Luciano Sandrone

This Dolcetto comes from the gently sloping, gravelly and limestone-rich plots around Barolo, and has always been regarded by Sandrone as a wine with a character all of its own. Hand-harvested at the end of September, with spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel and gentle ageing in neutral oak, this wine preserves the varietal character whilst imparting structure. In the glass, it displays a clear, luminous purple colour with violet highlights. The bouquet is as inviting as it is precise: black cherry, blackberry and plum, complemented by violet blossoms, almonds and a hint of graphite. On the palate, it displays a harmonious blend of juicy fruit, finely integrated acidity and ripe, slightly firm tannins. The medium-length finish carries mineral notes and a hint of herbal spice. A Dolcetto with substance and nobility, which brings the estate's philosophy – clarity, balance and elegance – to life even in what is supposedly the simplest of grape varieties. SUPERIORE.DE

Only indigenous grape varieties from the finest sites in Barolo – that is the foundation of the Sandrone philosophy. For Dolcetto, this means eleven plots on the highest hills, from Rivassi in Barolo to Ravera in Novello, on white, chalky soil on challenging slopes, often at altitudes of 350 to 400 metres and above. The summer of 2025 brings two heatwaves, the second with temperatures approaching 40 degrees, yet the vines survive August thanks to water reserves in deep soil layers. Harvest takes place from 4 to 9 September. Each plot ferments separately, undergoing spontaneous fermentation with natural yeasts in open stainless-steel tanks; only the best batches are blended to make the wine. Malolactic fermentation and ageing take place in stainless steel, after which the wine rests in the bottle for three months.

When Luciano Sandrone bought his first vineyard in Cannubi Boschis in 1977 – financed with all his savings – and vinified the first bottle in his parents' garage a year later, nobody could have guessed that this humble beginning would grow into one of Barolo's most iconic wineries. After his death in 2024, daughter Barbara, brother Luca as Oenologist and wife Mariuccia continue the legacy today: 27 hectares between Langa and Roero, six wines of uncompromising quality that combine tradition and modernity in equal measure. The Barbera d'Alba, vinified from grapes from various plots in Monforte d'Alba and Novello, is more than just an accompanying wine – it is a statement that Sandrone devotes the same attention to each grape variety as he does to his legendary Barolo.

Sandrone's story began in the 1970s in the family garage, and to this day the family's motto remains: family first, business second. The Barbera grapes are grown across seven vineyards in the hills of Barolo, including Cascina Pe Mol in Monforte d'Alba and Ravera in Novello, on compact marl, each with its own microclimate. The 2024 vintage demanded careful attention: a wet spring, a cool, rainy September, grapes that needed thinning, and a hand-picked harvest from 24 to 30 September. Each vineyard plot is fermented separately, spontaneously in open stainless-steel tanks; the wine is then aged for 15 months inLiters French oakLiters, a good proportion of which are new, and for nine months in the bottle.

When Luciano and Luca Sandrone first laid eyes on the concave hillside of Valmaggiore in the 1990s, it was love at first sight. It was not just the history that captivated them – in the 19th century, the Nebbiolo grapes from this vineyard dictated the price for the entire region – but above all the unique combination of sandy soils and the microclimate of this natural amphitheatre. In Vezza d'Alba, on the left bank of the Tanaro in the Roero, lies this south-facing single vineyard with extremely steep slopes, where soft sandy soils lend the Nebbiolo that finesse and elegance for which the Roero region is famous.

Around twenty kilometres from Barolo, on the left bank of the Tanaro, a natural amphitheatre opens up near Vezza d'Alba: steep south-facing slopes, bathed in sunshine, with soft, sandy soil. The Roero is a good ten million years younger than the Langa; on the other side of the river lies firmer marl. When rain characterised both spring and September in the 2024 vintage, the soil allowed the water to drain away quickly. Sandrone has been bottling this Nebbiolo since 1994. It ferments spontaneously in open stainless-steel tanks, matures in LitersFrench oak tonneaux and rests in the bottle for nine months before leaving the winery.

Sibi et paucis – "for oneself and a select few". Under this Latin motto, the Sandrone family sets aside a small portion of its Nebbiolo production each year to be aged in the perfect conditions of its own wine cellar. The Valmaggiore is given four years' additional ageing beyond the regular release – time that allows the Nebbiolo from the Roero to develop in a way that requires nothing but patience.

Vinified from selected, south to south-west-facing plots in the heart of the Langhe, this Barbera exemplifies Sandrone's understanding of balance between varietal expression and elegance. The 2022 vintage, characterised by warm, dry summer months and cool nights, yielded fully ripe harvestwith concentrated aromas and fresh acidity. The short maturation in used wooden barrels rounds off the texture without overpowering the varietal freshness.

When Luciano Sandrone bought his first vineyard in Cannubi Boschis in 1977 – financed with all his savings – and vinified the first bottle in his parents' garage a year later, nobody could have guessed that this humble beginning would grow into one of Barolo's most iconic wineries. After his death in 2024, daughter Barbara, brother Luca as Oenologist and wife Mariuccia continue the legacy today: 27 hectares between Langa and Roero, six wines of uncompromising quality that combine tradition and modernity in equal measure. The Barbera d'Alba, vinified from grapes from various plots in Monforte d'Alba and Novello, is more than just an accompanying wine – it is a statement that Sandrone devotes the same attention to each grape variety as he does to his legendary Barolo.

This Nebbiolo comes from one of the best vineyards in the Roero and is vinified by Luciano Sandrone with the same care as a Barolo. Brilliant ruby-garnet colour. Wonderful aroma of light red fruit, mainly raspberry and cherry. Earthy on the palate with a lovely strawberry touch and an incredible amount of elegance. The fine-grained tannin is wonderfully integrated and, together with a subtle minerality, gives this Nebbiolo a race, depth and finesse that is unrivalled. SUPERIORE.DE

The grapes for the profound Le Vigne come from Baudana in Serralunga d'Alba (for the power), Villero in Castiglione Falletto (for the precision), Vignane in Barolo (for the purity of the flavours) and Merli in Novello (for the fullness of the fruit). It opens wide with aromas of fresh red fruit and a delicate spicy note. Very intense on the palate, remarkably elegant, fine-grained tannins, extremely clear, structured and long. SUPERIORE.DE

Sibi et paucis – "for oneself and a select few". Under this Latin motto, the Sandrone family sets aside a small portion of its Nebbiolo production each year to be aged in the perfect conditions of its own wine cellar. The Valmaggiore is given four years' additional ageing beyond the regular release – time that allows the Nebbiolo from the Roero to develop in a way that requires nothing but patience.

Since the 1990 vintage, Sandrone has been blending Nebbiolo from several vineyards, an ancient local art that is gradually gaining ground here. It began with Vignane in Barolo and Merli in Novello, followed in 2010 by Baudana in Serralunga d'Alba, in 2011 by Villero in Castiglione Falletto, and in 2019 Le Coste di Monforte in Monforte d'Alba completed the project. Each vineyard is harvested and fermented separately, spontaneously with natural yeasts in open stainless-steel tanks; ageing in LitersFrench oak barrels also takes place separately, and it is only at the very end that the batches are blended together – this is the concept behind Le Vigne. The wine is then left to rest in the bottle for 18 months. The 2022 vintage produced slightly smaller grapes than usual, healthy and well-balanced, following a dry autumn, snow in early December and heavy spring rain. The harvest took place from 26 September to 6 October, around two weeks earlier than usual.

"This is our flagship wine, a Barolo recognised the world over, which we have always nourished and cared for with greatest respect. Nothing will change. This is why I will dedicate this special wine to my grandchildren Alessia and Stefano. From now on, it will carry their names." Luciano Sandrone on his intention to rename his world-famous Barolo Cannubi Boschis "Aleste" with the 2013 vintage. This Barolo is a masterpiece from Luciano Sandrone in every respect. Not only a historic product but also the only cru of the house from the renowned Cannubi area in Barolo. Rich ruby colour, balsamic bouquet, ripe and sweet. Great suppleness on the palate, lots of fruit, dense tannins, very persistent final with Burgundian elegance. SUPERIORE.DE

Since the 2013 vintage, Luciano Sandrone's grandchildren have had their names featured on the label: ALESTE, a combination of Alessia and Stefano. The wine itself is older. As Barolo Cannubi Boschis, it was Luciano Sandrone's first wine, with the inaugural vintage dating from 1985. The vineyard is situated in the village of Barolo on a south-east-facing section of the Cannubi hill, at an altitude of 250 metres, in moderately compact marl soil. In the cellar, the must ferments spontaneously with natural yeasts in open stainless-steel tanks; malolactic fermentation and ageing follow in LitersFrench oak tonneaux, with 18 months' bottle ageing before release. The 2022 vintage is characterised by resilience: a dry autumn, early snow in December, 70 to 80 millimetres of rain within a few days in spring, followed by warm, dry weather with cool nights. The harvest took place around two weeks earlier than usual.

The grapes for the profound Le Vigne come from Baudana in Serralunga d'Alba (for the power), Villero in Castiglione Falletto (for the precision), Vignane in Barolo (for the purity of the flavours) and Merli in Novello (for the fullness of the fruit). It opens wide with aromas of fresh red fruit and a delicate spicy note. Very intense on the palate, remarkably elegant, fine-grained tannins, extremely clear, structured and long. SUPERIORE.DE

Some wines have to fight for their recognition over years, while others are in the limelight from birth. For a long time, Barolo Le Vigne was the "second" Barolo in the Sandrone family, standing in the shadow of the iconic Cannubi Boschi – until connoisseurs and critics gradually realised that there was no hierarchy here, but rather equality. Today, after more than three decades since the first vintage in 1990, Le Vigne is no longer a complement to Aleste, but its congenial partner – a wine that perfects the ancient Piedmontese art of blending several vineyard sites and increasingly holds a candle to Aleste.

"This is our flagship wine, a Barolo recognised the world over, which we have always nourished and cared for with greatest respect. Nothing will change. This is why I will dedicate this special wine to my grandchildren Alessia and Stefano. From now on, it will carry their names." Luciano Sandrone on his intention to rename his world-famous Barolo Cannubi Boschis "Aleste" with the 2013 vintage. This Barolo is a masterpiece from Luciano Sandrone in every respect. Not only a historic product but also the only cru of the house from the renowned Cannubi area in Barolo. Rich ruby colour, balsamic bouquet, ripe and sweet. Great suppleness on the palate, lots of fruit, dense tannins, very persistent final with Burgundian elegance. SUPERIORE.DE

There are wines that define a family across generations, and there are those moments when a winemaker gives his life's work a name that connects the past and the future. When Luciano Sandrone decided to rename his legendary Barolo Cannubi Boschis in 2013, he did not choose just any name, but created an acronym from the first names of his grandchildren: ALEssia and STEfano. ALESTE – a word that embodies experience, continuity and the hope that what he started in 1985 with the first bottle of Cannubi Boschis will continue in the hands of the next generation. Cannubi Boschis, the sub-vineyard at the heart of the mythical Cannubi vineyard of Barolo, is the vineyard in which Luciano invested all his savings in 1977 – directly opposite the winery, on a hill whose potential he recognised from the very first moment. Here, on optimal soils in a sheltered, sun-drenched location, Nebbiolo grows into the combination of power and finesse that has made Cannubi famous worldwide.

The "sibi et paucis" project is Sandrone's answer to the question of what time does to a great Nebbiolo. Whilst other wines are released onto the market once they have reached the prescribed maturity, Sandrone keeps a portion of his Barolo in his own cellar for six years longer – not out of reluctance, but out of the conviction that Nebbiolo only reveals its true character after years of quiet evolution.

Sibi et paucis – for the few who understand that great wines are not in a hurry. Sandrone retains around 10 per cent of the production from each Aleste vintage and allows these bottles to mature for a full decade longer in his own cellar. What could have been released in September 2019 remains dormant until today – and is becoming something that goes beyond regular Barolo.

"Sibi et paucis" – for those who understand that great wines are in no hurry. From each Aleste vintage, Sandrone sets aside around 10% of the production and allows these bottles to mature in his own cellar for 96 months after ageing. What could have been released in September 2020 remains in storage to this day – and is becoming something that transcends ordinary Barolo.