The origins of this superb winery, set in Rovereto of Gavi, on the Piedmont’s Apennines, are very ancient: already since 900 A.C. in the Annals of Republic of Genoa was mentioned a Benedectine settlement which was on the hills overloading the river Lemme.

You can find news of the so-called “Grangia Bassignana” in a document of 1250. It was a farm belonging to the Abbey of Rivalta Scrivia which produced wheat, but above allwine. Of this original settlement only the watch and defence tower, the chapel and several rooms with vaults and capitals are still existing.

In 1625 the estate was transferred to the Giustinianis, a member of whom, captain of Genoa’s troops, successfully defended the Fort of Gavi – once an important strategic, commercial and military place – from one of the many French sieges.

At the time the Giustinianis themselves built the neoclassical villa which still today looks over the access of the estate which was called “Giustiniana” from the top of the hill.

The beauty of landscape and nature, the bent of soil to produce excellent wines, made the most important Genoa’s families, such as D’Oria, Spinola, Cambiaso, to contend for Giustiniana’s estate.