Rip Giacomo Oddero

It was a choral struggle, a silent revolution'. Giacomo Oddero, great pioneer of Piedmontese wine, has died!

Farewell to the protagonist of the extraordinary evolution of the Langhe from depressed hills to a center of excellence

Giacomo Oddero, apothecary and leading Piedmont wine producer, has passed away at the age of 98. He had nearly 80 wine years behind him among the rows of vines in his hometown of La Morra (hamlet of Santa Maria) where his grandfather Giacomo had founded the famous Poderi e Cantine Oddero winery in 1876. He played a leading role in the political and administrative life of the region and was one of the first winemakers to go directly for quality and direct bottling as guidelines for the development of the region's economy. "I knew firsthand the difficulties my generation faced during World War II and in the early postwar period. It was a hard life, the farmer was the last link in the chain, he could hope for a good harvest, but his grapes were never paid well enough," he recalled in a long interview with the Gazzetta di Alba on the occasion of his 90th birthday. Thanks to his intuitions and far-sighted choices, he was the interpreter of some of the most important passages in a life full of important assignments and constant challenges.

The pharmacist from Via Maestra

After his classical studies, he graduated in Pharmacy in Turin and worked for many years in the pharmacy in Via Maestra in Alba, together with his wife Carla, taking on new commitments and projects from time to time. With his thoughtful and gentle nature, he held political positions in various sectors: he was mayor of La Morra, municipal councilor in the province, agricultural councilor, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Cuneo and of the Savings Bank of Cuneo and the Crc Foundation. Some of the most important works that boosted the area were his commitment to the creation of the Aqueduct of the Langhe and Alps, the founding of the National Association for Truffle Studies and his excellent work as president of the Tourism Office of Alba Bra Langhe and Roero.

He had an eloquent vision as he was able to combine different sensibilities and knowledge, combining agricultural skills with incisive entrepreneurial talents that led to an important international development. He had unusual listening and mediation skills; more than others, he understood the importance of teamwork and system building. "It was unimaginable, but I realized from the beginning that the quiet revolution of our people would soon bear fruit. It was a feverish struggle, waged by a lot of farmers, who changed their way of producing and used their earnings to create modern, state-of-the-art wineries. On this journey I have not been alone: laws are only useful if there are people who believe in them and implement them. The big step has been taken, from farmers we have become a nation of small entrepreneurs.

A visionary

"Our land of Langhe and Roero is losing a man to whom we owe much of our current success. A visionary who was able to lay the foundations for wine and gastronomy tourism and consolidate the close relationship between wine and territory. In his professional and administrative experience, he always knew how to find a balance between people and territories," said Alberto Cirio, president of the Piedmont Region.

Barolista, political and administrative leader, Giacomo Oddero has spent a lifetime in the service of his country. The seventh generation is now at the helm.

Rip Giacomo Oddero, rest in peace!