History
The Scrimaglio family has been present in Piedmont since the 17th century, when it was known by the name of Escrimeaux (from the French escrimeur, meaning swordsman). Their ancestors fled to the Monferrato area from France, following the violent persecution of the Huguenots, particularly the tragic purging that took place on St. Bartholomew's night in 1572.
The importance of the Escrimeaux family within its new Piedmontese home is proven by the fact that they gave their name to the place where they settled, which became Regione Scrimaglio. Once on the border between the County of Castelvero and the Marquisate of Nizza, it is now between Nizza Monferrato and Castel Boglione.
It was in the hills of Nizza Monferrato that Pietro Scrimaglio established the cellar in 1920, expanding and improving the activities of his father Francesco, a winegrower since the early 1900s. After the war, grandsons Franco and Mario, and later the founder's great-grandsons Pier Giorgio and Francesco, consolidated the winery's link with its terroir, expanding the range of wines and beginning to sell wine on the international markets.
In the 80s, Scrimaglio was one of the wineries that believed strongly in the rebirth of Barbera d'Asti, choosing to vinify it in compliance with a traditional style, taking care to respect the varietal characteristics. For a very long time, Barbera, which is now the wine that symbolises the Asti and Monferrato areas, was relegated to consideration as a local product, for everyday consumption with meals at home. At the turn of the new millennium, Scrimaglio decided to promote and develop the Barbera d'Asti subzone, "Nizza", which, in 2014, was recognised as a designation in its own right, under the name "Nizza Docg", making the winery’s dream come true.
Scrimaglio's century of commitment to the production of fine wines and the promotion of native grape varieties has been recognised not only in the estate's reputation around the world, but also by critics. The Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri awards assigned to its Barbera d'Asti Superiore every year from 2011 to 2015 are the pride and joy of a winery that has never stopped believing in quality. In the recent past, Scrimaglio has also received excellent reviews from Wine Spectator, Vinum and the Slow Wine guide for Barbera d'Asti and Barbaresco.
Scrimaglio has recently joined the Terre da Vino group which, to celebrate the centenary of the historic winery, is presenting a new range of wines on the market. The goals are clear: to develop the brand’s presence and image in the world, preserving and enhancing the traditional style that link the Nizza Monferrato estate inextricably to the Langhe and Monferrato area.