Elio Grasso

Barolo

Revered as the "king of wines" and the "wine of kings," Barolo is one of Italy's top red wines. Don't let its pale color fool you—a good Barolo packs a serious punch. Barolo is made from Nebbiolo, a grape that is famously complex, with a love-it-or-hate-it potpourri aroma often described as "tar and roses." As well as these savory and floral notes, other flavors you might find in your glass include red cherry, star anise and leather. While there are a lot of good Nebbiolo wines made in Piedmont, to gain the name "Barolo" a wine must come from the Barolo region. The wine also needs to spend 40 months aging before release, with at least 18 of those months spent in oak barrels. The DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) classification is the top tier for Italian wine classifications. It controls production methods and wine quality. Strict rules oversee the production of DOCG designated wines, including allowed varietals, winemaking procedures, barrel and bottle aging methods, grape ripeness and limits on grape yields during harvest. DOCG wines are also required to be officially tasted. DOCG bottles have numbered government seals across the neck of the bottle to prevent forgery.