Clemente Guasti founded the company in 1946, continuing his family's historic wine-making traditions. He was a real innovator in terms of production quality and as far back as the 1950's was already beginning to select grapes from the 20 best growers in the Nizza Monferrato area, thus initiating the concept of the estate-based "cru" for Barbera, a decidedly avant-garde idea for the area back then. At present the company has four large estates of its own, with a total area of 40 hectares, of which 29 in the most favourable positions are given over to vineyards. In the centre of the town which is the recognised home of the highest quality Barberas, the spacious cellars contain large oak barrels for the ageing of up to 1200 hectolitres of wine. After the death of Clemente Guasti, his sons Andrea and Alessandro, who worked alongside him for many years, have followed his winning philosophy, never compromising on quality, and they continue to achieve important accolades nationally and internationally.
The family's winemaking traditions go way back to pioneer Secondo Guasti, who emigrated to California in 1881, taking cuttings of Barbera, which in the space of a decade he used to plant the world's largest vineyard. The results of his hard work are still visible in the town he founded, and which bears his name.
Climate and terrain are the most influential environmental factors on grape quality and characteristics; and while the former remains constant and uniform over a vast area, the latter can vary on a much smaller scale. Indeed the terrain found in different parts of the same area may be diverse in terms of type, composition and exposure, thus giving rise to "microclimates" which create a range of different quality products.
After years of research and experience, we have located the very best areas in the hills around Nizza Monferrato, with the contribution of many different wineries.
The company currently works with its own four large estates:
Cascina Boschetto Vecchio
11 hectares totally, 8 of them are used for vineyards. In the farm there is also a vinification plant for 1500 hectolitre of wine.
La Cascina Fonda San Nicolao
12 hectares totally, 9 of them are used for vineyards. The farm has a big cowshed with 60 head of piedmontese cattle used for natural animal manure of land.
La Tenuta S. Teresa
2 hectares totally, 1,5 of them are used for vineyards. Here you can find an historical agricultural implements museum with old cars collected from Clemente Guasti.
La Cascina Gessara - S.Vitale
10 hectares totally, 6 of them used for vineyards. The farm names derive from piedmontese tradition. The hight quality of earth' fruits gives us the best wine cru.