Barolo DOCG (“The King of Wines”)

Ritual

Gianni swears Barolo tastes best when the Langhe fog is so thick you can’t see your neighbor’s Vespa. He insists it pairs perfectly with existential dread and truffle risotto. This is not a wine you casually sip while scrolling your phone — it’s a bottle for milestones, dramatic gestures, or staring moodily into the mist like you’re in a Fellini film.

Trivia / Fun Facts

• Barolo must be aged at least 38 months, with 18 in oak.

• Made from Nebbiolo grapes, which are so tannic they could probably tan leather.

• Nicknamed the “King of Wines” — though Barbaresco insists it’s the Queen.

Pairings

• White truffle risotto (the ultimate Piedmont flex).

• Braised beef or game dishes.

• Long philosophical arguments about football vs. calcio.

Enology Note

Nebbiolo grapes are notoriously high in tannins and acidity. That’s why Barolo requires long aging — often a decade or more — to mellow into its signature mix of roses, tar, and red fruit. The fog (“nebbia”) that blankets the vineyards gave the grape its name, and the wine its mystique.