A tale spanning more than 150 years.
Giuseppe Contratto founded his winery in 1867, when he began vinifying Moscato grapes from the Monferrato area, producing one of the first Italian sparkling wines refermented in the bottle. During those same years, the Contratto family started the construction of the historic cellar, which was completed in the early 1900s.
Around 1910, Contratto wines began conquering foreign markets, becoming synonymous with prestige and quality in the world of sparkling wines. The Canelli-based company became the official supplier to the Vatican, the Belgian royal family, and in 1913, the House of Savoy.
In 1919, Contratto produced the first vintage-dated Italian sparkling wine, an innovative choice by the Piedmontese sparkling wine house aimed at highlighting the characteristics of each specific year.
In 1920, Contratto began producing Vermouth and Liqueurs. The processing techniques and recipes from that time have remained largely unchanged, allowing the flavors of the past to still be appreciated today.
The Contratto family remained at the helm of the winery until 1993, when the Bocchino family, already owners of the distillery bearing their name, took over the company and began significant restoration work on the Wine Cathedral, the inner courtyard, and the tasting room.
Giorgio Rivetti, a long-time Champagne enthusiast, began collaborating with Bocchino, immediately recognizing the great potential of the historic sparkling wine house. Shortly after, in 2011, the Rivetti family decided to take an important step and acquired the winery. The philosophy and passion that made La Spinetta famous were immediately reflected in this new project. A key decision was made right away: the acquisition of several hectares of land, partly already planted with vines, near the small village of Bossolasco. Located in the highest part of the Langhe, the Bossolasco area is ideal for cultivating Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, grapes used in the production of Alta Langa DOCG. This marked Contratto’s official entry into the Alta Langa Consortium, becoming a benchmark for the entire denomination.
In 2014, another important recognition was awarded to the Contratto winery: the historic Wine Cathedral was officially declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The magnificent Cathedral was entirely hand-dug into the hillside above the city of Canelli. It covers approximately 5,000 square meters and reaches a maximum depth of about 38 meters. The characteristic sedimentary marl, rich in limestone tuff, helps maintain a constant temperature of 13 degrees Celsius.
This evocative and historic place is where the long bottle aging of Contratto’s classic method sparkling wines takes place. For this reason, the cellar can store up to one and a half million bottles. Contratto’s goal is to showcase, through a glass of Alta Langa, the great potential of the Piedmontese hills in producing traditional method wines. To achieve this, vineyard work plays a fundamental role. “Good wine is made in the vineyard”; this is the belief of the Rivetti family, who care for the vineyards daily to bring exceptional grapes to the winery.
