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First, to the Winery Visits and Tastings! ALL winery visits and Tastings in our area are done by appointment, arranged in advance. With VERY few exceptions, the wineries here do not have posted hours of operation or have staffed tasting rooms. Someone at the winery, almost always part of the wine making family and who most certainly wears multiple hats, makes a specific effort to receive and host you. It is considered quite rude to just show up, knock and ask to do a wine tasting. Why all tastings are done by appointment: The wine makers of our area produce two of the finest wines in the world, Barolo & Barbaresco. What you may not know is that each of them also produce a number of other varietals, specifically Dolcetto, Barbera, Nebbiolo bottled as Nebbiolo and a white such as Arneis, Favorita or Chardonnay along with the areas famous sparkler, Moscato. This is one of the things that makes our wine country so unique; the high concentration of family owned and operated vineyards & wineries, the small scale of their operations yet the high number of different varietals that each of them produce. As a result, particularly during the harvest and alcoholic fermentation stages, the producers are extremely busy for weeks, as each different varietal, starting with the white and then the Dolcetto, is harvested and fermented.
The following improved list of Producers and Wine Estates are particulary hospitable, make extraordinary wines and usually can arrange for an english speaker, often one of the younger members in the family, to host the tour and tasting. We know these folks and their wines, and know that they receive our guests with great warmth and enthusiasm. Our list is by no means exhausitve, or exclusive but gives you enough information to create a memorable and informative wine tasting adventure. The Producers and Wine Estates listed are organzied by village, which should be given consideration in your plans, as the terrior in each village is unique and gives it's particular characteristics to the wine.
PLEASE NOTE, that we are very happy to assist you with arranging winery appointments ONLY once you have arrived here in the hotel and only for the duration of your stay with us. We are unfortunately unable, for a variety of reasons including respecting local Producer's wishes, to book winery visits in advance of your arrival. We continue to be dedicated, however, to opening up the Piemontese wine world to our guests so we have put lots of information here on our website to allow you to make winery reservations on your own, while you are planning your trip. We have recently improved and added information to our site and will continue to do so. One of our missions will continue to be to help you realize your wine tasting dreams and encourage you to contact us for any further information you might need to book on your own. Particularly for the most famous winemakers, you will actually have a much better chance of getting that coveted appointment if you respect their wishes to contact them in advance to request a visit.
VERY IMPORTANT is to know that during the Harvest period, Producers are particulary busy for the peculiar reasons described above, and ask for at least 24 hour advance notice for requests for visits. They have told us 2 to 3 days advance request are preferable. Same day appointments are very difficult for us to request and we prefer to respect the requests of the Producers for advance bookings during the Harvest period. The best months for getting in to wineries that may be on your priority list will be March, April, May, June, July, November & December because ALL of the winemakers are more available since it is NOT harvest time! And the absolute best time for Truffles is November & December - demand is down as the Truffle fair is over and supply is at it's height! One last plug for November & December: although temperatures are a little chillier, they are usually drier months than October. The Barolo wine area is very new to tourism and still a very authentic place where you will experience life and winemaking as it really is and where true hospitiality and mutual respect form the backbone of daily life. We are sure that is exactly what you are coming to experience!
BAROLO DOCG For all of the wineries below dial 011 39 (country code for Italy) first, then the number listed below. We recommend email for those Producers who list an email address. And finally, a good old fashioned letter, sent via Postal mail has been known to do the trick!
Rivetto - Bricco del Gallo, 1 SINIO - GRINZANE CAVOUR
La Spinetta - via Diano D'Alba, 17 SERRALUNGA
Ettore Germano - Loc. Cerretta, 1
Paolo Manzone - Loc. Meriame, 1
Vigna Rionda Massolino - Piazza Cappellano, 8 CASTIGLIONE FALLETTO
Vietti -Piazza Vittorio Veneto, 5
F.lli Cavollotto - Loc. Briccho Boschis
Paolo Scavino - Fraz. Garbelletto, 59 Azelia - Fraz. Garbelletto, 53 0173 62859
Brovia - Via Alba - Barolo, 54
Elio Grasso - Loc. Ginestra, 40
Podere Ruggeri Corsini - Loc. Bussia Corsini, 106
F.lli Seghesio - LOc. Castelletto, 19
Conterno Fantino - via Ginestra, 34
Giacomo Conterno -Loc. Ornati, 2
Domenico Clerico, Loc. Manzoni, 67
Aldo Conterno - Loc. Bussia, 48
Attilio Ghisolfi - Loc. Bussia, 27
0173 78345 www.ghisolfi.com
Armando Parusso - Loc. Bussia, 55
LA MORRA
Silvio Grasso - Fraz. Annunziata, Cascina Luciani, 112
Mauro Molino - Fraz. Annunziata, B.Ta. Gancia, 111
Renato Ratti - Fraz. Annunziata, 7
Elio Altare - Fraz. Annunziata, Cascina Nuova, 51
0173 50835 www.50835
Oddero - Fraz. Santa Maria via Tetti, 28
Gianni Voerzio - S.da Loreto, 1
Enzo Boglietti - via Roma, 37
BAROLO
Giacomo Borgogno & F.lli - via Gioberti, 1
E.Pira Chiara Boschis - via Vittorio Veneto, 1
G.D Vajra - Loc. Vergne, via delle Viole, 25
Luciano Sandrone - via Pugnane, 4
Bartolo Mascarello -via Roma, 15
Marchesi di Barolo - via Alba, 12
NEIVE
Collina Serragrilli - Loc. Serragrilli, 30
BARBARESCO
Treiso
Rizzi - via Rizzi, 15
0173 638161 www.cantinarizzi.it
HISTORIC MEDIEVAL WINE VILLAGES - visits to all a MUST!
There is such a wealth of wine right in our immediate area, defined as Le Langhe, or specifically the Barolo DOCG and the Barbaresco DOCG, that you could stay busy and stimulated for days. The landscapes right here in our hills are some of the most spectacular in all of Italy. I am from Tuscany originally, and as a result I am pretty biased towards the Chianti area... but I remember the first time I gazed across these vistas: I declared it more beautiful than even the Chianti. I still believe it is. The wines and food are better too!
If you are to understand the wines of the area, you must visit the individual villages from which the wines are born. The soil compositions & micro climates are different from village to village and they impart their particular characteristics to the wines. These are hallowed grounds; Not visiting the villages would be like going to Burgundy and not visiting Chassagne Montrachet or Escheveaux!
Another excellent way to get to know the area and it's wines, is to visit Enoteche (Enoteca in the singular). An Enoteca is a regional or community wine tasting room/wine shop that features the immediate areas wines and producers. They are housed in castles, old churches or other beautiful, historical buildings and are in some of the most important villages. A fabulous day would be spent touring the Enoteche, from Barolo to La Morra, to Diano d'Alba to Barbaresco. An extra bonus is that they are open on Sundays too - a day producers are not!! We have great maps and directions at the hotel.
We also recommend at least a drive through a nearby district called the ROERO, which makes excellent wines as well, most notably Barbera & Nebbiolo, though they can not make Barolo or Barbaresco. For those staying multiple days we enthusiastically recommend a drive through the Roero, also notable for it's many castle's.
You may also want to consider going even farther afield and venturing out to even more far-flung wine districts like the Monferrato and Gavi.
Anywhere in the world where you find fine wine, you will enjoy fine cuisine to match. Think of Bordeaux or Burgundy in France. Think of Napa Valley in California. Now think of Barolo or Babaresco and you will get an idea of the gastronomic experience waiting for you here. The number of restaurants and the quality, tradition and creativity of the cuisine they offer is world class. We definitely encourage you to dine in our restaurant as well as to sample the many fine restaurants within a few mintues of the hotel.
RESTAURANTS IN OUR AREA OPERATE BY RESERVATION - therefore, it is always advisable, if not down right necessary, to make reservations! To assist you with planning your gastronomic adventure we are pleased to share with you some of our favorite restaurants and phone numbers. Our Insider's List to the Restaurants of Le Langhe goes far beyond the guide books and are our personal favorites. Our recommendations are based on multiple visits and represent the spectrum of cuisine in our area, from the most humble to the most up scale.
During the Truffle Festival (mid September to first week of November) we highly advise that you book restaurants IN ADVANCE as the area is extremely busy and all the better restaurants full book up and early!!
We want to assist you with making restaurant reservations during your planning and before beginning your trip, so below you will find a very complete list of nearby restaurants. All of the restaurants do have the capability to take a reservation in English, Italian style of course!! Enjoy!
To Reserve at these Nearby Area Restaurants DIAL 39 first for the country code, then dial the area code (0173) and number:
MICHELIN 1 STAR
Antine' in Barbaresco tel: 0173 635-294 (closed wed)
Vecchia Tre Stelle in Tre Stelle near Barbaresco tel: 0173 638-192 (closed tues)
Locanda nel Borgo Antico outside Barolo tel: 0173 56355 (closed tues lunch/wed)
Locanda del Pilone in Madonna del Como outside Alba tel: 0173 366-616 (closed tues/wed)
Guido in Pollenzo tel: 0173 458-422 (closed sun/mon)
Il Duomo in Alba tel 0173 442-800 (closed sun dinner/mon)
Cucina creativa as they say in Italian, pretty cool, sometimes a bit precious, pink minimalist room.
UP SCALE RESTAURANTS
La Coccinella in Serravalle Langhe tel: 0173 748-220 (closed tues/wed lunch)
Trattoria Della Posta outside Monforte D'Alba tel:0173 78120 (closed thur/fri lunch)
Da Cesare in Albaretto della Torre tel: 0173 520-141 (closed tues/wed)
Da Felicin in Monforte D'Alba tel: 0173 78225 (closed sun dinner/mon)
Vignaiolo in Santa Maria (La Morra) tel: 0173 50335 (closed wed/thur)
Ciau al Tournavento in Treiso tel: 0173 638-352 (closed wed/thurs lunch)
La Luna nel Pozzo in Neive tel: 0173 67098 (closed tues dinner/wed)
Osteria del Arco in Alba center, Piazza Savona tel: 0173 63974 (closed sun/ mon)
Enoclub in Alba, Piazza Savona tel: 0173 33994 (closed sun dinner/mon) Well done refined tipical, downstairs dining room, brick vaulted ceilings.
Belvedere in La Morra tel: 0173 50190 (closed sun dinner/mon)
Osteria Veglio in Annunziata (La Morra) tel: 0173 509-341 (closed tues/wed lunch)
Trattoria Bivio in Albaretto della Torre tel: 0173 520-383 (closed tues)
MORE CASUAL RESTAURANTS
Osteria Veglio in Annunziata (La Morra) tel: 0173 509-341 (closed tues/wed lunch)
Trattoria Bivio in Albaretto della Torre tel: 0173 520-383 (closed tues)
La CantiNella in Barolo, Piazza del Castello tel: 0173 56267 (closed mon dinner/tues)
La Libera in Alba center, via Pertinace tel: 0173 293-155 (closed sun/mon)
Trattoria del Castello in Grinzane Cavour tel: 0173 262-172,(closed tues).
Le Torri Ristorante in Castiglione Falletto tel: 0173 62849 (closed tues/wed for lunch).
SIMPLER RESTAURANTS
Piola in Alba historical center Piazza Doumo tel: 0173 442-800 (closed sun dinner/mon)
Ca' del Lupo in Montelupo Albese tel: 0173 617-276 (closed wed lunch/sun)
Cascina Schiavenza in Serralunga tel: 0173 613-115 (closed sun dinner/tues)
La Rosa dei Vini in Serralunga tel: 0173 613-219 (closed wed)
Whether you are just beginning to explore the world of fine wines or are already a serious collector, our series of fun & extremely informative WINE SEMINARS this year are an excellent way to very personally get to know the area, the wines, the producers and one of the most notable italian wine authorities!
Each month, Kerin O'Keefe, Italian wine authority and writer for prestigious wine magazines such as Decanter, Wine News and The World of Fine Wines, will lead a two day tour and tastings that includes dinner one on one the first night with Kerin, a class on the areas wines with handouts & materials provided by Kerin, along with detailed informaton on how to conduct a professional level wine examination.
The second day, Kerin will personally lead you on a series of wine tastings at prestigious wineries, with the producers, that would be near impossible to visit on your own! The day includes lunch, transportation and ends with a winemaker tasting dinner with an extremely well regarded and famous producer. The winemaker dinner alone, with Kerin there to add her insightful point of view, is an event you will not want to miss!
Each month's itinerary will be available approximately the month before but suffice it to say she has entry to wineries and relationships with producers that wine tour operators simply could not. Her very special tour & tastings will balance traditional producers against modernists and the most famous estates with a couple of her personal finds.
Dates for Kerin's seminars are March 14 & 15, April 11 & 12, May 16 & 17, June 13 & 14, July 12 & 13, September 12 & 13. October 17 & 18, November 14 & 15 and December 12 & 13. The all inclusive cost is 995 Euro per person double occupancy, for 6 people or more in the seminar, including superior level (executive) accommodations for the 2 nights. The cost for the tour with less than 6 people will be slightly higher. Incidentals are extra and there will be an extra charge for upgraded rooms should you prefer a Suite or Junior Suite.
Design by Denise Pardini
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Hotel Castello di Sinio is located right in the heart of the Barolo and Barbaresco wine producing areas. The area is called Le Langhe and it is home to about 750 wineries that produce 2 of the 10 most important wines in the world. We are locaed within 5 to 10 minutes of all the major Barolo producers and within about 20 minutes of all the major Barbaresco producers. If you are interested in wine you'll want to learn more about Barolos and Barbarescos and visiting our area is the best way to do it. If you already know and love Barolos or Barbarescos, a wine tasting visit to Le Langhe will deepen your appreciation and enhance your wine buying and drinking experience.
INSIDER'S GUIDE TO BAROLO & BARBARESCO WINERIES IN LE LANGHE ,
SINIO - SERRALUNGA
MONFORTE
Mauro Veglio - Fraz. Annunziata, Cascina Nuova, 50
Ca' Rome' Romano Marengo - via Rabaja, 86/88
ENOTECA - Regional & Communal Enotecas offer tastings & tours
Kerin's charming and unpretentious personality, her deep love and knowledge of the area, as well as her close relationships with the Barolo & Barbaresco producers, offer a very special behind the scenes experience, usually reserved for the trade. This unique opportunity is very different than the normal wine tour.