While you might know the two Bs of wines, Bordeaux and Burgundy, Barolo is an understated red wine often hidden in the glory of other Italian reds from Piedmont.
Read on to discover the beauty behind Barolo wine and the region it comes from in addition to their history, popularity, and cost. Moreover, review our selection of wines from top wine clubs to help you get your hands on some Barolo favorites.
While you might know the two Bs of wines, Bordeaux and Burgundy, Barolo is an understated red wine often hidden in the glory of other Italian reds from Piedmont.
Read on to discover the beauty behind Barolo wine and the region it comes from in addition to their history, popularity, and cost. Moreover, review our selection of wines from top wine clubs to help you get your hands on some Barolo favorites.
Where Do Barolo Wines Come From?
Ever sipped the king of wines? Not the best wine, the King of wines.
The wines hailing from the region of Barolo in Piedmont, Italy are produced strictly with a grape varietal with thin skin called Nebbiolo. Reminiscent of the best Pinot Noirs from Burgundy, Barolo wines are called King of Italian wines because it follows strict DOCG regulations for aging before and after bottling.
With 11 communes in Barolo, the vineyards are situated on high elevations and cooler temperatures that add to its dry taste. Classically, they were characterized by their sweeter tastes and unique features such as late ripening to early-budding.
Why Are Barolo Wines So Sought After?
Barolo is best served at room temperature at around 80 degrees Fahrenheit and is best paired with foods like meats and truffles. It’s a wine worth many words because of the qualities that contribute to its overall makeup.
Aging
While all Barolo wines require 38 months of oaking and 18 months after bottling, Barolo Riserva is aged for a minimum of five years and Vigna Barolo comes from a single vineyard.
Taste
While it was a sweet red wine two centuries ago, today’s Barolo wines deliver notes of earthiness with hints of coffee and licorice. It’s not very acidic, but contains rigid tannins.
Color
The full-bodied Barolos tend to flaunt a light shade of red with pink tints like that of ruby or garnet. They turn to brick-red or orange based on aging.
Classification
DOCG is the highest of the Italian classification for wines. It means that the wines are bottled and labeled with certifications processed after taste-testing.
ABV
With ABV typically around 13% and a dry taste, Barolo is often best-enjoyed sip-by-sip.
Are Barolo Wines Expensive?
When you compare the cost of Barolo with other Italian wines, how does it compare? Let’s find out.
- The second most expensive Italian wine in the world is Bruno Giacosa Collina Rionda Barolo sold at $917 to $2,433 a bottle in the US.
- The Tenuta dell’Ornellaia ‘Ornellaia’ Vendemia d’Artista Special Edition Bolgheri Superiore, from Tuscany is Italy’s most expensive wine in the US, selling for $975 to $6,863 a bottle.
- The wine from Barolo named Giacomo Conterno Monfortino, Barolo Riserva DOCG, Italy comes in sixth at $607 to $2,905.
- Biondi Santi Tenuta il Greppo Riserva, Brunello di Montalcino is another wine that can see prices stretch as high as $49,239 a bottle.
Where Can You Find The Best Barolo Wines?
Searching for the best Barolos? Why waste time rummaging through cases of wines from Italy? The following three clubs are all you need to decide right away.
Plonk Wine Club
Virna Borgogno Dolcetto D'Alba 2018 from Plonk Wine Club priced at $23.75 per bottle is an excellent Barolo wine with fragrant hints of red plum and raspberry. You need to buy a minimum of two bottles of these Barolos that go well with pork, pasta, and chicken.
Gold Medal Wine Club
When you’re looking for an award-winning Barolo, GMWC has got you covered. Apart from its variety of membership plans suitable for different wine lovers, this club offers Attilio Ghisolfi 2007 Barolo from the Abruzzo region. If you’re a member, you’ll automatically receive this wine if you’re registered on the Diamond Wine of the Month Club. Pot roast goes well with this wine.
VINEBOX
One of the most creative wine clubs online, VINEBOX features nine wines, six reds and three whites from Barolo and Bordeaux at $87. These vials of wine box are known for its three vintage Barolo wines called Ravera that bring unique tastes with vibrancy and depth. VINEBOX delivers a customizable membership plan that most wine lovers adore.
Bottom Line
Named after their region of origin, Barolo wines have attained the prestige of DOCG, the highest classification for Italian wines. Owing to their unique characteristics, they are sought after for their taste, aging notes, color, classification, and aroma.
If you’re interested in Barolo and Barbaresco wines, Winc Online Wine Club is another good club to consider when exploring these famed options.