An introduction to the best Barolo wines and wineries to drink at home

In Short:
Barolo is widely regarded as one of the best Italian wines. It's a red wine made from the Nebbiolo grape in Piedmont. We'll take a deep dive into everything great about Barolo and discuss some of the best Barolo wineries.

What is Barolo and why is it so popular?

Of the many famous Italian wines, Barolo, and its namesake DOCG, is arguably the best known. You'll find the region in Piedmont, in the north of Italy, and it boasts prestigious UNESCO heritage status.

But it's more than just a pretty face – this rich, bold, full-bodied red, which is typically high in acidity and tannins, is even known as the ‘King of Wine’ in Italy.

By strict winemaking laws, it must be aged for at least three years before it's released. And Riserva status requires five years or more in the barrel.

Some of Barolo's best wineries:

Voerzio Martini

The Voerzio brothers were part of the Barolo Boys, an iconic generation of young winemakers that changed the world of Barolo wine with innovative approaches in the 1980s and '90s.

Gianni Voerzio's son, Mirko, today continues with their work. To create the most concentrated Barolo, he strictly limits the yields in the vineyard, allowing just 1kg of grapes per vine. It's no-expense-spared winemaking, and the benefits show in the Voerzio Martini 'La Serra' Barolo.

Pio Cesare

The Pio Cesare winery was founded in 1881, rather confusingly, by Cesare Pio. Pio was a successful entrepreneur who made small amounts of wine on the hills of Barolo and the nearby Barbaresco.
He initially sold his Barolo and Barbaresco to friends, family and a small amount of customers. But word soon got out, and it became a thriving business that exported to Europe at the turn of the century.

Today, Pio Cesare Barolo is a real benchmark for the region. You can taste the excellence in Pio Cesare Barbaresco, which is a great alternative to Barolo, also made from Nebbiolo grapes, if you prefer slightly lighter tannins.

Giacomo Fenocchio

Giacomo Fenocchio is a 5th generation family estate in Piedmont. Up until the 1960s, they made their wine mostly for local consumption. In the early days, they'd fill up a car and hand-sell their Barolo at local markets. They've come a long way since and are now internationally known for their excellent Barolo wine.

The winery is now in the hands of Giacomo's son, Claudio, who favours an approach that sits somewhere in between modernist and traditionalist – using old Slovenian oak barrels. His trademark style of Barolo is elegant, approachable in its youth and tastes even better with age. We recommend the Giacomo Fenocchio Castellero Barolo.