History & Background
1600
QUEEN OF GRAPES
Nebbiolo is referenced as “Queen of Grapes,” and these writings also mention the grape as a favorite of the local Aristocracy
1845
TORINO-GENOVA RAILWAY
The establishment of the Torino-Genova Railway enabled the shipment of wines from the Langhe region to markets worldwide.
1966
DOC STATUS
Barolo and Barbaresco are the first wines in Italy to obtain DOC status
1752
CANNUBI
“Cannubi” first appears on a wine bottle label, which is one of the most highly regarded Barolo MGAs today. The same year, Nebbiolo was first shipped to England and reported to be “on par with Bordeaux ” Thomas Jefferson was even an early discoverer of the Nebbiolo grape
1881
ALBA’S SCHOOL OF VITICULTURE & OENOLOGY
Alba’s School of Viticulture and Oenology, the first of its kind in Italy, opened. The school is still among the best in the world and focuses on scientific research and instruction, strategic factors for the local economy, and the creation of many generations of expert vine growers and winemakers.
2007
MGA
Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive (MGA) establishment in Barbaresco
2014
UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE
Langhe Region is recognized as an UNESCO World Heritage Site, fueling the food and wine tourism business for the region
1988
DOCG STATUS
Barolo and Barbaresco receive DOCG status
2010
MGA
Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive (MGA) establishment in Barolo
GEOGRAPHY
Piemonte is found in northeast Italy at the foot (PIE) of the mountains (Monte) where it is surrounded by the Alps and Apennines to the north, and south. This mountain influence provides Piemonte with diverse microclimates and a range of unique soils . The region is made up of steepsided elongated hills, resembling “tongues of land” (the word Langhe’s origin meaning ‘Tongues’) that run parallel to one another and are separated deep, narrow valleys. Piemonte also has the most DOCGs in Italy at a whopping 17, including Barolo and Barbaresco, with another 42 DOCs .
GRAPE VARIETIES
• Nebbiolo is the most noble of grapes and originates from Piemonte dating back to the 1300s when Pier de’ Crescenzi wrote “. a kind of black grape called nubiola . . it’s wonderfully vinous…it is very sensitive to shadow . . it makes age-worthy wines. and its widely cultivated in the town of Asti and its surroundings . ” This is the grape used from production of Barolo and Barbaresco and is regarded as one of the most age-worthy grapes
But Nebbiolo isn’t the only worthy grape of attention in this region Other notable local grapes include: Arneis(w), Barbera(r), Cortese(w) Dolcetto(r), Girgnolino(r), Moscato Family(w), Nascetta(w), Pelaverga(r)
• Aside from the local varietals above, there are some areas, such as the Alta Langa, where they specialize in sparkling wine made of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay .
Zoccolaio Vineyard
EXPLORE AREA
winebow com/our-brands/damilano
Luxurious Like a Rolls Royce
DAMILANO: (dah-mih-LAH-noh)
LOCATION: La Morra, Barolo
ESTABLISHED: 1890
PRINCIPALS: Paolo, Guido and Mario Damilano – 5th Generation
HECTARES: 40
KEY POINTS:
• Damilano is one of the oldest wineries in Barolo
• Damilano owns one of the largest sections in the historical core of the Cannubi hill and nearly all of the section just to the west, known as Cannubi Valletta
• Damilano crus Cannubi, Brunate, Cerequio and Liste have distinct expressions that showcase the differences in terroir
See our Nebbiolo brochure for more nerdy details: https://www.winebow.com/trade-tools/brochures/26245
• Sustainable Practices in Vineyard and Winery
La Morra, Barolo ITALY
DAMILANO VIDEO
WINES
Langhe Arneis Langhe Chardonnay
Barbera d’Asti Langhe Nebbiolo
Barolo Lecinquevigne (leh-cheen-que-VEEN-yay)
Barolo Cerequio Barolo Brunate
Barolo Cannubi
Barolo Liste
Barolo Chinato
EXPLORE AREA
winebow com/our-brands/castello-di-neive
Refined like Ryan Gosling
CASTELLO DI NEIVE: (kah-STEH-loh dih NEH-veh)
PRINCIPALS: Carolina Stupino—3rd Generation
ESTABLISHED: 1964
HECTARES: (removed the 60) 27 ha of vineyards, 21 ha of hazelnuts and 150 olive trees
KEY POINTS:
• Pioneers in the research and revival of Arneis, beginning with the planting and testing of the best clones in the Montebertotto vineyard in the mid-1970s.
• Owners of one of the top crus in Barbaresco, Santo Stefano and the sole producers of this site since 2012.
• The winery is devoted to grape growing and all the production is obtained from Castello di Neive’s own vines in the following vineyards: Basarin, Cortini, Gallina, Marcorino, Messoirano-Montebertotto, Santo Stefano and Valtorta
• Sustainable Practices in Vineyard and Winery
Neive, Barbaresco, ITALY
CASTELLO DI NEIVE VIDEO
WINES
Montebertotto Arneis
iCortini Pinot Noir
Grignolino
Barbera D’Alba
Barbera D’Alba Superiore
Santo Stefano
Barbera D’Alba
Basarin Dolcetto Barbaresco
Santo Stefano Barbaresco
Santo Stefano
Barbaresco Riserva
Elegant like James Bond
BOROLI: (boh-ROH-lee)
PRINCIPALS: Achille Boroli
ESTABLISHED: 1997
HECTARES: 11
KEY POINTS:
• Since 2012, the winery has focused exclusively on Nebbiolo, setting it apart from most producers who craft a variety of other wines.
Boroli is the sole producer of the Brunella Cru, recently rediscovered, a subsection of the famous Villero Cru.
• Grapes are never pressed. The winemaking process uses only the so-called “flower wine,” i.e. the juice obtained by free-flow gravity.
• Organic practices, not certified
Castiglione Falletto, Barolo, ITALY EXPLORE AREA
BOROLI VIDEO
WINES
1661 Langhe Nebbiolo
Barolo
Commune di Castiglione Falletto Barolo
Cerequio Barolo
Villero Barolo
Brunella Barolo
BOROLI BAR OL O
Rabajà, Barbaresco, ITALY
EXPLORE AREA
winebow com/our-brands/giuseppe-cortese
Transcending like Bruce Springsteen
GIUSEPPE CORTESE: (jih-SEH-peh kohr-TEH-she)
PRINCIPALS: Piercarlo Cortese, Tiziana Cortese, and Gabriele Occhetti—2nd and 3rd Generations
ESTABLISHED: 1971
HECTARES: 8
KEY POINTS:
• We are celebrating the 50th anniversary of Rabajà with the current release of Barbaresco.
• The Trifolera vineyard, adjacent to Rabajà’s Nebbiolo, translates to ‘the place where truffles come from.’ Each year, many white truffles are harvested from this area.
• Giuseppe Cortese was not only famous for his wines, but his massive hands covered in dirt from always working in the soil and vineyards, showing is true connection to the land.
• Organic Practices not certified
CASTELLO DI NEIVE VIDEO
WINES
Barbera d’Alba
Morassina Barbera d’Alba Langhe Dolcetto Langhe Nebbiolo
Barbaresco
Rabajà Barbaresco
Rabajà Barbaresco Riserva
2 estates: Dogliani and Monforte d’Alba,
EXPLORE AREA
Passionate like the Legend of Zorro
PECCHENINO: (peh-kheh-NEE-noh)
PRINCIPALS: Orlando Pecchenino, Attilio Pecchenino, Lisa, Gaia and Sofia Orlando’s Daughters—3rd and 4th generation
ESTABLISHED: Early 1900’s
HECTARES: 35—divided between the municipalities of Dogliani (Dolcetto Land!) Monforte d’Alba (Nebbiolo Land!) and Bossolasco (Alta Langa LandTraditional Method Sparkling!)
KEY POINTS:
• They started with the focus on high-quality Dolcetto in the early 1900’s and then followed by expanding in the 1990’s with Nebbiolo in Monforte d’Alba Barolo and Traditional Method Bubbles in Alta Langa
• 70% of their plantings are dolcetto, where this is usually a cashflow afterthought for most producers. Dolcetto is Peccenino’s lifeblood.
• Alta Langa refers to an area of the Langa on the border with Liguria that is higher and wilder than the Bassa Langa. Pecchenino invested in this area in 2010 because of the high altitude where pinot noir and chardonnay find their maximum expression (and make delicious traditional method bubbles).
• Organic Practices, not certified
Barolo, ITALY
winebow com/our-brands/pecchenino
PECCHENINO VIDEO
WINES
Alta Langa Psea
Langhe Chardonnay Maestro
Langhe Riesling
Dogliani San Luigi
Dogliani Superiore Siri d’Jermu
Langhe Nebbiolo Botti
Barolo San Giuseppe
Barolo Le Coste di Monforte
Barolo Bussia
Barolo Riserva
EXPLORE AREA
winebow com/our-brands/lo-zoccolaio
winebow com/our-brands/la-toledana
winebow com/our-brands/la-doria
Massimo Marasso, Winemaker
MARTINI FAMILY ESTATES: Lo Zoccolaio (loh zoh-koh-L-EYE-oh), La Toledana (laa toll-e-DAH-nah), La Doria (laa DOR-ee-ah)
PRINCIPALS: Gianni & Eleonora Martini
ESTABLISHED: Early to late 1800 between all three properties
HECTARES: 81 ha in total between the three estates
KEY POINTS:
• Lo Zoccolaio is not only the name of the Barolo property but is a Cru within the Barolo commune where the winery sits.
• The river creates a unique viticultural ecosystem and favorable microclimate, contributing to the high quality and intense aromas of Gavi.
• Cortese has been grown for the production of Gavi at this site in La Toledana for over 180 years.
• Conventional farming
Asti, Barolo, ITALY
WINES
Lo Zoccolaio Baccanera
Lo Zoccolaio Barolo
Lo Zoccolaio Ravera Riserva Barolo
La Doria Gavi
La Doria Moscato d’Asti
La Toledana Gavi di Gavi
Giuseppe Cortese
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