The story
Welcome to the heart of the Langhe, a landscape so vital to human heritage that the very soil is protected by UNESCO. As you travel through the winding, rhythmic roads of Monforte d’Alba, specifically here in the prestigious locality of Bussia, I want you to take a moment to look out at the horizon. You are surrounded by some of the most expensive and revered dirt on the planet.
These steep, sun-drenched slopes of the Bussia "cru" are where the Nebbiolo grape finds its most powerful expression, creating wines that can age for decades. But to truly understand the soul of this landscape, we must look toward the silhouette of the village of Barolo and its imposing fortress, the Castello di Barolo. This castle has stood for over a thousand years, but its most transformative era began in the early 19th century with the arrival of a woman named Juliette Colbert, known to locals as the Marchesa Giulia Falletti di Barolo.
Before Giulia’s arrival, the wine produced here was often sweet, unstable, and nothing like the "King of Wines" we know today. Giulia was a visionary from a noble French family, and when she married the Marquis Carlo Tancredi Falletti, she brought with her a refined palate and an innovative spirit. Legend tells us that King Carlo Alberto once playfully teased the Marchesa, asking why he had not yet tasted the wine from her Barolo estates.
In a display of characteristic wit and confidence, Giulia later sent a procession of three hundred and twenty-five "carrà"—enormous wine barrels—to the Royal Palace in Turin. It was a barrel for every day of the year, excluding the period of Lent. The King was so enamored with the dry, robust red that he eventually purchased estates of his own to produce it.
As you gaze at the castle from these hills in Bussia, remember that Giulia’s legacy wasn't just found in a bottle. She was a woman of immense charity who founded schools, hospitals, and shelters for the poor. When she passed away in 1864, the Falletti dynasty ended, but her spirit remained woven into the vines.
Today, the castle houses the WiMu, a world-class wine museum that tells this story through art and history. But as you stand here, feeling the breeze that moves through the Bussia vineyards, you are in the living museum. Every row of vines you see is a testament to her foresight.
Take a deep breath and smell the scent of the earth and the turning leaves. You are walking through a history of grit, nobility, and the enduring grace of the Marchesa. Enjoy your journey through these hills.