Barolo
Continental
The 'king of wines': powerful, tannic Nebbiolo from a cluster of hilltop villages, with tar and roses, and the ability to age for decades.
Overview
About Barolo
Barolo covers eleven communes, though five — Barolo, La Morra, Castiglione Falletto, Monforte d'Alba and Serralunga d'Alba — produce most of the wine. Made from Nebbiolo alone, it is pale in colour but forceful in tannin and acidity, with aromas of rose, tar, dried cherry and truffle.
The rules require at least 38 months' ageing, including 18 in wood, or 62 months for a Riserva. The wine was long known as the wine of kings and the king of wines, a reference to its links to the House of Savoy.
Barolo is marked on the map.
Italy
Shaded: Cuneo. Map units are states, provinces or départements, so a smaller place appears as the larger area that contains it.
The land
Climate & terroir
Climate
Continental
Continental, with hot summers and cold winters, and thick autumn fog over the hills. Nebbiolo ripens late, usually in October, so the autumn weather matters greatly.
Terroir & soils
What the vines grow in
Compacted marl and sandstone. In La Morra and Barolo, Tortonian marl produces perfumed, softer wines, while in Monforte and Serralunga, Serravallian sandy soils give firm, powerful ones.
Go deeper
Rules, years & producers
Barolo is a DOCG with strict ageing rules and named vineyard sites, which behave like informal crus.
Barolo Riserva
At least 62 months' ageing before release.
Barolo DOCG
Nebbiolo only; at least 38 months' ageing, of which 18 are in wood.
MGA (named site)
A named vineyard site on the label, such as Cannubi or Brunate, which may indicate a higher-quality site but is not an official rank.
What's grown here
Grapes
Each grape's page links back here.