F.lli Alessandria

In recent years, the Barolo village of Verduno has become a magnet for Nebbiolo (& Pinot Nero!) appassionati! Once regarded as being a marginal Barolo comune (seat) on account of its small size, when compared to the big three originals: Serralunga d’Alba, Castiglione Falletto & Barolo (each with 100% of Nebbiolo da Barolo vineyards within the comune boundaries), perhaps it’s thanks to Verduno’s very size, its prettiness & sleepiness, its unassuming & gentle residents, low contours that seem an extension of the Roero into the Langhe, & (surprise, surprise) the charmingly soft, perfumed, Pinot-esque Barolos epitomised by the great Monvigliero vineyard, that has seen it now become something of a ‘mecca’.

The Alessandria (& Burlotto) family are central to Verduno, just as ‘Conterno’ is to Monforte, Canale to Serralunga, Mascarello to La Morra, Borgogno in Barolo etc…. The current 5^th generation of F.lli Alessandria: Vittore (from 2001), along with his uncle Ale (from 2000), father Gian-Battista & mother Flavia (a most welcome incomer from Monforte!) starting making prized wine back in the 18^th century, but it’s this family team, supported by Tiziana in the ufficio, that has been turning heads of late.

Much credit to Ale (Alessandria), who tends the 14ha of vines, often on his Lamborghini caterpillar tractor, while Vittore faffs about in the cantina. These past years they’ve been investing in new botti, “paying more attention (esp. the vineyard)” as Vitto says, & focusing on autochthonous grapes.

1978 was the first release (in the village) of their Barolo Monvigliero – the label identical to that of today.

2001 saw the first release of their Barolo Gramolere, from Flavia (Manzone)’s prime old vine plot high up on dark sandstone over tufo soils that face pure west.

In vintage 2015 their San Lorenzo di Verduno made a welcome return as a single vineyard Barolo, having been first made in 1997, but then in 2014 its yields were so low that it was blended into the family’s classic Barolo.

From 2017 the young vine fruit from their Gramolere vyd has grown up, & will no longer be blended into their classic Barolo, so this becomes their first (& the village’s debut) Barolo del comune di Verduno!