Today, about 25 hectares are in production; in Alto Piemonte’s nineteenth-century heyday, it was said to be 400 hectares. The soils are dramatically different here compared with those of neighbouring Bramaterra. The slopes have pure, yellow marine sands, and the plateau has loess over compacted sand. Fast-draining soils are a benefit in wet years but problematic in dry ones. Low fertility is a constant challenge resulting in low yields. Lessona received its DOC status in 1977.

The grapes must be grown, and the wine made and aged in the single commune of Lessona. The wines must be 85–100 per cent Nebbiolo. Where used, the blending varieties must be Vespolina and/or Uva Rara. In practice, the wines are solely Nebbiolo or with a small percentage of Vespolina. Maximum yields are 56 hectolitres per hectare, reduced to 50 for riserva wines. The standard wine must be aged for a minimum of 22 months before release, of which a minimum of 12 months must be in wood. This is increased to 46 months and 30 months for riserva wines.