Massolino

For more than a century, the Vigna Rionda-Massolino Winery has been making a name for itself by producing spicy, aromatic Barolos. In the Barolo region of Piedmont, this fantastic family-run winery was founded in 1896 and is now run by three generations of the family, including winemakers Franco and Roberto Massolino. In the beautiful wine hamlet of Serralunga d’Alba, the small estate is divided into four vineyards that have only 18 hectares of planted vineyards among them. Yet from this modest land holding come nearly a dozen pampered, boutique wines. The vineyards’ views from the winery are fantastic, a patchwork of colors in autumn (the best time to go wine touring in the Piedmont region).

Massolino’s best-known wine is its Classic Barolo; in production since 1911, this entry-level yet consistently excellent brew is a blend of grapes from several different vineyards. After generations of production, it’s still the winery’s best-known wine. Made with Nebbiolo grapes grown in different subzones, the wine reflects the terroir’s broad and variable spectrum of perfumes, ranging from the classic spicy notes to those of a sweeter, floral, and fruity nature.

The more exclusive wines originate in the winery’s three cru vineyards: Margheria, Parafada, and Vigna Rionda. These small one- to two-hectare vineyards are the birthplace of the highly respected wines Barolo Margheria, Barolo Parafada, and Vigna Rionda Riserva. Each is a complex blend with great aging potential. The Margheria vineyard is one of the most important and famous cru vineyards of Serralunga, purchased by the Estate towards the end of the Fifties. The soil is calcareous with a good percentage of sand, adding elegance, mineral, and spicy notes to the wine. Nearby is the marly-lime-soiled Parafada vineyard, where wine with a rich berry, leather, and vanilla notes originates. With a similar marly lime soil, the vineyard situated in Vigna Rionda produces an important, potent wine suitable for long aging.