Planning Trip to Barolo region in Italy

Kiara and I are going to the Piedmont region to visit the towns of Barolo and Barberesco.

Last summer I went with my now 90-yr. old grandmother. I was a bit frustrated trying to research one of the most reknowned Italian wine regions; I tried to find books, search for comprehensive websites, and even asked Italian shop owners. They all told me the same thing-- drive down and make appointments.

This time I come more prepared. I brought great maps and pamplets that I gathered last year. Also, I asked the Jug Shop's Italian wine buyer, Floribeth, for some recommendations. She recommended the following La Morra producers:

• Renato Ratti
  Pietro Ratti
  Fraz. Annunziata, 7
  12064 La Morra
  ITALY
  t. 011.39.0173.50185
  - Traditional Barolo producer
  - Ask to see the wine museum.
• Marcarini
  Manuel
  Piazza Matrini, 2
  12064 La Morra
  ITALY
  t. 011.39.0173.50222
  - Traditional Barolo producer
  - Manuel speaks Spanish because he lived in Mexico City
• Ca Romé
  Paula
  t. 011.39.0173.635126
  Via Rabajà, 36
  12050 Barberesco
  ITALY
  www.carome.com
  - Manuel speaks Spanish because he lived in Mexico City




• Produttori del Barbaresco
  Aldo Vacca
  Via Torino, 52
  12050 Barberesco
  ITALY
  t. 011.39.0173.635139
  
  - Met Aldo last year. Very nice and informative.
  - Good friends with Floribeth
• Cantina Del Pino
  Renato Vacca
  Via Ovello, 15
  12050 Barberesco
  ITALY
  t. 011.39.0173.635147
  
  - Run by Aldo Vacca's cousin
  - Small winery with reasonable prices.
  - Located behind Produttori del Barberseco
  - p. 29 in Italian Wines 2001 book.

In Mon Forte which typically produces bigger, more robust wines, she recommended:

• Conterno-Fantino
  Claudio Conterno
  Via Ginestra, 1
  Loc. Bricco Bastia
  12065 Monforte d'Alba
  ITALY
  t. 011.39.0173.78204
  - Modern Barolo producer
  - Ask to see the wine museum.

In Dogliani she suggested:

• Poderi Luigi Einaudi
  Matteo Sardagna
  Borgata Gombe, 31
  12063 Dogliani
  ITALY
  t. 011.39.0173.70191
  - Try Cannubi, Costa Remaldi, and Rossa de Langhe- which has very small production

She suggested the following bars and restaurants:

• Diavolo Rosso- "the Red Devil" in Italian.
  Asti


• Restaurant le Caccinale Nuovo
  Asti


• Barbaresco Restaurant Antiné
  Barbaresco
  - Recommended restaurant
  - Near Gaja's winery


• Barbaresco Le 3 Estelle
  Barbaresco
  - Recommended restaurant


• Isola di Asti
  Asti
  - Recommended restaurant