Novello

Novello is the most south-westerly Barolo village and a bit of a loner. It is known for Nascetta, the grape that was rediscovered growing wild here in the 1990s, and for the beautiful castle towering above the village.

It is a quiet alternative to La Morra or Barolo and has a surprising amount to offer gastronomically. The view from Novello stretches panoramically towards Monforte and Barolo.

The best-known winery in Novello is Cogno. Elvio Cogno (together with his son-in-law Valter Fissore) is widely seen as the main driving force behind the revival of Nascetta. They were not the only ones, but without their efforts the grape would probably not have made such a successful comeback.

The soil in Novello consists mainly of Marne di Sant'Agata Fossili, a calcareous clay-marl common in the western Barolo municipalities. Barolo wines from Novello are generally supple and elegant; stylistically they sit somewhere between powerful Serralunga/Monforte and La Morra (generally speaking). Ravera is the best-known MGA in the municipality; this cru lies partly in Novello and partly in Barolo.

Interesting wineries in Novello: Cogno, Merenda Sinoira, Cascina Gavetta and Cogli l'Attimo.

What to do in Novello:

• visit the square by the castle, with a beautiful view over the Barolo vineyards towards Monforte
• have a glass of wine from Mauro Marengo in their small, atmospheric bar
• do a Nascetta tasting at the local bottega
• go wine tasting at Cogli l'Attimo or Cascina Gavetta for the atmosphere
• have dinner at Ant or Langotto