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REPUBBLICA DI PERNO
Vicolo Cavour 5
Frazione Perno
Monforte d'Alba
Telephone: 011-39-0173-78492
Open Friday through Tuesday
Lunch: 12-2pm
Dinner: 8pm until 10
CLICK
HERE FOR THEIR WEB SITE
-
This is a new place, opened in the Summer of 2014, by our old friend Chef
Marco (formerly of La Libera).
This guy is one of the top chefs of Piemonte...no doubt about it, he's
upper echelon in the kitchen.
We stopped in and had a light lunch...(if that's possible), tasting a few
good plates.
In good weather, they may have seating available outside, if I understood
correctly. There's a large table near the kitchen, but most likely you'll
be guided upstairs to the main dining area.
And seating is at a premium. There are perhaps 20 seats, if that
many.
You'd be best advised to call and book a table.
You'll be offered "still" or "sparkling" water...they
have a machine which makes their own fizzy water and, wow, was it fresh
and bubbly!
- The bread and grissini are excellent, too, by the way.
Some peppers stuffed with tuna, I believe.
Insalata Russa.
-
These little ribs were amazing! Served on a bed of thinly-shaved
fennel...
Some little fried Snails...and a little fried "mystery meat"
dish...quite tasty...
-
- This was a wonderful meal...I will definitely book a table here next
time I'm in Piemonte.
The "King & Queen" of the Repubblica of Perno!
Dinner in 2019:
We ordered a couple of well-priced bottles...
 '
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PIAZZA DUOMO
- Piazza Risorgimento 4
Alba
- It's just off the piazza--Vicolo dell'Arco.
You might park a few blocks away...there are several parking lots within a
short walking distance.
OPEN TUESDAY-SATURDAY Lunch: 12:30-2 Dinner
7:30-9:30
You must book ahead CLICK
HERE FOR THEIR WEB SITE
Tel +39 0173 366 167
-
If you have a reservation, you'll go to the door and ring
the bell. If reservation they will buzz you in.
The restaurant is owned by the Ceretto family. Yes, the
winemaking Cerettos. They met a young fellow, Enrico Crippa, who had
dreamed of being a great chef and achieving culinary stardom. The fellow
was working for Gualtiero Marchesi when he was 16 years of age. He worked
in top restaurants in France and Spain and has extensive experience from Japan,
as well.
He met the Cerettos in 2003 and a year after opening Piazza Duomo the place had
a Michelin Star. By 2009 they had two Michelin Stars and in 2012 were
awarded three Michelin Stars. Nine restaurants in Italy were awarded three
stars in 2018.
The Cerettos made Crippa a partner in the place and it's a
remarkable dining experience.
Chef Enrico Crippa manning his battle-station.
Like other deluxe restaurants, the staff is large and
impressively attentive.
The wine list is incredible and you can spend a few hours
perusing the amazing selections. Yes, there are wines costing hundreds of
dollars per bottle, but in reading through the list, we were impressed that you
can drink well for 40 to 80 Euros, too.
Of course there are numerous bottlings of various Ceretto wines, but other top
producers from Piemonte are on the list. Gaja, Vietti, Mascarello,
Massolino, Vajra, Oddero, Germano, Pira, Sandrone and others are on the list.
But you will find impressive bottlings from France, too. It's an amazing
list.
We arrived one weekday afternoon for lunch with some
friends. The menu was at the whim of Chef Crippa who put on a remarkable
display of culinary magic. We were asked about food allergies and food
"issues" and they did a great job for us.
The other slight impediment was we had appointments with wineries, so what might
have been a leisurely lunch was jam-packed into two hours. If you go,
though, plan dining at this place as the centerpiece of your afternoon or
evening (of course).
One of the sommeliers shows off a bottle of Spumante and explained its
production and aging.
Some nibbles to pair with the bubbly.
Now we're getting serious!
The chef is playful, precise and surprising...
Who would expect some sort of corn with foie gras?
The sommelier prepared each glass for the next wine...
Federico Ceretto
http://www.ceretto.com/en/wines
Then things really began to roll.
A small plate arrived for everyone...
...and then the entire squadron of Piazza Duomo staffers
migrated to our table with small plate after small plate.
Each little dish was visually appealing, for sure, but each
was intensely-flavored, too.
Asparagus...amazingly flavorful and perfectly presented.
They make their own breads...very fine!
Now things took an interesting turn...
We were presented a "Mystery Wine" poured into black glasses.
And we had a Risotto as our main plate.
The mystery wine smelled woody or toasty as though it had seen some oak.
Was it a red? Was it a white?
I was leaning towards a red...
Cascina Montagnola's "Morassino"...A Late-Harvest Timorasso.
This wine spent 20 months on the yeast sediment and this is where it picked up
that seemingly woodsy, "toasty" character.
This was a great match for the risotto, surprisingly.
Next came a barrage of sweets.
Yes...three Michelin Stars and they have guests drinking a little shot of
"Latte" directly from a tiny bottle!
We had to run off to visit a few more wineries that
afternoon...but we did see an impressive cart full of post-prandial potations.
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TRATTORIA LA COCCINELLA
 Via
Provinciale, 5
SERRAVALLE LANGHE (Cn)
Tel./Fax: +39 0173 748 220
Closed Tuesdays
CLICK
HERE FOR THEIR WEBSITE
Noted winemaker and gourmand, Sergio Germano,
extended an invitation to dine at this family-operated trattoria. We
gladly accepted the invitation, having heard good things about the three
brothers who run this place up in the hills.
It's a 20 minute ride south of Serralunga.
We arrived on a Friday night and found the
place packed with locals.
Antipasti are ten Euros or you can have a 'tasting menu' of antipasti for
15. A pasta is 12 and a main plate is 16. (May-2009)
The wine list is impressive...lots of local vintners are represented, by there
are numerous wines from other regions around Italy.
Millefoglie di Quaglia with polenta.
A bottle of Monti Barbera and some "Plin" (Piemontese agnolotti)--
Plin di Coniglio
Tajarin al ragu di Vitello
Sergio brought a bottle of his 2003 Lazzarito Barolo...
Coda di Vitello con tartufi.
Duck.
Dessert.
The three brothers...
Another visit in April 2011:
La Coccinella is a magnificent, soulful place for a good meal of
typical Piemontese dishes. You're out in the countryside, well away from
the "big" city of Alba and outside the tourist areas.
The one caution I'd have is be sure you can find your way back to your hotel
safely.
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OSTERIA VEGLIO
Frazione Annunziata 9
La Morra
(On the road to La Morra from the Alba-Barolo road)
Tel: 011-39-0173-509341
Lunch: Thursday-Monday 12:15-2pm
Dinner: Wednesday through Monday 7:30pm until 9:30pm
CLICK
HERE FOR THEIR WEB SITE
- I've passed by this place for years and never stopped in. But in
2015 I had a chance to dine here at lunch and had a splendid, elegant
meal.
The restaurant is under new ownership, too. Two young couples are
partners in this little place.
There were 7 antipasti offerings when we were there...including a
Swordfish "Crudo" with Shrimp, Vitello Tonnato and a
version of Carne Cruda. Five "pastas" (two were soup,
actually). Six main plates, including Roasted Lamb, Tripe or, if
you're really adventuresome, Finanziera (a mix of organ meats, typically).
A little Amuse Bouche was delicious...some sort of smoked fish.
For a starter, our friend Silvio ordered the Cotechino.
It's served on a bed of potatoes and topped with Fonduta.
I had a plate of Plin...
...damned good!
Their "Stinco di Vitello"...
...is elegantly presented. It's meat from a veal shank served on a bed of
mashed potatoes.
As we were a bit pressed for time, we skipped dessert, but did have a lovely
coffee.
This is a lovely and comfortable place.
I did not see the wine list, though.
During warmer months, I believe they offer outdoor seating with a wonderful view
of the vineyards near and far.
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TRATTORIA DELLA POSTA
 Località
Sant'Anna, 87
12065 Monforte d'Alba
Tel: (0173) 78 120
Closed all of February...
Closed all day Thursday and Lunch on Fridays
CLICK
HERE FOR THEIR WEBSITE
This is an elegant, old, traditional place about a ten minute drive south of
Monforte. Despite its elegance and refinement, it's still a comfortable
"family" restaurant and a good dining experience.
The chefs greeted us warmly...
Some sort of stuffed onion and cheese starter.
Bagna Cauda was on the menu and I could not resist...the pepper was filled
with the "bagna" mix...anchovies, garlic, olive oil. It's quite
intense and, frankly, too much for one person as a starter. But I forged
ahead valiantly.
Our dear pal Ceri Smith (that's her Witness Protection Program name) ordered
some sort of salad...and we had a bottle of Pelaverga from Verduno.
Tajarin. Yum.
Gnocchi.
Brasato.
Our friends were thrilled to order frog's legs for a main plate.
I thought they were more like legs of tadpoles, but they sure were nicely
presented and delicious!
We ordered a nice bottle of Barolo, too...
Ceri skipped the main plate and went right for the cheese trolley...
Dessert?
Are you kidding?
La Posta is a bit "out of the way" and known mostly to
locals. It's a comfortable dining experience, with spacious dining rooms,
a calm, quiet ambience and friendly, gracious service.
The food is classic Piemontese cooking...not modern, artistic, fusion (or
confusion) cuisine.
The wine list is quite good and they have all the top producers featured.
You can find older vintages and more current bottlings and wines in a good range
of price.
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RISTORANTE (Albergo) VITTORIA
 Via
Roma 14
Tigliole d'Asti (about 10 minutes drive from Asti--40 minutes northwest of
Alba)
Tel: 011-39-0141-667713
Closed Sunday Night and Mondays
CLICK
HERE FOR THEIR WEB SITE
This is a wonderful, family-operated, fancy dining room and they
have some hotel rooms, as well. It's a place frequented rented for small
conventions, weddings and parties.
We dined there on a Saturday night and the place was busy, but with such
spacious dining rooms, quite comfortable.
Dinner began with a small "Amuse Bouche."
Stemware is good, as one might expect in a Michelin-starred restaurant (one star
since the late 1990s)...
Then they brought out an antipasto plate for everyone...
Then some pasta...
Plin...
Tajarin...
Our friends brought a bottle of Napa Cabernet they'd acquired in California a
year, or so, earlier, while on vacation.
A beef dish...quite intense and rich.
And then dessert.
And then some coffee...
Molto buono!
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Ristorante BREZZA (Hotel Barolo)
Via Lomondo 2
Barolo
Tel: 0173 560.026
-
CLICK
HERE FOR THEIR WEB SITE
- This is an old time, old-fashioned place in Barolo. The Brezza
family makes good wine, as well as running a hotel and restaurant.
-
Signor Brezza
We were there for a pre-set dinner with a group of
local winemakers...
The fellow sitting next to me was allergic to cheese and asked
to skip the Flan course...me too.
They graciously brought a lovely plate of "Carne Cruda," but not the
"hamburger" meat one typically finds...
Here's the Zucchini Flan, though:
There were "Plin" A-Plenty:
They selected a great main course to pair with the wonderful Barolo wines from
the various vintners in attendance.
I'm reasonably certain Aldo Vaira was not suggesting Maria
Teresa Mascarello buy some French oak barrels for her Barolo.
1986 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo.
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Ristorante MASSIMO CAMIA (former owner of Borgo
Antico)
Used to be in Barolo...now he's in La Morra (officially) but the
place is ina location near Castiglione Falletto and Barolo...
Click
here for their website
Tel: 0173 56355
Closed Tuesdays all day and Wednesday at lunch.
Closed for vacation in February and March and from the end of July through
mid-August.
Chef and owner Massimo Camia is busy in the kitchen preparing lovely
and elegant Piemontese cooking, while his wife, the charming Luciana, oversees the staff
in the upstairs dining room. The place is rather small, seating only about
40-50
people. Reservations are a good idea, since we've noticed a fair number of locals
dining here along with the tourists from overseas and elsewhere in Europe.
The new restaurant is located in a place own by the Damilano
winery, hence you'll find a good selection of Damilano's wines in the cellar.
The wine list is impressive...a Who's Who of Barolo, but with
some wines priced reasonably and others costing a bit of a premium.
There's quite a good spectrum of wines on the list and you can drink well for
small money or splurge a bit.
The dining room is bright and comfortable...quite nice, actually.
The menu is varied, but features local ingredients and Piemontese cooking with a
modern and light touch.
I have not been to their place in its new
location, but I've retained my original write up...I look forward to checking
out the new place, which friends who live in the Langhe say is really excellent.
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Ristorante La Ciau del Tornavento
Piazza Baracco, 7 in Treiso (near Barbaresco)
Tel. (0173) 638333 - 638352 - fax (0173) 638352
They now have a web site: http://www.laciaudeltornavento.it
Closed Wednesdays and Thursdays at lunch.
We were the guests of some friends at this place one lazy, warm day
near the harvest. Most of the diners were seated outside on the terrace overlooking
a number of hills and valleys of the Langhe. The menu was pre-arranged and the young
lady who was serving our table indicated she could also take care of the vegetarian in our
party. We had a terrific bottle of Dolcetto with a memorable lunch. The menu
was varied, including a risotto, "plin" (the pinched little stuffed pastas
common in Piemonte's Langhe) along with some sort of roasted bird. The
restaurant has been there a long time and has been under the same management for
more than a decade.
I was privileged to dine here at at large feast
organized by the local grower's association in May of 2007. The food was
good, but I will say it was very salty for my tastes...your mileage may vary.
Today many Langhe friends place this as the
Number 1 dining spot in the region.
The cellar is extensive and the food, they tell me, is exceptional.
Saffron Risotto and a nicely-oaked Barbaresco.
Cosciotto al Forno al Fieno
Cheeses...
Dessert...some sort of Panna Cotta gelato...fruit on a stick...
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LA PIOLA
Piazza Risorgimento 4
12051 Alba
Phone 0173--442800
Closed Sunday nights and Mondays and they closed from Mid-to Late December until
Late January.
CLICK
HERE FOR THEIR WEB SITE
Owned by the Ceretto family, famous producers of Albese wines, there is a
more fancy restaurant one level above this ground floor, informal osteria.
In warm weather, there are tables outside in a covered area.
A small group of us arrived one Spring afternoon and ordered a bottle of
Ceretto's Arneis, a rather commercial, lightly fizzy white wine.
The waiter, seeing seven of us, asked that we try to order the same plate for
everyone to make life easier for the kitchen. We had a range of antipasti
served family style and I think everyone opted for the Agnolotti which were
excellent.
This is one of those "good eats" places...informal, nicely done and
reasonably priced.
The Vitello Tonnato, a very typical Piemontese starter, was exceptional.
The Carne Cruda was also wonderfully prepared.
Agnolotti.
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OSTERIA e VINERIA IL TORCHIO
Via Croce 4
Dogliani
Tel: 347 984-8067 or 366 436-5793
Closed Mondays
- We were guests of a group of winemakers from the Dogliani area on a
Friday night. The place was rather busy and we had one of their
dining rooms to ourselves.
-
Antipasto, including the famous "Salsiccia di Bra."
-
-
- Here's a very typical plate and it was actually good partnered with
Dolcetto di Dogliani...
Acciughe al Bagnet Verde...
A cup of green sauce made with parsley, garlic, capers and oil...
The anchovies are not excessively salty and the green sauce is the
antidote (along with the Dolcetto)...
We then had a really lovely Risotto al Dolcetto di Dogliani...
I could not say whose Dolcetto they used in the kitchen...
We were offered a secondo if we wanted, but we too full after the
antipasti and the risotto...
-
-
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OSTU di DJUN
Via San Giuseppe 1
Castagnito
(15 minutes from Barbaresco...maybe 20 from Alba)
A
Link to a Video of this Local Dining Hot-Spot
Tel: (0173) 213600
Reservations advised...the place is packed with locals...not tourists!
This is one of those places frequented by the neighbors, but it's not a
restaurant catering to foreign tourists.
Candles and Playboy Magazines are displayed at the front door...
The tables are large, typically seating 6 to 10 people.
There's no menu...you'll sit down and someone, perhaps the owner, will come to
your table and ask what you'd like to drink. They have a few shelves with
magnum-sized bottles on display and they seemed happy to open any one we liked.
We were then told what antipasti they're serving that evening...
Of course, there's a basket of bread and grissini on the table.
The stemware is not fancy, but that's okay...
We began with Bel Colle's Pelaverga, a light, berryish red particular to
the town of Verduno.
Kids at a neighboring table...
Soon a sauté pan full of "plin" (Agnolotti) was brought to our
table...
At this stage, a third magnum was on our table...a nice Nebbiolo from the Negro
family...
And the proprietor, friendly with Massimo and Lara, now brought a pan of fresh tajarin.
It's "home cooking," basically.
I was seated near the wine display...and noticed a Castello di
Neive Barbaresco "Santo Stefano," a fairly fancy wine for this sort of
place.
There were a couple of different "secondi" available, so we had both!
The magnums of wine, by the way, are passed around the room, from table to
table...
Very informal and friendly.
And so it was time to check out another magnum, this one a Barolo from a small
Monforte d'Alba producer, Bricco Giubellini.
Another interesting facet of this place is Torrone (nougat) is
passed around with a couple of tools which are useful in breaking the block into
edible pieces.
And they have more "formal" desserts, too.
And, of course, there's coffee.
And the place was packed...
I suspect the prices are reasonable here...
I read recently the cost is 35 Euros per person which includes all the wine,
food, grappa, water, etc.
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We dined there with a group that had reserved a few tables...
The estaurant does have a number of wines available which are
included with the cost of dinner,
but this bottle was brought by some friends (who made the wine).
- VERDE RAME
- Via Sant' Andrea 3
Castiglione Tinella
Lunch Thursday to Monday
Dinner Wednesday to Monday
This place is located in Moscato country, so you need about 25-30 minutes by car
from Alba, driving in the direction of Asti.
We dined here on a very rainy evening in March. Our friends said
"This place is in the country, so they don't stay open as late as some of
the places in more populated areas like Alba."
The wine list features a good range of wines without
being encyclopedic.
It's a Mom & Pop restaurant with dad in the kitchen. Mom was able to
pick some wines for us and they tolerated our bringing an older bottle of a Napa
Valley Cabernet that is from a favorite winery which our friends enjoyed on
their visit to California.
We opted for the tasting menu...
The daughter of the owners was very friendly and she offered advice on the
dishes she likes that her dad prepares.
One of our party ordered the Gnocchi.
But the young lady told me her Pop makes really good "Plin,"
Agnolotti.
I took her advice.
Very good.
Arossto di Vitello al Vino Rosso
We brought a bottle of California Cabernet to surprise our
friends, who thoroughly enjoyed Dunn's 1999.
For dessert, a Semi-Freddo.
This is a comfortable place if you're in Moscato country.
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- IL CUNICOLO
- Via Filippo Burzio 32
Cunico
Tel: 0141-906 074
CLOSED!
:(
- We understand there were some
family issues which caused the closure of this place.
This is a small, family-operated place...rather informal.
Some friends had made a reservation on a Sunday afternoon and we arrived
to find this little place hosting a large, family gathering and a few
tables for 2 and 4.
Chef Livio
Revello, who's got a nice little cookbook, is the host.
Revello's son also is
involved in the place...here seen serving some bubbles to our friends.
After having a few sips
of Prosecco, we sat down at a table and enjoyed a leisurely Sunday afternoon
meal.
As you can see, stemware is not particularly fancy here...
Carne Cruda.
Assorted Salumi.
This plate was so
simple, yet SO good!
Tongue.
One of our party took a snapshot of some joker with a flute
wine glass on top of his pointed little head!
Chef Celestino served some sort of roast beef and then came out of the kitchen
with a platter of contorni (side dishes)...
A 1987 Dunn Howell Mountain from Napa...
Dessert...
...sweet wine...
...and more dessert.
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AGLI ARCHI
Corso Europa 29
Alba
tel: 0173 - 284313
Tues-Sun 7pm until 1am
Here's
a link to a website
 It was a
Saturday night and chaos reigned on the home-front with our friends, so we
ventured to the "big city" (which would be Alba in this
instance) and went to a pizzeria. The place was packed and it's
hardly "just" a pizza emporium. They have more than 20
different pizza combinations which are prepared out of view in the
kitchen...
- The wine list features many good producers of local wines and we opted for
a chilled bottle of Arneis (about 13 Euros) as their red wines are kept in
the dining room and are a bit warm. A few beers are available on tap,
but we chose to start with a sip of a local brew called Menabrea.
There's a display of antipasti in the middle of the dining area and
we opted for their "insalata" of polipo (octopus)
with fagioli (string beans in this case). This was about six
Euros and was exceptional! I was very pleasantly surprised,
frankly. There's quite an interesting menu here, so
As in most pizza places in Italy, a "pizza" is generally viewed
as a "single serving" size and everyone orders their own.
The pizza here was good, though the crust was more substantially crusty
than classic Naples-style pizza. In any case, this is a good place
and it's centrally located if you're on a Barolo-tasting excursion.
 
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L'ATELIER di Pierflavio GALLINA
http://www.gallina-atelier.it/
 I
received a card from this fellow and looked at his web site...he's an artists
with what appears to be a comfortable bed & breakfast in La Morra (south of
Alba, near the town of Barolo).
The place looks nice, comfortable and is sensibly-priced.
Gallina is a well-known artist and you can see some of his work on the web site.
If you stay there, would you kindly report back how you liked the place? I
did receive a note from an Alameda couple:
In the process of planning our recent trip to
Italy, I came across your "Touring in Piemonte" piece, which was very
helpful. We knew we wanted to spend at least a few days in this region, but
guidebooks are rather sparse in specifics. Followed up on the information about
L"Atelier Gallina and we stayed three nights there. Pierflavio and
Giuliana spent four years restoring an old farmhouse and the results are lovely.
With a mixture of excellent modern appointments and lovely antiques, it is very
comfortable and charming. Giuliana's English is very good and she was so very
welcoming and helpful. Pierflavio does not speak English but made a point each
morning to greet everyone before heading off to one of his galleries. He had an
exhibit at the Mondavi winery about 13 years ago and they both spent some time
visiting in the area. Thank you so much for this tip and we would certainly
recommend it to anyone traveling in the area. We were asked to send on a hello
from Giorgio at Felicin - another great recommendation!
Katherine and Hugh Cavanaugh
Alameda
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Ristorante Il Camino Delle Fate
19 Via Giuseppe Garibaldi in Romagnano Sesia (this is
well out of the Langhe near the town of Ghemme in northern Piemonte).
Tel: (0163) 833926
The food is not fancy here, but came highly recommended by a local winemaker.
We found the place to offer good vittles and nice wines for a reasonable price.
A nice little steak paired very handsomely with a barrique-aged Ghemme from the
Ioppa brother's winery.
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LA BRAJA
via San Giovanni Bosco 11
Montemagno 14030
Tel: (0141) 653 925
Web: CLICK HERE
Closed Mondays & Tuesdays
Closed 28th of December til the 20th of January
and the 23rd of July to August 20th (approximately)
The Michelin Guide gives them 3 crossed knives & forks and indicates a
meal runs between 40-60 Euros.
 If
you're in the area of Asti, this place is worthy of the drive. It's
all of three kilometers from Castagnole Monferrato, home of a curious and
delightfully obscure red wine called Ruchè.
It's a 45 minute ride from Alba and about a 25 minute ride from downtown
Asti.
I was struck by some art work I saw on a residence across the street from
the restaurant and I found out one of the owners, Antonio Palermino (who's
in the dining room with his son Christian) lives there. His
"art" work graces the various rooms of the restaurant.
-
Time for lunch according to the sun dial!
Antonio Palermo
Antonio's brother Giuseppe is the artist in the kitchen.
Antonio's son Christian is also an artist.
Christian Palermino, wine-grower Marco Crivelli and Antonio Palermino
Some of Crivelli's "art."
Carne Cruda and Crivelli's Grignolino d'Asti.
Asparagus with a Terrine
Truffle shavings were the highlight of this plate.
Antonio is certainly passionate about the wines and food they serve.
A plate of "tajarin" with asparagus, peas and carrots...
...and Crivelli's exceptional Ruchè wine.
We had a simple piece of beef for the main plate...
If you're still a bit hungry, the Palermino's feature an impressive cheese
trolley.
A palate-refreshing sorbet for dessert hit the spot!
Espresso and some sweet treats...
As we were departing, we thanked the chef for his artistry.
Giuseppe Palermino
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|
PIEMONTESE WINERIES
Piemonte is a fantastic region to visit if you're
a fan of good wine and good food.
While you will find some large producers, many of the top estates are
fairly small...almost "Mom & Pop" wineries.
Please contact them ahead of time and, if you secure an appointment,
please honor it by being on time. Don't schedule too many visits
in a day... |
PRODUTTORI DEL BARBARESCO
A reliable source of traditionally-made
Barbaresco...this winery is a bell-weather for Barbaresco wines.
They have a modest tasting room offering a few wines. |
Via Torino, 54
12050 Barbaresco |
CLICK
HERE FOR THE PRODUTTORI WEBSITE |
CANTINA DEL PINO
Just a few minutes from "downtown"
Barbaresco, winemaker Renato Vacca makes a nice range of red wines.
Very good quality and well-priced. |
Strada Ovello 31
12050 Barbaresco |
CLICK
HERE FOR RENATO VACCA'S WEBSITE |
VIRNA
Winemaker Virna Borgogno has a brand new cellar
along the lower road from Alba into Barolo next to that of Luciano
Sandrone. She makes good wines these days and is a rising star in
Barolo. The new cellar has a 'tasting bar'. |
Via Alba 73
12060 Barolo |
CLICK
HERE FOR VIRNA'S WEBSITE |
DAMILANO
An old producer but today being operated by a
'young' Damilano crew. They usually have the "open" sign
posted in front of the winery, but contact them to set up a visit. |
Via Roma 31
12060 Barolo |
DAMILANO'S
WEBSITE |
SANDRONE
One of the top estates for Barolo, Dolcetto and
Barbera...they're not set up to receive visitors, so please contact the
winery ahead of time. |
Via Pugnane 4
12060 Barolo |
SANDRONE'S
WEBSITE |
ELIO ALTARE
Elio Altare was one of the early
modernistas in Barolo. His daughter Silvia runs the place (and she
speaks perfect English!). We love their Dolcetto and Barbera
wines, here, too.
They may accept visitors, but don't count on it. |
Frazione Annunziata 51
La Morra |
ALTARE'S
WEB SITE |
G D VAJRA
The Vajra family makes some top wines, including a
benchmark Freisa (not the fizzy kind), a fine dry Riesling and
remarkable pinot Noir. Of course, Dolcetto, Nebbiolo, Barbera and
Moscato wines are of interest, too.
Well worth a visit. |
Via delle Viole 25
Frazione Vergne
12060 Barolo |
VAJRA'S
EB SITE |
MALVIRA
The Damonte brothers made some very fine Arneis
wines and some top Roero reds.
They also own and operate a delightful hotel with a fine restaurant. |
Case Sparse Canova 144
12043 Canale |
MALVIRA'S
WEBSITE |
COPPO
This family producer offers quite a range of
wines. Top Barberas, but also Chardonnay, bottle-fermented dry
sparkling wines, a Cab/Barbera blend and delicious fizzy
Brachetto. Be sure to arrange an appointment, though. |
Via Alba 68
14053 Canelli |
COPPO'S
WEBSITE |
E. PIRA
Chiara Boschis is making some delicious
wines, including Barolo, Dolcetto and a bit of Barbera.
|
Vittorio Veneto 1
12060 Barolo |
E.
PIRA'S WEBSITE |
CAVALLOTTO
One of our favorite Barolo producers, this
traditionalist estate is family operated. Please be sure to make
an appointment to visit. |
Via Alba-Monforte 48
Località Bricco Boschis
12060 Castiglione Falletto |
CAVALLOTTO'S
WEBSITE |
VIETTI
The new tasting room is ready and it has several
tables around which to taste. Modern styled ambience. Always
impressive wines. Please contact them ahead of
time regarding a visit...the web site has a special "contact"
page. Modern wines of high quality and intensity.
A change of ownership took place in 2016, but the Vietti
"families" (Currado and Cordero) remain in place. |
Piazza Vittorio Veneto 5
12060 Castiglione Falletto |
VIETTI'S
WEBSITE |
CA' VIOLA
Beppe Caviola not only makes his own wines, he
also does lab work and consulting services for dozens of good estates in
Italy (mostly Piemonte, but other areas as well).
The winery and lab moved to Dogliani (south of Monforte) and they also
have a small inn with several rooms. |
Borgata San Luigi 11
12063 Dogliani |
CAVIOLA'S
WEBSITE |
ANNA MARIA ABBONA
A small Dolcetto specialist near Dogliani...very
good wines. |
Frazione Moncucco 21
12060 Farigliano |
ANNA
MARIA'S WEB SITE |
AURELIO SETTIMO
A small Barolo estate near La Morra, the Settimo
family makes "ottimo" wines. Barolo is definitely
"old school" and these develop beautifully with a decade in
the bottle. |
Frazione Annunziata 30
12064 La Morra |
TIZIANA
SETTIMO'S WEB PAGES |
ODDERO
This family has significant holdings around the
Langhe and they make some exceptional wines. |
Frazione Santa Maria 28
12064 La Morra |
ODDERO'S
WEBSITE |
RENATO RATTI
Pietro Ratti runs this magnificent estate in La
Morra. His father was a major character in the recent history of
Barolo wines and Pietro continues to build upon his father's
legacy. He makes a wonderful range of good wines. |
Frazione Annunziata 7
12064 La Morra |
RATTI'S
INFORMATIVE WEBSITE |
REVELLO
A small estate with modern wines, the Revello
brothers also have four rooms for two along with an apartment for two
and another apartment for 4. Three night minimums... |
Frazione Annunziata 103
12064 La Morra |
The
REVELLO BROTHER'S |
ROCCHE COSTAMAGNA
Alessandro Locatelli produces a range of nice
wines. They have a tasting room just off the main parking area
in La Morra. They also have four apartments available for
rent. |
Via Vittorio Emanuele 8
12064 La Morra |
The
LOCATELLI'S WEBSITE |
GIANFRANCO ALESSANDRIA
A good source of Barolo, but also with top Langhe
Nebbiolo and the other usual suspects...a small estate of less than 6
hectares of vines. |
Località Manzoni 13
12065 Monforte d'Alba |
GIANFRANCO'S
WEB PAGES |
ELIO GRASSO
This property is a bit off the beaten path, but
it's well worth a visit. Grand Barolo wines along with a few
interesting surprises. They recently constructed a massive, modern
cellar. |
Località Ginestra 40
12065 Monforte d'Alba |
The
GRASSO FAMILY WEBSITE |
GIUSEPPE MASCARELLO
The Mascarello "kids" are now working in
the family business and continuing to make wonderfully traditional
wines. The cellar is a bit off the beaten path, but well worth a
visit. |
via Borgonuovo 108
12060 Monchiero |
THE
MASCARELLO WEBSITE |
CASTELLO DI NEIVE
This estate makes quite a range of wines...many
impressive bottles, including very fine Barbaresco (of course), but also
Albarossa (a new grape that's a cross of Barbera and Nebbiolo), Arneis,
Spumante and sometimes wonderful Pinot Nero. |
via Castelborgo 1
12057 Neive |
ITALO
STUPINO'S WEBSITE |
CASCINA VAL DEL PRETE
One of our favorite Roero producers, Mario Roagna
makes good Arneis, Barbera and Nebbiolo. It's a lovely, small
cellar, surrounded by vineyards... |
Strada Santuario 2
12040 Priocca |
MARIO
ROAGNA'S WEB PAGE |
ETTORE GERMANO
Sergio Germano makes a great range of wonderful
wines...even a top, Champenoise-styled Brut bubbly...but very fine
Barolo, too.
He and his lovely wife Elena have a few rooms for two at an agriturismo
not far from the cellar. |
Località Cerretta 1
12050 Serralunga |
SERGIO
GERMANO'S WEB SITE |
MASSOLINO-VIGNA RIONDA
Drive into Serralunga and you can't miss the
Massolino estate...they make some classic Barolo wines along with good
Dolcetto and Barbera...even a nice little Chardonnay! |
Piazza Cappellano 8
12050 Serralunga |
The
MASSOLINO BROTHER'S WEB SITE |
CERETTO
The Ceretto family has had its ups and downs, but
I think they're making some good wines these days. They own a
number of winemaking facilities, some for show and others for actual
winemaking.
They have regular tours and tasting hours, 7 days a week. |
Tenuta Monsordo Bernardina
Località San Cassiano 34 |
CLICK
HERE FOR THEIR WEB SITE |
DOMENICO CLERICO
This fellow was one of the pioneering
"modernistas." He passed away in 2017.
His wines are elegant and charming.
There's a newly-constructed cellar and a nice tasting room. |
Località Manzoni 22/A
12065 Monforte d'Alba |
CLERICO'S
WEB SITE |
GAJA
Gaja has typically been closed to the
public, but in 2014 they adopted a policy allowing private customers to
visit, whereas previously they only opened the door to trade members.
If you donate 300 Euros to one of their favorite charities, they will
open the door for you.
That's 300 per person, by the way. |
via Torino 18
12050 Barbaresco |
GAJA'S
WEB PAGE
GAJA'S
WINE TASTING REQUIREMENTS
LETTER
|
PELISSERO
Giorgio Pelissero has long been making really
fantastic Barbaresco wines, a couple of top Dolcetti and nice
Barbera. We do not carry his wines as the importer asks a
ridiculous ransom, but we mention him as his wines are stellar. |
via Ferrere 10
12050 Treiso |
GIORGIO
PELISSERO'S WEBSITE |
CASTELLO DI VERDUNO
This is the source of a very fine example of the
Verduno "specialty," Pelaverga. This wing of the
Burlotto family also makes good Barbaresco and Barolo wines. The
have several agriturismo rooms for rent along with an apartment in
Barbaresco and one in Verduno. |
Via Umberto I, 9
12060 Verduno |
CASTELLO
DI VERDUNO'S WEBSITE |
ANOTHER HELPFUL WEB SITE:
WINE PASS PIEMONTE
Lots of good information!
CLICK
HERE TO SEE THAT WEB SITE
THE TOWN OF LA MORRA:
La Morra has a valuable web site...including some itineraries for
hiking around the vineyards of Barolo!
CLICK
HERE TO SEE THEIR SITE
The La Morra site has good maps for
those wanting to hike through the vineyards.
Look for the link to "7 Paths" or "I 7 Sentieri."
BAROLO DI BAROLO
This web site also has some directions/instructions and maps of various
hiking trails.
CLICK
HERE TO SEE THAT WEB SITE
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