Piedmont · DOCG

Barolo DOCG

The king of Italian wines, born in the Langhe hills of Piedmont. Barolo DOCG is 100 percent Nebbiolo, aged a minimum of 38 months before release, 62 months for Riserva. Tannic, structured, age-worthy: a wine that rewards patience with cherry, rose, tar, and truffle.

200

Wines

13

Retailers

Sub-zones

BaroloDOCG Castiglione FallettoDOCG CherascoDOCG Diano d'AlbaDOCG Grinzane CavourDOCG La MorraDOCG Monforte d'AlbaDOCG NovelloDOCG RoddiDOCG Serralunga d'AlbaDOCG VerdunoDOCG

Taste & Pairing

Taste Profile

Body 5/5
Tannin 5/5
Acidity 5/5
Sweetness 1/5

Key Flavours

Black pepper Black pepper
Cherry Cherry
Rose petal Rose petal
Leather Leather
Liquorice Liquorice
Red forest berries Red forest berries
Burnt toast Burnt toast
Strawberry Strawberry

Pairs With

Italian Meats Italian meat dishes for wine pairing on a transparent background British Roasts Roasts featured plated dish International Beef & Steak Beef and Steak section featured plated dish

Barolo Wine Selection

8 selected wines

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Editorial

Barolo Vintage Guide

Quality of Barolo vintages

5 4 3 2 1
2010 ★★★★★
Exceptional · 5/5
Legendary vintage for Barolo (IWI)
'10
2011 ★★★★☆
Very Good · 4/5
Rich, warm year (IWI)
'11
2012 ★★★☆☆
Average · 3/5
Good but mid-quality (IWI)
'12
2013 ★★★★☆
Very Good · 4/5
Classic-style late harvest (IWI)
'13
2014 ★★★☆☆
Average · 3/5
Cool wet, lighter earlier-drinking style (IWI)
'14
2015 ★★★★☆
Very Good · 4/5
Hot dry summer, ripe concentrated fruit (IWI)
'15
2016 ★★★★☆
Very Good · 4/5
Very good, classic style (IWI)
'16
2017 ★★★☆☆
Average · 3/5
Hot drought year across Italy (IWI)
'17
2018 ★★★☆☆
Average · 3/5
Average Langhe vintage (IWI)
'18
2019 ★★★★★
Exceptional · 5/5
Classic harvest timing, plenty of rain (WSG, inferred)
'19
2020 ★★★★☆
Very Good · 4/5
Earlier ripening, Nebbiolo harvested first 10-12 days of October (WSG, inferred)
'20
2021 ★★★★★
Exceptional · 5/5
Mild winter, plenty of rain, positive start (WSG narrative, inferred)
'21

How Barolo is Made

Barolo is made exclusively from Nebbiolo, without blending permitted. The disciplinare requires a minimum 38 months of ageing before release, of which at least 18 must be in oak or chestnut casks. Riserva demands 62 months of ageing, again with 18 months minimum in cask. Minimum alcohol is 13 percent. Production is zoned to 11 communes in the Langhe hills of Piedmont: Barolo, La Morra, Serralunga d'Alba, Castiglione Falletto, Monforte d'Alba, Novello, Cherasco, Verduno, Grinzane Cavour, Diano d'Alba, and Roddi. Since 2010 the zone has been formally divided into 181 Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive, Piedmont's official cru classification.

Read the Full Guide

In-Depth Guide

A DOCG red wine from Piedmont's Langhe hills, made exclusively from Nebbiolo. Barolo is among Italy's most age-worthy wines, regulated to a minimum of 38 months ageing (18 in oak) before release.

100 percent Nebbiolo, with no blending permitted by the disciplinare. The grape thrives on the calcareous-marl soils of the Langhe hills and is known locally for its Lampia, Michet, and Rose clones.

A Menzione Geografica Aggiuntiva, the official cru designation ratified by the consorzio in 2010. Barolo has 181 MGAs across 11 municipalities, including famous names like Cannubi, Bussia, Brunate, and Vigna Rionda.

Piedmontese classics built for its structure: brasato al Barolo, tajarin with white truffle, bagna cauda, aged Castelmagno and Bra cheeses, and slow-braised game. Barolo's tannin and acidity cut fat; its savoury notes echo truffle and mushroom.

Normale peaks at 8 to 15 years from harvest; Riserva bottlings from structured municipalities like Serralunga d'Alba or Monforte d'Alba can age 20 to 30 years. Most Barolo benefits from bottle age.

Serve Barolo at 16 to 18 degrees Celsius. Decant Riserva and mature vintages for two to four hours to open the aromatic complexity. Younger bottles benefit from at least an hour in decanter.

On the table

What to eat with Barolo

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