The Cogno Winery was formed in the footsteps of master wine maker Elvio and continues to produce wines that respect the history of the family today. They maintain, unaltered, traditions and styles that express the flavor and grape varieties of the Langhe.

Elvio Cogno first came up with the idea to produce wine at the Ristorante dell’Angelo in La Morra, between tables and hungry patrons. Class of 1936 and originally from Novello, Elvio Cogno’s family had been cultivating grapevines for generations, but no one had thought of turning that work into a job.

It was so successful that by the end of the 1950s, with the support of a business partner and the growing prestige of his wines, Elvio Cogno decided to leave the restaurant business and produce wine full time. The first Barolo that the Cogno family bottled was the great vintage of 1961.

Piedmont, located in northwest Italy at the foothills of the Alps, is one of the country’s most prestigious and renowned wine regions. Known for its rolling hills, diverse microclimates, and rich soils, Piedmont offers ideal conditions for growing some of Italy’s most celebrated grape varieties. The region experiences a continental climate with cold winters and warm summers, moderated by the nearby Alps and the Tanaro River, which helps reduce frost risk and provides humidity essential for certain grape-growing practices.

Piedmont’s key grape varietals include Nebbiolo, Barbera, and Dolcetto for reds, and Moscato Bianco and Cortese for whites. Nebbiolo, the star grape, is famous for producing powerful and complex wines such as Barolo and Barbaresco, characterised by firm tannins, high acidity, and aromas of cherry, tar, and roses. Barbera offers softer, fruit-forward wines with vibrant acidity, while Dolcetto is known for its approachable, juicy style. Moscato Bianco, used in the production of the sparkling Asti, provides aromatic, sweet wines, and Cortese is the grape behind the crisp, floral Gavi wines.

Viticultural challenges in Piedmont include late spring frosts, which can damage young buds, and the risk of hail, especially during summer storms. The region’s steep vineyard slopes also make mechanisation difficult, necessitating labour-intensive cultivation. Despite these challenges, Piedmont continues to produce world-class wines prized for their elegance and ageing potential.

Nebbiolo is one of Italy’s most revered red grape varieties, best known as the foundation of the iconic wines Barolo and Barbaresco from the Piedmont region. Its name likely derives from nebbia (fog), referencing the misty autumn harvests in its native region or the fog-like bloom on its berries.

Viticulturally, Nebbiolo is a demanding grape—early to bud and late to ripen, requiring long, sunny growing seasons and well-exposed hillside vineyards, often on calcareous marl soils. It is sensitive to site, with subtle variations in soil and climate strongly influencing the resulting wine's style.

While its heartland remains in Piedmont, small plantings exist in other Italian regions such as Lombardy (notably Valtellina), and internationally in California, Oregon, Australia, Argentina, and Mexico, though success outside Italy is limited and site-specific.

Nebbiolo produces pale-coloured wines with firm tannins, high acidity, and remarkable ageing potential. Classic flavour profiles include rose, tar, cherry, dried herbs, liquorice, and earthy truffle notes. Styles range from the powerful, long-lived Barolo and Barbaresco to more approachable expressions from Langhe or Roero.

Often austere in youth but transformative with age, Nebbiolo is a grape that rewards patience, offering complexity, elegance, and a profound sense of place.