La Chiara

Description

A few kilometers from the village of Gavi, nestled among the hills of the Ligurian pre-Apennines, the La Chiara Estate was founded in the late 1970s, born from the vision and determination of Ferdinando Bergaglio (born 1912) and his son Roberto. Coming from a farming family, father and son shared a love for the land and a desire to enhance it through authentic, territory-rooted viticulture. Roberto Bergaglio, born in 1949, grew up immersed in the rhythms of the countryside. After completing his studies, he worked for several years at Michelin in Alessandria, where he became a department manager. Yet his true passion remained the vineyard, which he cultivated with dedication in his free time. In 1976, a turning point came in his life: he married Silvana Figini, and together they moved just outside Gavi, building not only their home but also the future of the winery. In 1977, the first harvest was entirely bottled in the cellar at home. This marks the official beginning of La Chiara. From the start, thanks to Roberto’s enterprise and Silvana’s constant support, the winery quickly took off: production increased, the first recognitions arrived, and by 1978–1979 international markets opened. England, the United States, and Germany were the first countries to be won over by the authentic taste of Gavi, followed later by Japan. In 1978, Simona, the eldest daughter, was born. From childhood, she absorbed the family atmosphere of the winery. After earning a degree in Political Science and training as an AIS Sommelier, Simona joined the company to continue the path started by her parents. In 2006, she married Gabriele, and together they built a family: Nicolò and, a few years later, Marco. Meanwhile, the winery continued to grow, maintaining the values on which it was founded. In 1980, Dario, the second child, was born. He was only seven when the family acquired the “Groppella” vineyard, one of the most promising plots for exposure and location. After earning two degrees—one in Economics and Commerce and another in Political Science—Dario decided to fully dedicate himself to the family business, bringing with him an open and cosmopolitan vision. His experiences abroad in London, Paris, Barcelona, and Miami enriched his training and contributed to expanding the company into new markets: Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Malta, France, Spain, and Russia. In 2015, Dario married Serena, and their son Lorenzo was born, representing the new Bergaglio generation ready to one day carry the family legacy. Today, La Chiara is a well-established and recognized winery, led by a family that has successfully combined tradition and innovation while maintaining an authentic connection with the land of Gavi. A project that continues to grow, vintage after vintage, bringing to the world the story of a purely Italian journey of passion, identity, and territory.