition, the vineyards were reorganised and replanted with white varieties. The programme included indigenous grapes whose recovery was supported by Roberto Macaluso, an experienced agricultural technician described elsewhere as a professor of viticulture and oenology.
Nascetta recovery and the first wines
Nascetta vines were planted at Serra dei Fiori in 1990. Work on this old variety continued through studies undertaken with Turin’s Università Agraria, initially focusing in particular on Il Fiore, a Chardonnay–Nascetta blend. This research contributed to Nascetta’s growing recognition and to the establishment of Langhe Nascetta DOC in 2010.
Il Fiore and Asso di Fiori both had their first vintage in 1994. Il Fiore united Chardonnay with Nascetta, while Asso di Fiori interpreted late-harvested Chardonnay. Re di Fiori, based on Riesling Renano, followed with its first vintage in 2007. La Regina, a pure Nascetta from vines planted in 1990, debuted with the 2011 vintage.
Development of the range
The four wines established Serra dei Fiori as the white-wine component of the owners’ wider activities: Il Fiore as a Chardonnay–Nascetta blend, Asso di Fiori as late-harvested Chardonnay, Re di Fiori as Riesling Renano and La Regina as pure Nascetta. Their playing-card identities form a coherent visual family in which the owners’ four positive viewpoints come together as a flower.
The 2017 growing season
The very hot summer of 2017 demonstrated the moderating role of the estate’s elevation and local mesoclimate. Altitude, easterly exposure and lower night-time temperatures protected the grapes from the most intense heat.
Terroir
Serra dei Fiori lies in the hills of Trezzo Tinella, in the province of Cuneo, a few kilometres from Barbaresco and Alba. This is a rugged sector of the Langa marked by steep hills and woodland. The estate is generally placed at about 450 m above sea level, while the block associated with Il Fiore is documented at 400 m.
The soils are loose and rich in sand. They derive from the breakdown of ancient marine conglomerates dating to the Tertiary period and are mixed with calcareous marl. The marine origin of the land is also invoked in relation to the Riesling vineyards.
Exposure varies by block. The Il Fiore vineyard faces south, while the Riesling site has a particularly favourable south-easterly position. An earlier account of the 2017 season also refers to easterly exposure across the high vineyards. Altitude and pronounced nocturnal cooling moderated that year’s intense summer heat and helped protect the grapes during ripening.
Vinificazione
The vineyards were reorganised and replanted with white varieties after the 1988 acquisition. This work included the recovery of indigenous grapes under the guidance of Roberto Macaluso. Nascetta was planted in 1990 and later became the subject of research with Turin’s Università Agraria.
In the south-facing block documented for Il Fiore, density is 4,100 vines per hectare and the vines are managed with renewed canes. Permanent natural vegetation covers the soil, while fertilisation is limited and based on organic material. Riesling for Re di Fiori is harvested by hand after selection.
The high-elevation setting can buffer extreme summer conditions. In 2017, elevation, easterly exposure and night-time temperature drops helped protect the vineyards during an exceptionally hot season.
Serra dei Fiori works with several white-wine vinification paths rather than a single uniform protocol.
For the Chardonnay–Nascetta blend, whole bunches are placed directly into the press for gentle pressing. The must is clarified, racked and transferred to fermentation tanks, with the current protocol giving a range of 10–15°C. Maturation continues for about four months in stainless steel, followed by another three months in bottle.
Pure Nascetta is fermented and matured exclusively in stainless steel.
Riesling Renano is selected and picked by hand before gentle pressing. The resulting must is allowed to settle, then fermented at controlled temperature in stainless-steel tanks. The wine remains in steel until bottling and subsequently matures in bottle for at least six months.
Late-harvested Chardonnay is gently pressed, using only the highest-quality free-run must. Clarification and racking precede fermentation and approximately eight months of maturation in oak casks. A further minimum of eight months in bottle follows.
Filosofia
Serra dei Fiori was conceived as a project for white wines rooted in the high hills of the Langa. Its development joins international varieties—Chardonnay and Riesling Renano—with Nascetta, an indigenous grape recovered and studied locally. The estate presents its aim as the production of whites with a strong personality, shaped by altitude, sandy marine-derived soils and the distinct character of each variety.
The identity of the range also expresses the partnership behind the estate. Four positive viewpoints—the eyes of the owners—come together to form a flower, while the labels extend the idea through the suits and values of playing cards. This shared visual language links collaboration, place and the names of the wines.