Barale Fratelli

About

Owners & winemakers: Sergio Barale and his daughters Eleonora and Gloria
Vineyards: 13ha, across eight vineyard sites
Vineyard management: Organic
Grapes grown: Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, Barbera, Pinot Nero, Chardonnay, Arneis

Quick facts:

• The Barale family has been making wine in the Langhe since the 1870s.
• Vineyard practices include manual weeding, fertilizing with natural manure, and using no treatments besides copper and sulfur on the vines. The goal is to protect biodiversity and keep the soils naturally fertile.
• The winery submitted 216 strains of native yeasts for molecular analysis in order to determine which best expressed the character of the terroir while ensuring consistent and healthy fermentations. They now work with the three best strains, and these strains are also preserved at the University of Turin’s “mycotheca.”
• The historic Castellero vineyard is planted via massale selection with original clones of Nebbiolo, such as Michet and Rosé, which are otherwise nearly extinct.