The business was founded by Riccardo Ceretto in 1937, principally as a négociant in Alba. He was joined by his sons Bruno and Marcello in the 1960s; wanting to make their own wines, they began to buy premium land in Barolo and Barbaresco, and were among the very first in the region to see the potential of single-vineyard wines. Bruno’s children, Frederico and Roberta, and Marcello’s, Alessandro and Lisa, joined in the 1990s.

After a period of change and experimentation, a particular style began to appear in 2010, using a shorter skin contact and a mix of barrique and small bottle for a supple but precise expression of Nebbiolo. The family are also involved in various artistic and heritage projects, including the rejuvenation of the famous Piedmont hazelnuts and two restaurants in Alba.

The skill with which the Ceretto family chose their vineyards in the 1960s is further endorsed by their activity in Barbaresco. Today, they own a prime site in Asili – one of the region’s greatest vineyards – and Bernadot, the best site of the Treiso district. A small parcel of Gallina in Neive was acquired in 2017, to further enhance their representation of the different communes in the region. Barbaresco is traditionally felt to be a little warmer than Barolo, and the Ceretto 2019s certainly have the flesh and charm to complement the more coiled style of the vintage.

Barolo DOCG is located in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy, encompassing eleven communes in the provinces of Cuneo and Alba. The appellation was granted DOCG status in 1980, recognizing it as one of Italy's most important wine regions. The zone covers approximately 1,700 hectares of vineyards situated in the Langhe hills, with the villages of Barolo, La Morra, Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga d'Alba, and Monforte d'Alba forming the historic heart of the denomination.

The region's continental climate features hot summers and cold winters, with significant diurnal temperature variation that helps preserve acidity in the grapes. The soils vary between two main types: calcareous marl in the western communes like La Morra and Barolo, which tend to produce more approachable wines, and sandier, iron-rich soils in the eastern areas such as Serralunga d'Alba, yielding more structured expressions. Barolo must be made entirely from Nebbiolo grapes and requires a minimum aging period of 38 months, with at least 18 months in wood.

Barolo wines are characterized by their pale brick-red color, high tannins, and elevated acidity. The wines typically display complex aromatics of roses, tar, dried herbs, and red fruits, developing tertiary notes of leather, tobacco, and earth with age. The tannic structure and natural acidity allow these wines to age for decades, during which they evolve from powerful, austere expressions in youth to more nuanced and harmonious wines with extended cellaring.