What is Barolo?

If you’re looking for a classic Italian red wine that’s full of flavor, Barolo is a great option. We’re going to cover everything you need to know about Barolo from its history, to its flavor profile, to storage and serving tips. Be sure to read on if you’d like to learn what Barolo is.

What is Barolo?

Barolo originates from the world-renowned Piedmont region in Italy, so you know it has to be good. Barolo has a deep history of controversy surrounding traditionalists and modernists which stemmed what’s now known as, “The Barolo Wars.” A group of producers began making a modern style of Barolo by using lots of new oak when producing wines compared to their traditionalist counterparts. They favored shortening the duration of maceration and fermentation. These modern producers also incorporated new technology to produce and store their Barolo. The bottom line is that both the modern and traditional styles of Barolo offer exceptional wines worth trying.

The Flavor Profile of Barolo

Barolo is a Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita, also known as a DOCG red wine, made from only Nebbiolo. Nebbiolo is a grape with a thin skin, and the flavor of Nebbiolo is what gives Barolo its unique taste. The best Barolo wines convey their sense of place (terroir) which is perceived as a mineral quality. These wines are full-bodied with robust acidity, firm tannins, and higher alcohol, which often provides the structure to mature gracefully in the cellar over time.  When looking at the wine, it can have a deceptively light ruby or garnet appearance in its youth but is still packed with flavor. Like most wines, Barolo can have a variety of flavors. Some of the most common flavor notes are rose petal and cherry; as the wine ages, you may get notes of licorice and chocolate. Don’t let these sweet notes fool you, though. Barolo is indeed a dry wine. 

How to Best Store and Serve Barolo

While Barolo can be served at room temperature, room temperature will diminish the aroma and flavors of your glass. For the best tasting glass, serve the wine between 60-68°F. When it comes to storage, you must store the bottle in a cool-dark place. There are storage best practices to follow depending on how long you plan to store the bottle. If you plan to enjoy the bottle within a year, you can store it at room temperature. Alternatively, a bottle being stored for longer than five years should be stored in a temperature controlled cellar for the best results. 

Now that you know what Barolo is, be sure to check out our selection of premium Barolo wines. Let us know if you have any questions.