BAROLO

Barolo is the village that gave its name to one of the most famous wines in the world. A small village with a grand history and an almost mythical status among wine lovers. Although it has only about 700 inhabitants, it is the literal and figurative (beating) heart of the Barolo appellation.

While Barolo has been surrounded by vineyards for centuries, the village gained its international fame mainly thanks to a number of influential figures from the 19th century. Marchioness Giulia Falletti di Barolo, Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, and Emanuele Alberto Guerrieri di Mirafiori played a major role in the development of the wine. Together with French oenologist Louis Oudart, they experimented with a new vinification method in which fermentation was fully completed. The result was a dry, powerful, and long-lived wine: the Barolo as we know it today.

In the second half of the twentieth century, the quality of the wines made another great leap forward. Thanks to investments in the vineyards, better knowledge of vinification, and growing international interest, both the village and the wine became icons of the Italian wine world.

Today, Barolo is the tourist heart of the appellation. As the only one of the major Barolo municipalities, the village is located in a valley. You will find an impressive concentration of wineries, wine bars, restaurants, and historical cellars there.

Many of the oldest producers are still based in the village, including Fratelli Barale, Borgogno, Bartolo Mascarello, Francesco Rinaldi & Figli, and Giuseppe Rinaldi. This makes Barolo a place where the history of the appellation is still tangibly present.

In our opinion, success also has a downside. Due to the enormous popularity, some of the original authenticity has given way to tourism and commerce. Nevertheless, Barolo remains a village that every wine lover should have visited at least once.

The village is surrounded by 37 MGAs (crus), of which Cannubi is undoubtedly the most famous. Both access roads from Alba run past this iconic vineyard, so you pass one of the most legendary places in the region even before you arrive. During your visit, be sure to take the time to go for a walk here; Cannubi is among the most historic and prestigious vineyards in Piedmont.

The soils around Barolo consist of a combination of Sant'Agata Fossili marl and Diano sandstone. As a result, the wines can be both elegant and refined as well as powerful and structured. In general, Barolos from the village of Barolo are characterized by a distinct aromatic character, a fine balance, and relatively refined tannins. This often makes them slightly more accessible in their youth than many Barolos from, for example, Serralunga d'Alba or Monforte d'Alba.

What to do in Barolo

• Visit the Castello Falletti, which also houses the WiMu (Wine Museum).
• Walk through the famous Cannubi cru.
• Have lunch at La Vite Turchese (an excellent wine list and a personal favorite; the owners now live in our former apartment in Serralunga d'Alba).
• Book a tasting at Bartolo Mascarello well in advance. If that doesn't work out, visit Camerano for an authentic experience or our own Scarzello for a beautiful combination of tradition and a new generation of winemakers.
• Visit the Museo del Cavatappi (Corkscrew Museum).
• Drink an espresso on the terrace of Antico Caffè, our first stop when we discovered Barolo in 2008.
• Finish with a visit to Vinoland, one of the most beautiful wine shops in the village.