Barolo

The Barolo zone lies in the Langhe southwest of Alba in the province of Cuneo and extends over the hills south of the Tanaro. It comprises eleven communes, including Barolo, La Morra, Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga d'Alba and Monforte d'Alba; the vineyards are part of the Langhe-Roero and Monferrato cultural landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2014. The sites are divided into officially delimited single vineyards (MGA), among them Cannubi, Brunate, Cerequio, Monprivato, Vigna Rionda, Bussia and Ginestra.

Geologically the area splits into two zones: in the west (La Morra, Barolo) calcareous Tortonian marls dominate, in the east (Serralunga, Monforte, Castiglione) Helvetian sandstone with sand and limestone. The climate is continental, with warm days, cool nights and autumn fog that delays ripening and preserves acidity; the late-ripening Nebbiolo is often picked only in October.

Barolo is made exclusively from Nebbiolo. The wines are pale in the glass but rich in tannin and acidity, with aromas of rose, tar, cherry and truffle. The regulations require at least 38 months of ageing, 18 of them in wood. Defining producers include Giacomo Conterno, Bartolo Mascarello and Vietti.