Vietti, Barbera d'Alba 'Scarrone' 2020

If there were an Italian wine hall of fame, Vietti would be an obvious inductee. In Barolo, they were one of the first producers to do single vineyard bottlings. At the time, Barolo wasn’t considered one of the great wine regions so this seemed like a romantic endeavor. Today, these wines are some of the most collectible and cellar worthy wines in Italy. There are eras of experimentation creating wines of different styles. From the early 60s until the 80s they produced certain wines which are no longer made today. You’ll find obscure wines from grapes such as pelaverga and freisa. In the 80s, there was a heroic run of years with ‘82, ‘85, ‘88, and ‘89 being the best. Post 1990, they made wines which were better suited for earlier consumption. Beginning around 2010 and under the direction of the founder's son, Luca Currado, the wines are some of the most elegant and nuanced wines both the winery and Barolo has produced.

Pronounced (Vee-Et-Tee)

Scaronne is a single vineyard in Barolo. Vietti grows barbera, the lighter and juicier variety here which is not normally planted in such a prime location. This is a bit like a cashmere hoodie, using amazing material for a casual thing. It tastes like cranberry, raspberry jam, and a bunch of herbs. It pairs well with pizza, pasta, and even as a red wine to drink with seafood.