Castello di Verduno, Verduno

When you step into the cantina of Castello di Verduno, you're transported back to the 15th century – a time when this very castle served as the residence of the King of Italy. It's here, in the birthplace of the Barolo wine, that the legacy of "the king of wines and the wine of kings" truly began.

During the reign of King Carlo Alberto, the castle's cellar was entrusted to the renowned oenologist Carlo Staglieno, who, with great care and skill, produced the first dry, tannic Barolo. Before Staglieno's innovations, Barolo was better known as a sweet, sparkling red wine, as described by Thomas Jefferson as "almost as gentle as the Bordeaux, and as lively as Champagne."

Today, the Burlotto family, with Mario Andrion as their oenologist, safeguards the Castello di Verduno legacy. Committed to organic viticulture and traditional winemaking techniques, the team crafts wines that are anything but rustic. Native yeasts are used for fermentation, while minimal sulfur is employed to preserve the pure essence of the Piemonte terroir.

Long macerations and the use of large, old barrels are hallmarks of the top Castello di Verduno wines, while the varietal bottlings showcase their vibrant character through stainless steel aging. The result is a portfolio of poised, elegant wines that seamlessly capture the heart and soul of this historic estate.