The estate

Arriving at Tenuta Cucco, visitors are greeted by the surprise of a small hamlet, nestled in one of the most fascinating villages in the Langhe: Serralunga d’Alba. The estate lies at the roots of the imposing medieval castle, which offers breathtaking views over the Langhe hills of Alba, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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The hamlet

The name “Cucco” comes from the local dialect meaning “the summit of the hill”, and it is there that the estate’s oldest vineyard, Vigna Cucco, is located. Because it’s part of the Cerrati cru, this vineyard is a symbol of the territory, also recorded in the historical map drawn by Renato Ratti. According to legend, among its rows once opened a secret passageway linking the castle to the world beyond its walls. Vigna Cucco also represents the eastern margin of the Barolo appellation: its slopes mark its extreme eastern edge.

Around these rows, beginning in the 1960s, Tenuta Cucco took shape: the winery with its infernot and cellar, the farmhouse, the manor house with its arched terrace and panoramic hall overlooking the Monviso, where tastings are held. Built with the typical warm red clay bricks, Tenuta Cucco today is one of the most representative places in Serralunga d’Alba. Making it unique is also the presence of the chapel of San Sebastiano, dating back to the 14th century, located at the roots of the castle. Now deconsecrated, today it is part of the estate and, through its frescoes it tells the story of this land and represents one of the most fascinating stops on our wine tours.

Since 2015 at Tenuta Cucco, the Rossi Cairo family has produced Nebbiolo for Barolo with a winemaking project focused on quality and the respect for the land and environment, fueled by the principles of organic and biodynamic agriculture and by the ancient tradition of Serralunga.  

Vigna Cucco

Our first goal was to enhance the ancient rows of Vigna Cucco, the heart of the Cerrati cru, and the varietal characteristics of its Nebbiolo grapes. Here, the soil, the oldest in the Barolo region, guarantees the fruit abundant polyphenols, while the altitude, 400 meters above sea level, allows for ideal ripening. We began by studying and caring for this small portion of the landscape protected by Tenuta Cucco to define our project, extending it to the restoration of the Borgo, the work in the other vineyards, and the valorization of the terroir in its fullest sense. This commitment, I believe, is the hallmark of our way of being producers in the Langa.

— Piero Rossi Cairo

The winery

The winery Tenuta Cucco developed around the ancient core of the infernot, the heart of the 19th-century farmhouse on which it was founded. Today, it is the most captivating part of a visit to the estate, preserving the old bricks in their characteristic grey-red tones that distinguish the buildings of the Langa. Inside lies our collection of old vintages, a testament to the estate’s deep roots in Serralunga d’Alba, yet the space also welcomes some modern innovations — such as the vibrating sorting table used for the meticulous selection of our hand-picked grapes.

San Sebastiano nel Borgo

The Church of San Sebastiano nel Borgo, in the center of Serralunga d’Alba, is part of the Cucco Estate. Music-making cherubs, elegantly dressed Savoy nobles, such as Duke Amadeus IX of Savoy, saints, and Adam and Eve expelled from the Garden of Eden are some of the still recognizable subjects on the side walls, vaults, and choir area, created by various artists at various times. San Sebastiano is considered “old” in documents as early as 1550; it was the village church until 1888, and its annexes housed the school until the mid-1950s.

Wine Tour

The Tenuta Cucco Wine Tour is a brief journey through vineyards, historic townships, and the secrets of the renowned cellar. It begins at the historic vineyard that produced the finest Nebbiolo grapes: Vigna Cucco which lends its name to the company and is the symbol of Serralunga.