Bussia Soprana

History

A return to the land

Bussìa Soprana’s family narrative begins with Silvano Casiraghi’s father, known as il Ross—“the Red.” He came from an agricultural background and spent his working life trying to move his family away from farm labour. Silvano chose the opposite direction: he was drawn back to the land, particularly land planted with vines.

1992 — foundation in Bussia

Silvano Casiraghi conceived Bussìa Soprana in 1992, with a particular focus on Nebbiolo intended for Barolo. From the beginning, the new estate acquired vineyard land in Bussia Soprana, the locality from which it took its name.

1995 — Mosconi

Guido Rossi joined the enterprise in 1995. That year another farmhouse and its holdings in the Mosconi area were incorporated into the estate. The present Mosconi property comprises approximately 4.8 hectares in Monforte d’Alba.

1999 — Gabutti della Bussia

In 1999, Cascina Gabutti della Bussia was incorporated. Its vineyards lie below the hamlet of Gabutti, connecting Bussia with Pianpolvere and Dardi.

The estate today

Bussìa Soprana now extends over approximately 20 hectares in Monforte d’Alba and Castiglione Falletto. Its principal vineyard holdings are Vigna Colonnello, Vigna Gabutti della Bussia, Mosconi and Bussia. The legal agricultural entity is Azienda Agricola Bussìa Soprana di Casiraghi Silvano e C. – Società Agricola Semplice.

Before 1992Silvano Casiraghi’s father, known as il Ross, worked the land but sought to lead his family away from agricultural labour; Silvano later chose to return to vineyard farming.

1992Silvano Casiraghi founded Bussìa Soprana around the production of Nebbiolo for Barolo and began acquiring land in the eponymous Bussia Soprana locality.

1995Guido Rossi entered the enterprise, and a farmhouse with vineyard holdings in Mosconi was incorporated into the estate.

1999Cascina Gabutti della Bussia and its vineyards were incorporated into Bussìa Soprana.

PresentThe estate covers approximately 20 hectares in Monforte d’Alba and Castiglione Falletto, centred on Vigna Colonnello, Vigna Gabutti della Bussia, Mosconi and Bussia.

Terroir

Estate setting

The estate’s approximately 20 hectares occupy vineyard positions in the communes of Monforte d’Alba and Castiglione Falletto. Its detailed vineyard holdings range from 350 to 400 metres above sea level and predominantly face south, south-east or south-west.

Geology and soils

The Bussia and Mosconi holdings are characterised by light-grey, calcareous Miocene marls. Bussia has loamy, clay-and-silt soils. Mosconi’s loam is strongly alkaline and contains clay and silt. Gabutti is also described as loam with clay and silt, while Colonnello is classified as loam; technical descriptions associated with Colonnello additionally identify tuff and sand.

Topography and exposure

Bussia occupies hillsides at 350–380 metres with south, south-east and south-west exposures. Mosconi rises to approximately 400 metres; its south-, south-west- and south-east-facing vineyards form a steep natural amphitheatre below the road descending from the church of San Giuseppe. Gabutti lies at approximately 380 metres below the hamlet of the same name, facing south and south-west and linking Bussia with Pianpolvere and Dardi. Colonnello stands in front of the Bussia farmhouse at approximately 380 metres, facing south to south-west.

Winemaking

Manual harvestGrapes from the four detailed vineyard holdings are picked by hand into crates between late September and early October.

Guyot trainingNebbiolo vines are espalier-trained and Guyot-pruned; the principal vineyard profiles use 2.40 × 0.90 metre spacing.

Yield regulationStrict winter pruning and rigorous summer bunch thinning hold average yields at 5–6 tonnes per hectare.

Alternating grass coverGrass is maintained in alternating vineyard rows, while the under-vine strip is cultivated.

Viticulture is organised around espalier-trained vines and Guyot pruning. The principal detailed holdings use alternating-row grass cover, with mechanical or manual soil cultivation beneath the vine rows. Standard spacing is 2.40 × 0.90 metres across Bussia, Mosconi, Gabutti and the current Colonnello profile.

Winter pruning is strict. In Bussia and Gabutti, eight to nine buds are retained on the one-year cane. Colonnello receives particularly severe winter pruning. Rigorous summer bunch thinning is used to regulate the crop; Silvano Casiraghi describes spending the summer thinning and then following the progress of individual bunches over subsequent months.

Average production in all four detailed holdings is 50–60 quintals of grapes per hectare, equivalent to 5–6 tonnes per hectare. Harvesting is performed manually into crates. Mosconi, Gabutti and Colonnello are generally picked at the end of September, while Bussia is harvested at the beginning of October.

The steepness and narrow planting pattern of older Mosconi vines make mechanised work difficult. The oldest Mosconi material is Nebbiolo valued for a clone associated with colour and acidity.

Philosophy

Bussìa Soprana’s declared focus is Nebbiolo grown for Barolo in historically established vineyard positions. Silvano Casiraghi’s guiding principle is that great wine is created in the vineyard. In practice, this is expressed through severe pruning, summer crop thinning and prolonged observation of the ripening bunches.

The estate presents its development as a long pursuit of quality rooted in named sites: Bussia, Colonnello, Gabutti della Bussia and Mosconi. Its family story also frames viticulture as Silvano’s conscious return to land from which his father had hoped the family could move away.