Founded in 1881 and still cellaring within Alba's ancient Roman walls, Pio Cesare is one of Piedmont's historic houses, making both classic blended Barolo and the single-vineyard Ornato.
Tasting: Tours and tastings by appointment, Monday to Saturday morning, in the historic Alba cellars inside the Roman walls.
Signature wines: barolo-ornato, barolo-pio-cesare, barbaresco-il-bricco
Founded in 1937 and expanded by brothers Bruno and Marcello Ceretto, the house farms organically across Barolo and Barbaresco crus and is known for the Bricco Rocche glass cube and Blange Arneis.
Tasting: Tastings by appointment at the estate near Alba; the family also runs the Michelin-starred Piazza Duomo in Alba and the Acino glass tasting pod at Bricco Rocche.
Signature wines: barolo-bricco-rocche, barbaresco-asili, blange-arneis
A historic Alba house dating to 1904 and owned by Marchesi Antinori since the 1990s, Prunotto makes single-vineyard Barolo and Barbaresco plus benchmark Barbera d'Asti.
Tasting: Visits to the Cantina di Bussia in Monforte d'Alba by reservation, Friday to Monday.
Signature wines: barolo-bussia, barbaresco-bric-turot, barbera-dasti-costamiole