In recent years, Braida has also been recognized as a Marchio Storico di Interesse Nazionale – an honorary title for Italian companies with a long-standing heritage and strong identity.
The origins of Braida trace back to Piedmont, more precisely to Rocchetta Tanaro, where Giacomo Bologna founded the winery in 1961. The name “Braida” comes from a nickname carried by Giacomo’s father, Giuseppe, who used to play “pallone elastico” (a traditional ball game) in the village square and was therefore called “Braida.” Giacomo inherited from his father not only the vineyards but also a deep passion for winemaking.
As a young winemaker, Giacomo began bottling a frizzante Barbera under the name La Monella in 1961 – the first step toward his vision of elevating Barbera, then often regarded as a simple table wine, into a wine with personality and character. In the 1980s, Braida became a symbol of innovation: the winery started experimenting with small oak barrels (barriques) for aging Barbera – an unusual practice for this grape variety at the time. From these experiments emerged iconic cuvées such as Bricco dell’Uccellone (first vintage 1982), Bricco della Bigotta (1985), and Ai Suma (a late-harvest Barbera, first produced in 1989), all aimed at raising Barbera to a higher level of quality and prestige.
After Giacomo’s passing in 1990, his children Raffaella and Giuseppe took over the estate, continuing their father’s philosophy: a focus on native grape varieties, uncompromising quality, technological innovation, and sustainable viticulture. In recent years, Braida has also been recognized as a Marchio Storico di Interesse Nazionale – an honorary title for Italian companies with a long-standing heritage and strong identity.
A lesser-known but fascinating part of Braida’s production is the Grappa di Bricco dell’Uccellone. This distillation project was first realized in the 2000s, using pomace from the same grapes that produce the renowned wine. The grappa is aged in barriques previously used for the wine itself, absorbing its aromatic depth and complexity to create a refined and distinctive spirit.
