Cellar Raid Highlight: Festa del Barolo – A Celebration of the King of Wines
Cellar Raid: Half Priced Bottles of 750ml Wine Every Tuesday in our Enoteca.
Barolo is a wine that commands attention. Revered for its depth, structure, and remarkable ability to age, it has long been considered the pinnacle of Nebbiolo’s potential. Every year, Barolo’s most passionate devotees gather in New York City for Fest del Barolo, an exclusive event dedicated to celebrating the wine’s legacy and future.
A Celebration of Tradition and Evolution
Festa del Barolo was founded by Antonio Galloni Vinous, one of the most respected voices in Italian wine. What started as a small gathering of sommeliers and collectors has grown into one of the most prestigious Barolo tastings in the world. Each year, the event brings together top producers from across the Langhe, offering attendees the chance to taste both new releases and older vintages, exploring how Barolo evolves over time.
One of the most exciting aspects of Festa del Barolo is the vertical tastings, where multiple vintages of the same wine are tasted side by side. This allows guests to witness firsthand how time transforms Barolo, softening its tannins, deepening its flavors, and revealing layers of complexity that only patience can unlock. The event also features discussions with winemakers, providing insight into the challenges and innovations shaping Barolo’s future.
The Woman Behind Barolo
Barolo’s reputation as “The Wine of Kings, The King of Wines” can be traced back to one remarkable woman: Marches Giulia Colbert Falletti di Barolo. Born into a noble French family in 1785, she married Marchese Carlo Tancredi Falletti di Barolo, a powerful aristocrat and statesman in Piemonte. While Carlo played a key role in promoting Barolo at the royal court, it was Giulia who transformed the wine itself.
At the time, Nebbiolo was often produced in a semi-sweet style due to incomplete fermentation. Recognizing its potential Giulia enlisted the help of Louis Oudart, a French enologist who introduced modern winemaking techniques, allowing Nebbiolo to ferment fully and develop the firm tannic structure that defines Barolo today. With Carlo’s political influence, this new style of Barolo soon found its way to King Carlo Alberto of Sardinia, who declared it his preferred wine. From there, its reputation spread, cementing Barolo’s status as Piemonte’s most noble wine.
Beyond her impact on winemaking, Giulia was a devoted philanthropist. After Carlo’s death, she dedicated her fortune to building schools, hospitals, and shelters for women in need. When she passed away in 1864, her estate, including vast Barolo vineyards, was left to charity. Today, her legacy continues through the Opera Pia Barolo, a foundation that still supports her charitable work, and through the Marchesi di Barolo winery, which occupies the original Falletti estate.
Every time we open a great Barolo, we are drinking history – one shaped by a visionary woman who saw Nebbiolo’s true potential before anyone else. To honor Festa del Barolo, we’re featuring wines from some of the producers showcased at the event, highlighting the stylistic diversity within the region.
This Week’s Featured Selections:
Barolo, Brovia “Rocche di Castiglione” 2019
A stunning expression of one of Barolo’s most revered crus. Situated in the historic village of Castiglione Falletto, the Rocche di Castiglione vineyard is known for its steep slopes and a mix of sandy and calcareous soils, which contribute to the wine’s striking balance of power and finesse. The 2019 vintage was marked by a long, steady growing season, allowing Nebbiolo to develop exceptional depth and structure. Brovia’s approach is deeply traditional, with extended macerations and aging in large Slavonian oak casks, preserving the purity of the fruit and the distinct minerality of the site. This wine showcases an aromatic profile of rose petals, crushed red berries, licorice, and earthy truffle, with a core of vibrant acidity and finely woven tannins that promise remarkable aging potential.
Barolo, Elio Grasso “Gavarini Chiniera” 2019
A remarkable wine made from high-altitude Nebbiolo, sourced from the Gavarini Chiniera vineyard in Monforte d’Alba. Sitting at 400 meters above sea level, this site benefits from cooler temperatures, resulting in a Barolo of exceptional freshness, aromatic lift, and tension. The soils here are predominantly limestone-rich, contributing to the wine’s precision and minerality. True to Grasso’s philosophy, this Barolo undergoes long macerations and aging in large Slavonian oak barrels, preserving the integrity of the vineyard’s character. The 2019 Gavarini Chiniera opens with wild red berries, dried rose petals, blood orange, and crushed stone, followed by layers of spice and a long, refined finish.
