The history of Barolo wine begins in pre-Roman times, with the first rudimentary vine cultivation of the Ligurian Statielli.
Piedmont began to attract the attention of the Gauls, and later of the Romans, for the quality of the wine produced in the Alba area.
Barolo wine was produced from Nebbiolo grapes. Thomas Jefferson described it as a wine “almost as lovable as Bordeaux and as lively as Champagne,” so sparkling and sweet (very different from how we know it today).
The history of Barolo has its turning point with the French oenologist Louis Ouart who, thanks to the impetus of Juliette Colbert and Camillo Benso di Cavour, bottled a dry and firm red wine, modern and elegant. Cavour wanted a wine that could cheer up the demanding European courts and compete with the great French wines of the time: it’s 1844 and the Barolo phenomenon is about to begin.
Subsequently, between the two world wars the popularity of Barolo exploded, new vineyards were planted and Barolo wine established itself as one of the greatest wines in the world. In 1927 the production areas for Barolo wine were defined in the Official Gazette, and in 1980 Barolo became DOCG wine.
The history of Barolo continues since the 80s: the Langhe are in full swing and the winemaking techniques are adapting to the times.
The traditional winemaking of Barolo is starting to contrast with the school of the modernists (among these the famous revolutionaries Barolo Boys ). The latter began to adopt shorter vinification and refinements in barriques, giving light to more colorful wines, less tannic and with aromas of sweet spices.
Consequently, these interpretations of an international character created not a few criticisms from traditionalists, as was made famous by the famous ‘j’accuse’ of Barolo by Bartolo Mascarello in 1996 which read: ‘No Barriques, No Berlusconi’.
In summary, today the bitter contrasts seem to have faded while the only winner has remained Barolo. It has become one of the most popular wines internationally thanks to its unique and inimitable charm.
BAROLO SPECIFICATIONS
Barolo DOCG must be produced exclusively with 100% Nebbiolo grapes in the Piedmontese Langhe in the municipalities of Barolo, La Morra, Monforte, Serralunga d’Alba, Castiglione Falletto, Novello, Grinzane Cavour.
The municipalities of Verduno, Diano d’Alba, Cherasco and Roddi are only partially affected.
The specification provides that Barolo wine can enter the market from January 1st of the fourth year following the harvest (refining at least 18 in wood), or from January 1st of the sixth year following the harvest for the Riserva type (refining at least 18 months in Wood). The third type of Barolo is Barolo Chinato, an aromatized meditation wine produced starting from Barolo wine, to which alcohol, sugar, spices, herbs and roots are added. Discover the food and Barolo Chinato pairings.
BAROLO CRUS and TERROIR
The Barolo area is characterized by a great geological variability. In fact, the stratification of the soil has marine origins: the hills of the Langhe emerge from an ancient marine gulf, where sandstones and clays have settled over the centuries.
Today, three macro-types of soil can be identified: the oldest is that of Serralunga d’Alba and a part of Monforte, characterized by Lequio formations. In the surroundings of Monforte d’Alba and Castiglione Falletto the soil is mainly composed of Diano sandstones originated following ancient submarine landslides. Between Barolo and La Morra we find the characteristic marl of Sant’Agata.
The latter is the most widespread type of soil in the Langhe and presents a fair variability between the component of sand, silt and clay.
Each hill in the Langhe enjoys its own specific microclimate
The composition of the land is therefore heterogeneous and varies greatly not only between municipality and municipality, but also between plots of the same vineyard. This great geological variability, combined with the variation of the microclimate and the winemaking tradition of the various areas, explains the vast quantity of Barolo crus, present in the various municipalities of the area.
The first Barolo cru of which there is evidence is the Cannubi, in Barolo, reported on the label as early as 1751.
What are the best Barolo crus? Among the other Barolo crus we can mention some important ones such as Bussia, Brunate, Cerequio, Francia, Monprivato, Parafada, Villero, Bricco Boschis, Monvigliero, Prapò, Rocche di Castiglione, Rocche di Annunziata
But the Barolo crus are truly innumerable and each boasts productions of undisputed quality and identity.
BAROLO - BEST VINTAGES
Which Barolo to choose? It is not enough to know which are the best wineries in Barolo if you are not aware of the best vintages.
Discover the ranking of the best Barolo vintages from 1970 to today with the evaluation expressed in stars. The classification ranges from the maximum excellence of five stars, for the best vintages of Barolo, to a minimum of one star.
1971✭✭✭✭✭
1972
1973✭✭
1974✭✭✭✭
1975✭✭
1976✭✭
1977✭✭
1978✭✭✭✭✭
1979✭✭✭✭
1980✭✭✭✭
1981✭✭✭
1982✭✭✭✭✭
1983✭✭✭✭
1984✭✭
1985✭✭✭✭✭
1986✭✭✭
1987✭✭
1988✭✭✭✭✭
1989✭✭✭✭✭
1990✭✭✭✭✭
1991✭✭✭
1992✭✭
1993✭✭✭
1994✭✭
1996✭✭✭✭✭
1997✭✭✭✭
1998✭✭✭✭✭
1999✭✭✭✭
2000✭✭✭✭/1/2
2001✭✭✭✭✭
2002✭
2003✭✭✭
2004✭✭✭✭✭
2005✭✭✭✭
2006✭✭✭✭✭
2007✭✭✭✭
2008✭✭✭✭✭
2009✭✭✭1/2
2010✭✭✭✭✭
2011✭✭✭/1/2
2012✭✭✭/1/2
2013✭✭✭✭
2014✭✭✭
2015✭✭✭✭1/2
2016✭✭✭✭✭
2017✭✭✭
2018✭✭✭1/2
Conterno’s Monfortino has long been among the most celebrated Barolos. Its hallmark is the very long ageing it receives. The 1970 vintage was aged for a decade in large casks before being bottled, and the 1978 was aged for eight years. Despite the fact that the vines were only four years old, the wine proved to be remarkable and won wide acclaim.
In the 1970s there were far fewer bottles of Barolo produced than there are today. Monfortino was regarded as the ultimate ‘traditional’ Barolo, eschewing any use of barriques or other non-local practices. When Giacomo Conterno established the Monfortino brand, all producers in Barolo were ‘traditional’. However, the estate has never wavered in its adherence to the style it has practised for many decades. Today the minimum cask-ageing for Monfortino is seven years.
Monfortino is not a selection of the best barrels, but a parcel selection made shortly before harvest. The best parcels can vary from year to year. Only when their quality is significantly superior to the rest of Cascina Francia is the selection vinified separately, in open-top vats. There is no temperature control, thus running the risk of a stuck fermentation, and the maceration period is long, at up to five weeks. Monfortino is then aged in large casks of 2,000 to 7,500 litres.
When the regular Barolo has aged in cask for a year or two, the final decision is taken on whether to blend the Monfortino selection with the regular wine, or whether to designate it as Monfortino. If the decision is to produce Monfortino, it is aged for at least seven years, compared to four for the regular Barolo. Only a wine of great natural concentration and structure can withstand the potential drying effect of such long ageing in wood. The wine is bottled without fining or filtration. Between 7,000 and 10,000 bottles are produced.
A historic and iconic wine born from the best vintages and the best grapes of the renowned cru Francia in Serralunga d’Alba in 1978. Undisputed protagonist in the history of the Langhe: titanic, exciting and sensational persistence and evolutionary potential. Without any doubt among the most famous, historical and best Barolo wines.
BAROLO GIUSEPPE RINALDI
An iconic, sincere and imperishable wine, made by the famous winemaker Giuseppe Rinaldi, known as citric for its stubbornness. Deservedly among the best for the disarming sincerity in becoming an uncompromising narrator of the sensational expressiveness of Barolo. Certainly among the best, most famous and historical Barolo wines.
Nose rich in facets, including aromas of cherries in alcohol, black licorice, dried flowers and mentholated balsamic hints and orange peel. On the palate it develops harmoniously on an enveloping tannic texture. Good persistence finish.
BARTOLO MASCARELLO 2016
