📜 Barolo

Barolo is a famous red wine from Piedmont in Italy. It is called the "king of wines and wine of kings". It is made in the Langhe hills, around the town of Barolo, from a single grape, Nebbiolo. The name is protected as a designation of origin (PDO). Nebbiolo gives a wine pale in colour but very high in tannin and acid. When young it is harsh. The rules require long ageing: at least 38 months, of which at least 18 in wood. For riserva the period is longer still. With time the wine gains notes of rose, tar, dried herbs and truffle, and the tannins soften. The Barolo zone has many individual vineyards with their own character. They are marked out as additional geographical units, known as MGA. A vineyard name may appear on the label, and wines from different plots differ noticeably. The wine is served with meat, game and dishes with white truffle, for which Piedmont is famed. Because of the long ageing and small area, it is expensive.