One Hill, One Family, One Hundred Years
The Cavallotto family did not assemble Bricco Boschis gradually, parcel by parcel, over generations. They bought the whole hill in 1928 — all fourteen hectares from the Boschi widow — and they have farmed it alone ever since. Every bottle of Barolo Bricco Boschis in existence comes from this family. There is no other producer. There never has been.
To buy the hill, they had to sell their previous holdings in the Serra — land that is now Bricco Rocche, where Ceretto has its glass cube. One hill exchanged for another. They chose this one. In nearly a century since, no one has questioned the choice.
The name itself has a history. In medieval times, the hill was called simply Il Brico. In the 16th century, it became Brico Bastiglia — a watchtower location, a military name. It became Bricoboschi after the Boschi family, whose widow sold it to the Cavallottos in 1928. The family name itself derives from a silver coin worth six soldi, bearing the image of San Giorgio on horseback killing a dragon. They have been documented in Castiglione Falletto since the 14th century.
I asked about the next generation. The oldest son is eight years old. His name is Zeno. He has announced that he wants no study, no work — that he will eat what nature provides and talk to birds. His father recounted this without alarm, with something close to amusement, and perhaps a quiet recognition that the most committed farmers are often the ones who arrived at it sideways.
The hill can wait. It has been waiting since the 14th century. It is patient enough for Zeno.
Cavallotto has farmed Bricco Boschis as a monopole since 1928. The estate has been certified organic since 1976.
