Collection: Barolo DOCG

Barolo DOCG is one of the most classic red wine appellations in Italy. It lies in the Langhe hills in the south-eastern part of Piemonte, where a small, elevated area of gentle to steep slopes frames some of the region's most structured and age-worthy wines. The defining grape is Nebbiolo, which here stands entirely on its own. The vineyards are divided according to gradient and sun exposure, so that each parcel can make the most of precisely its aspect.

The soil is calcareous marl with regional variation: the north-western half is higher in magnesium and manganese, while the south-eastern part is richer in iron. That difference is felt in the wines' expression and is part of the explanation for why Barolo from different sub-zones can taste so different.

In the glass, Nebbiolo gives full-bodied red wines with firm tannin and a complex aromatic profile. You will typically encounter two styles. The traditional style is aged in large, neutral oak casks, where the wine develops complexity without the mark of new oak. The modern style is aged in smaller barriques, which gives a more mature tannin profile. Both can be fine entry points to the grape, depending on whether you prefer the classic or the slightly more forward expression.

Barolo is subject to a legal requirement of at least two years of ageing before the wine may be released to the market, and that is part of what makes the style so recognisable. The finest examples have an ageing potential of between 8 and 25 years, so here it can pay off to let the bottles rest in the cellar. Single-vineyard wines are additionally governed by the Goria law, which requires markedly lower yields than ordinary Barolo.

If you want to explore further, you will find more classics from the same region under Piemonte and in our broad selection from Italien. Barolo is a good place to begin if you would like to understand what Italian red wine with both structure and finesse can do.