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Marchesi di Barolo today
Today Marchesi di Barolo remains a family business.
Since 2006, it has been under the direction of the family of Ernesto Abbona which, with more than 60% of the shares, has a majority control. This has permitted an increase in productivity and refocusing of commercial strategy which is the reason behind the growth of the buisness in recent years. The operating principle behind the business is a firm conviction of and commitment to the indisputable quality of the wines produced in this region, as characterized by a number of indigenous vines of great prestige. In fact, the composition of the soil in the lower regions of Piedmont is quite unique.
Comprised of marine deposits once covered by water and shifted about through successive geologic events, the hills of the Langhe display a quite irregular shape and profile, and vary greatly in soil composition: older formations are characterized by compact earth with a high content of clay and chalk while those of more recent origin are generally looser and richer in quartzite sand and lime. To this ample diversity of soil types, and the particular sub-Alpine micro-climate associated with it, the unique -- one might even say historic -- contribution of human experience has resulted in the correlation of a specific type of grapevine with each specific area of the region, thereby translating this special synthesis of place, climate and culture into the apex of quality and elegance. Thus, the choice of Marchesi di Barolo has been and will increasingly be the faithful interpretation of the diversity of place and of the indigenous vines, while rigoursly maintaing the typicity of its products.
Marchesi di Barolo can be considered a medium-sized winery: it controls approximately 110 hectares of vineyards from which it produces approximately 1,500,000 bottles of wine. The winery produces Barolo, Barbaresco, Nebbiolo d’Alba, Barbera d’Alba, Dolcetto d’Alba, Roero Arneis, Gavi, Moscato d’Asti e Brachetto d’Acqui.
To better display and do justice to this rich diversity, each category includes some of the region’s most historically significant bottlings, such as:
• Cannubi, Coste di Rose, Sarmassa, and the proprietory blend ‘Vigne di Proprietà in Barolo’, for Barolo
• Serragrilli for Barbaresco
• Boschetti for Dolcetto d’Alba
• Paiagal for Barbera d’Alba
• Gavi di Gavi for Gavi
In the future, the intention is to continue along this path, aquiring additional vineyards of particular value in the most significant viticultural areas of the Piedmont region, namely the Langhe, Roero, and Monferrato. In keeping with this strategy, in the past two years Marchesi di Barolo has aquired a total of 5.3 hectares of vineyards in the Barolo zone and 2.6 hectares in the Barbaresco zone, while in the area of the Roero, 11.3 hectares of vineyard are currently in the process of being aquired.
Marchesi di Barolo was and is a winery that has received numerous awards for its wines and has been frequently recognized in the press and media. The products of the winery are distributed through commercial channels to all the major countries of the world. Distribution, like every other aspect of the production chain, is very closely looked after and the clientele is selected based on its demand for high quality. The domestic Italian market absorbs approximately 40% of Marchesi di Barolo’s production, the distribution of which is handled by a well-coordinated network of independent sales agents. Exportation occurs principally through a network of national importers, each with its own sales team, under the guidence and coordination of a brand manager.
In addition, the Marchesi di Barolo winery has been one of the key destinations of the important tourist boom that has developed in recent years. Precisely to accomodate the more than 40,000 eno-tourists that make a visit to the town of Barolo each year, a spacious and functional welcome area has been created within the complex of the Marchesi di Barolo winery, directly above the historic cellars. Here one will find a wine-bar offering the possibility of wine-tastings, which may be accompanied by some of the speciality food products the Langhe is famous for, and a store where bottles are available for purchase along with many other related items such as wine accessories, books, and images of Piedmont’s viticultural areas.
For those who relish a deeper experience of local eno-gastronomy, upstairs is an elegant and refined restaurant specializing in Piedmontese cuisine. For company functions or other groups who would like to gather for a working lunch in a comfortable and conducive atmosphere, there is also a fully equipped conference room.
Concerning the future, the enthusiastic proprietors of Marchesi di Barolo plan to further intensify and deepen the already close ties with the estate’s vineyard holdings, while at the same time continuing to increase the presence of its products in the best sales venues and consumer markets throughout the world, with a special emphasis on the high-quality restaurant sector. The future of Marchesi di Barolo is in good hands: the continuity of its mission guaranteed by a new, younger generation already engaged in the pursuit of specially targeted courses of study.
Unusual for the sector, Marchesi di Barolo is self-financed: economic and financial activities reward good work, passion, and healthy stewardship and result in unqualified success. |
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