Barolo
Add to your Fliist
Add

Barolo

Updated: 7 Sep 2020
Barolo (also bareul ) is a red Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) wine produced in the northern Italian region of Piedmont. It is made from the nebbiolo grape and is often described as one of Italy's greatest wines. The zone of production extends into the communes of Barolo, Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga d'Alba and parts of the communes of Cherasco, Diano d'Alba, Grinzane Cavour, La Morra, Monforte d'Alba, Novello, Roddi, Verduno, all in the province of Cuneo, south-west of Alba. Although production codes have always stipulated that vineyards must be located on hillsides, the most recent revision of the production code released in 2010 goes further, categorically excluding valley floors, humid and flat areas, areas without sufficient sunlight, and areas with full-on northern exposures. Barolo is often described as having the aromas of tar and roses, and the wines are noted for their ability to age and usually take on a rust red tinge as they mature. Barolo needs to be aged for at least 38 months after the harvest before release, of which at least 18 months must be in wood. In the past, Barolo wines tended to be rich in tannin. It can take more than 10 years for the wine to soften and become ready for drinking. Fermenting wine sat on the grape skins for at least three weeks, extracting huge amounts of tannins and was then aged in large, wooden casks for years. In order to appeal to more modern international tastes, those that prefer fruitier, earlier-drinking wine styles, several producers began to cut fermentation times to a maximum of ten days and age the wine in new French oak barriques (small barrels). "Traditionalists" have argued that the wines produced in this way are not recognizable as Barolo and taste more of new oak than of wine. The controversies between traditionalists and modernists have been called the "Barolo wars", as depicted in Barolo Boys. The Story of a Revolution, a documentary film released in 2014.
Actor
58 followers
63 FLIISTs
over 4 years ago
I got to go to a lot of vineyards, but when I was young I didn’t have much money. Even while living in Italy, Spain was always such a go-to because they produce extraordinary wines and they’re not expensive. So I became very accustomed to Rioja. I also loved Chiantis and super Tuscans. Obviously the amazing Brunellos and Barbarescos and Barolos were extraordinary, but those were more of what I got when I was at these big dinner tables with all of these cool, fancy people. But on my own, I had to source the wines that weren't so expensive. I just got lucky.
Open FLIIST