True connoisseurs of exclusive drinks know firsthand that real Barolo wine is produced in one of Italy's most famous wine regions. The rich taste and harmonious aroma is the merit of a mild climate and a unique connection between the soil composition and the terroir.
Piedmont Region
This region in Italy enjoys well-deserved popularity - after all, it is here that one of the best wines is produced, known for their harmonious taste and unique aroma. The Piedmont region got its name thanks to a small village, which is located in the heart of this colorful country.
Today, the area of vineyards occupies a little more than 1400 hectares. Here, for the most part, local grape varieties grow, from which the exquisite Barolo wine is obtained. The region consists of five communes, each of which was formed several centuries ago. La Morra occupied the northern part of Barolo, Serralunga d'Alba is located in the east, Monforte d'Alba is the southern commune, and Castiglione Falleto Barolo occupies the central part of the region.
The unique climate of the region is a merit of the natural factor. The thing is that about 2 million years ago a glacier passed through this territory of Italy, which literally divided the region into two parts. As a result of this, two separate territories were formed, which significantly differ in soil composition and climatic features.
Serralunga d'alba
In this region is the family estate of Fontanafredda, which at one time belonged to the famous royal family. Needless to say, it was they who mastered the production of an exquisite drink, which later became a real “wine of kings and king of wines”.
The mild climate allows you to grow a unique Nebbiolo grape variety, which is the raw material for creating excellent vintage wines. The collection of varieties is multifaceted and diverse. Refined varieties are famous all over the world for their great taste and exquisite aroma. Barolo wine has a rich taste of truffles and resins, exquisite notes of violets and spicy roses. All this is complemented by hints of plum jam, raspberries, Indian incense and rose hips.
Just one sip is enough to remember the unique taste and aroma of the noble drink, which the Italian kings loved so much.
Region Asset
It will be about a unique Nebbiolo grape variety, which is a harmonious component of this terroir. It is this variety that brought such popularity to the Piedmont region and directly to the region itself. The grape variety has a unique taste, which consists entirely of contradictions. It is Nebbiolo that gives the wine a luxurious and sophisticated aroma.
The grape variety is distinguished by small berries with a dense skin. In practice, most of the berries are seeds, which are the main problem for winemakers. The thing is that they contain a large number of tannins. Grapes have a slightly bitter taste, due to insufficient ripening.
This problem is characterized by another problem - insufficient pigmentation of berries. But the right color for wine is a necessity, without which the drink will not be truly high-quality.
This grape variety produces kidneys earlier than the rest, so Nebbiolo is afraid of late frosts and heavy rains. But the harvest in Piedmont is harvested only in October, when the early frosts no longer pose a threat to the berries. The best taste qualities of grapes are caused by sharp temperature differences in the daytime and evening. By the way, Barolo wine received such a versatility of taste precisely thanks to this grape variety. Nebbiolo loves fogs very much - even the name of the variety eloquently testifies to this.
A little bit about the region where one of the best wines is produced.
Winemaking in Italy is a separate chapter that will allow you to draw the right conclusions about this country. Italian wines are as sunny as the weather, tart as the flavor of the local population, and exquisite as the beauty of the local women. Barolo was one of the first wine regions to receive the international DOCG status, which means that almost 100% of its territory is covered by vineyards. Italian wine Barolo is produced here. Wine of the Kings is made in the historical regions of Piedmont. For several centuries, the best grape varieties have grown in these territories , which are the raw material for the production of the best wine.
Barolo: Franco Serra
This drink deserves special attention. The bottle is made in a simple and concise style, as it should be for exclusive varieties, without unnecessary details. To appreciate the true taste, one sip will not be enough. Barolo is a wine that should “breathe” a little. True connoisseurs recommend opening the bottle half an hour before tasting - this will reveal all, even the most subtle notes of exquisite taste and harmonious aroma.
The ruby color of the wine is due to a special grape variety that is grown specifically for this drink. With the first sip, a characteristic “oak” note and a little cognac are felt, which is especially felt in the basal region of the tongue. Barolo: Franco Serra doesn’t even have a hint of alcohol - just chocolate and vanilla.
The wine is quite dense. If you give the drink a little breathing, you can hear a characteristic oak flavor and a light plume of prunes.
Two looks - two tastes
Barolo - wine that is produced in two versions (directly Barolo and Barolo Riserva itself).
Actually Barolo itself - fine wine - is aged for at least 36 months. Moreover, 18 of them are in oak barrels. Every year on the very first day of the New Year, the drink goes on sale 4 years after the harvest. This is an exclusive wine that is valued by gourmets around the world.
The second version - Barolo Riserva - is aged for at least 62 months, 18 of which the wine languishes in oak barrels. You can buy a bottle of such wine only for the sixth year after the grape harvest.
Manufacturing technology
There is a huge gap between classical production technology and modern manufacturing methods. The thing is that for true gourmets, the process of long post-fermentation maceration is extremely important, because at that moment the drink is saturated with the very tannins, phenols, anthocyanins and other compounds that create the unique taste and aroma of the drink. In addition, long-term aging in oak barrels is typical for traditional production technology (as a rule, at least two years). Barrels for wine are made from Slavonian oak - this particular kind of wood has a softening effect on tannins.
According to technology, Barolo (2009 wine) is aged for two years in oak barrels and about 12 months in bottles. Only after this time the drink goes on sale. Is it worth saying that some copies are stored in cellars for decades? Of course, the price of Barolo wine in this case is much higher. However, to buy a less seasoned drink in Russia for less than 3,000 rubles is a great success for his lover.
Currently, many manufacturers have significantly simplified and accelerated the process of wine production. This happened for the first time in the 1980s thanks to a group of enthusiasts who managed to create an exquisite wine with a bright fruity accent. Gourmets appreciated this drink, turning a blind eye to the retreat from the canons.
Modernists reduced the maceration process, slightly corrected fermentation (lower temperature was used), and also replaced massive oak barrels with compact barriques (this accelerated the process of maturation of tannins and softened them). The result was a light Italian wine full of fruity taste and aroma. Wine Barolo occupies a special place of honor in the category of wines, known to true connoisseurs of a noble drink.
Advantages of the modern production method
Accelerated fermentation allows you to enjoy the fruity taste of young wine. Traditionalists condemn this method, because, in their opinion, small barrels saturate the wine with a vanilla aroma, which is not typical for a real drink. But as a result of modern technology, aromatic fruit wines with a rich color are obtained, which is preferred by most consumers.
In any case, in some regions Barolo wine is still produced according to classical technology. This means that both traditionalists and less picky gourmets will be able to choose their drink from the proposed wine category.
Gastronomic properties of wine
The classic Barolo is 100% Nebbiolo. The drink is characterized by a rich taste, which is accompanied by pronounced woody and cognac notes. Often this drink is compared with French Pinot Noir wine. The similarities are in the brick-garnet color and the acidity characteristic of both drinks. Classic Italian wine has a fruity aroma, with a pronounced trail of resins and dried herbs. With a detailed examination of the drink, or rather, its tasting, you can clearly hear floral notes that remind of sunny Italy.
In the world of good wine, it's easy to get lost. The windows showcase just a huge number of bottles with the inscription Barolo. It’s easier to navigate according to the recommendations of Vinibuoni d'Italia - a guide that has compiled its list of the best wines according to organoleptic indicators and reviews of true connoisseurs.