Alberto di Grèsy grew up with a passion for the land, spending many weekends and vacations at Villa Giulia, a 19th century hunting lodge built by his grandfather, Carlo. Villa Giulia is located in the commune of Treiso d’Alba, right in the heart of the Piemonte region. Alberto, who oversaw the agricultural operations of the family estates, realized early on that he was not content selling the grapes that he and his family cultivated to other well-known wineries, as was the tradition in the Langhe around the 1960s and ‘70s. Instead, in 1973 he chose to vinify his own wine, incorporating the best technology available while maintaining a respect for the traditions that his family had held for so very long.

Alberto di Grèsy was inspired by his neighbor, Angelo Gaja, who worked to build Barbaresco’s international acclaim. It took Alberto longer to establish his wines—possibly because the full name of his estate is Tenuta Cisa Asinari dei Marchesi di Grèsy. It differs dramatically from the simple, eye-catching label represented by Gaja. However, his wines did gain the recognition they deserved, as he was able to create products that were truly representative of the land from which they came, displaying authentic Piemonte character.

Current holdings comprise three estates—Martinenga, Monte Aribaldo, and La Serra. Martinenga is dedicated almost exclusively to the production of Nebbiolo grapes (with smaller plantings of Barbera and Cabernet Sauvignon) used for the crafting of Barbaresco. The estate’s eponymous vineyard weds unobstructed southern exposure with a soil of blue marl, elements that support the development of high-quality grapes and realize the Grésy portfolio’s most significant bottling, the Martinenga Barbaresco. The site is also conveyed through bottlings representing special selections vinified exclusively in vintages of high quality—Camp Gros and Gaiun, the latter of which incorporates a modern accent through barrique aging. Camp Gros, which was first made in 1978, represents a more traditional bottling, aged in casks of Slavonian oak. Both the Gaiun Martinenga and Camp Gros are produced only in the very best of vintages.

Monte Aribaldo is located only two kilometers from Martinenga in the commune of Treiso d'Alba. The vineyard is set in calcareous and volcanic soil with an average altitude of 360 meters. It is here that the Dolcetto d’Alba, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon are produced.

The estate of La Serra is located in the commune of Cassine. The vineyard is planted mainly with Moscato d'Asti, and more recently with Barbera d'Asti and Merlot. The estate farmhouse is located in the center of this property.