Barolo, a horseshoe-shaped valley with breathtaking vineyard vistas, is located in the Piedmont region of northwest Italy. This region is very close to the Alps and can get significantly colder than what we might imagine as sunny, Mediterranean Italy. The fog that settles in the valley is can be problematic for the grapes. Vines located above the fog line in the valley produce the best grapes.
The area is also quite famous for truffles, which typically peak around the same time as the Nebbiolo harvest.
There are various communes in the region that produce the best wine (similar to crus in France). The most exclusive are Barolo (it’s a region AND a commune), La Morra, Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga d’Alba, and Monforte d’Alba.
Wines from Barolo and La Morra are more accessible as the soil is more fertile and the wines tend to be smoother when younger. Wines from the other communes are grown on much steeper slopes and generally are better candidates for aging.
