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Let’s start our discussion of the subregions of Barolo with the commune in the northeastern corner, La Morra. These wines are known for being somewhat similar to Pinot Noir, and tend to taste softer, more perfumed, and more graceful than … Continue reading “Rollin’ With My Cru: La Morra” →

The Virna winery is located right in the village of Barolo, and encompasses winemaking areas such as the cru’s of Cannubi Boschis and Sarmassa, as well as other areas such as San Giovanni. In addition to Barolo, they produce other … Continue reading “Virna Winery” →

With all apologies to Lil’ Uzi Vert, we’re talking about Cru and not “crew”. The term “cru” comes from France and is derived from the French verb for “to grow”. The label is applied to vineyards or groups of vineyards … Continue reading “Barolo Basics #5: Rollin’ With My Cru” →

Ever since the 1st century AD, historians like Pliny the Elder have noted the excellent Nebbiolo grapes in the region near Barolo. But the story of this wine really starts in the mid-19th century, when Camille Benso, mayor of the … Continue reading “Barolo Basics #4: The History” →

The Barolo zone is located in the Cuneo province of Italy about 7 miles south of the town of Alba. It’s located in a region known as the Langhe, which comprises both the zone where Barolo grapes are planted and … Continue reading “Barolo Basics #3: The Land” →

The Barolo region can be most easily reached from Turin (a 1 hour drive) or Milan (a 2 hour drive). I personally prefer flying in to either Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) or Turin Airport and renting a car to make … Continue reading “Visiting Barolo: Getting There” →

Though I’ve rarely encountered a Barolo I didn’t enjoy, certain vintages are known for being particularly excellent. 2015 – The most recent vintage available, 2015 has some true stunners though is overall a bit more mixed than many of the … Continue reading “Best Recent Vintages” →

So you got your hands on a bottle of Barolo. Now the real fun begins! You should pour your Barolo into a wide wine glass such as the Bormioli Rocco glasses found on Amazon here. A wide glass helps bring … Continue reading “Barolo Basics #2: Tasting Barolo” →

Like all wines, Barolo starts with the grape. In this case, it’s a small, light colored, highly tannic grape known as “Nebbiolo.” The DOCG, an Italian quality assurance label, requires that any wine labeled as Barolo be made from 100% … Continue reading “Barolo Basics #1: The Grape” →