Barolo and Barbaresco

The King and Queen of Italian Wine

 

Following on the success of her books on Brunello di Montalcino, renowned author and wine critic Kerin O'Keefe takes readers on a historic and in-depth journey to discover Barolo and Barbaresco, two of Italy's most fascinating and storied wines. In this groundbreaking new book, O'Keefe gives a comprehensive overview of the stunning side-by-side growing areas of these two world-class wines that are separated only by the city of Alba and profiles a number of the fiercely individualistic winemakers who create structured yet elegant and complex wines of remarkable depth from Italy's most noble grape, Nebbiolo. A masterful narrator of the aristocratic origins of winemaking in this region, O'Keefe gives readers a clear picture of why Barolo is called both the King of Wines and the Wine of Kings. Profiles of key Barolo and Barbaresco villages include fascinating stories of the families, wine producers, and idiosyncratic personalities that have shaped the area and its wines and helped ignite the Quality Wine Revolution that eventually swept through all of Italy. The book also considers practical factors impacting winemaking in this region, including climate change, destructive use of harsh chemicals in the vineyards versus the gentler treatments used for centuries, the various schools of thought regarding vinification and aging, and expansion and zoning of vineyard areas. Readers will also appreciate a helpful vintage guide to Barolo and Barbaresco and a glossary of useful Italian wine terms. 

Review: "Barolo and Barbaresco is unique... Although it is thorough and traditionally organized for the most part, her selection of newer, less-known, up and coming producers adds a creative touch that you don't find in most wine books... O'Keefe's book is a tour de force, a magnificent, comprehensive tome that required loads of research." -- Ed McCarthy Wine Review Online "Fundamental by approach and inspiring by content. It will be useful for anybody with interest in Italian wines and is likely to become the first point of reference for those who geniunely love and appreciate great wines of Piedmont." SpazioVino "[A]n essential reference, with an invaluable level of both narrative and detail." -- Jon Bonne San Francisco Chronicle "In some ways, the greatness of Barolo and its sibling, Barbaresco, while long accepted, is only beginning to be understood. Partly, this is because clear and precise appellations, so integral to understanding Burgundy, are lacking for Barolo. It's left to consumers to research and understand the differences among the various sub-zones. One new resource that will be a great help is Kerin O'Keefe's authoritative 'Barolo and Barbaresco: The King and Queen of Italian Wine.'" -- Eric Asimov New York Times "O'Keefe's breezy, often enthusiastic prose, combines solid background information with personal appraisals of many producers. Kerin O'Keefe has written an informative work that will enlighten most readers to the beauty of these wines and the lofty goals of their producers. Barolo and Barbaresco brings the wines of kings and queens closer to an appreciative audience." -- Joel Butler MW International Wine Review "Essential and timely... Read the book. Pull some corks. And start plotting an itinerary for a visit to the region." -- Tyler Colman Dr. Vino "Anyone who loves the perfumes of Nebbiolo and the complexity and soulfulness of a mature bottle will enjoy this book." Wine Spectator "Ms. O'Keefe, who wrote a similar guide to Brunello di Montalcino in 2012, is thorough and authoritative. She is a critic in the best sense of the word, not shy with her opinions, which she offers without polemics or bluster. This book is not for novices; readers are expected to have an understanding of how wine is farmed and produced. But for those who have delved into Barolo and Barbaresco and want to know more about where the wines are made, the people who make them and the differences in terroirs, this book is inspiring and essential." - The Best Wine Books of 2014 -- Eric Asimov New York Times "Barolo and Barbaresco... had me reaching for words such as 'definitive' and even 'magisterial'. Don't let those rather pompous words put you off - it's a good read, too." - Books of the Year 2014 -- Henry Jeffreys The Independent "An accessible and informed orientation to two of Italy's greatest wines ... this book is a significant contribution to the English-language literature of Italian wine." -- K.L. Ames CHOICE "O'Keefe is a rare journalist who does the work to flesh out what 'sense of place' means. She goes out into the vineyards of the greatest wine region in Italy. Her hands and her boots are marked by the marl and the clay and the grasses. That dedication pours forth in her writing, which is neither ostentatious nor hesitant to focus on subtle-but-important differences of place." -- Evan Dawson Palate Press 

 

List of Illustrations Preface Introduction: Barolo and Barbaresco, the Pride of Piedmont PART ONE THE PLACE, THE GRAPE, THE HISTORY, AND THE WINE 1 The Ancient Origins of the Langhe Hills 2 Noble Nebbiolo 3 The King of Wines, the Wine of Kings 4 The Barolo Wars and Their Effect on Both Denominations 5 Expansion, Subzones, and the Future of Barolo and Barbaresco PART TWO PROFILES OF KEY BAROLO PRODUCERS BY VILLAGE 6 Barolo and Novello 7 Castiglione Falletto 8 Serralunga d'Alba 9 La Morra and Cherasco 10 Monforte d'Alba 11 Verduno, Grinzane Cavour, Roddi, and Diano d'Alba PART THREE PROFILES OF KEY BARBARESCO PRODUCERS BY VILLAGE 12 Barbaresco: From Domizio Cavazza to Subzones 13 (Village of) Barbaresco 14 Neive 15 Treiso and San Rocco Seno d'Elvio 16 Wineries in Alba and outside of Barolo/Barbaresco Villages Appendix A. Vintage Guide to Barolo and Barbaresco Appendix B. Barolo and Barbaresco at a Glance Notes Acknowledgments Glossary Bibliography Index