About the Wine

Gregory Dal Piaz, one of the world’s leading experts on Barolo, wrote that Federico Scarzello “is obviously a future star of the traditional movement in Piedmont.” Gregory — a champion of traditional-style Barolo and one of the category’s leading advocates — called Federico an “emerging star of traditional Barolo.” Federico Scarzello is quickly becoming Barolo's next superstar winemaker in Italy's most famed region. Don't miss this opportunity to capture these highly sought-after and minuscule production wines!

“If you are a fan of traditionally made wines keep your eyes peeled for the wines of Scarzello. They are great today and with every additional vintage, Federico will no doubt move from strength to strength. He is one of the bright future stars of traditional wines in the Langhe!”

Those are no small words from one of America’s top Italian wine experts.

Federico is a third-generation winemaker at his family’s estate in the village of Barolo in the heart of the Barolo appellation. After completing his studies in winemaking and agriculture at the Scuola Enologica (School of Enology) in Alba and the University of Turin, he began making wines for his family’s winery in 1998.

In the years following the Second World War, the Scarzello family made wines that they sold primarily in bulk. But that changed with the extraordinary 1978 vintage in the Langhe when they decided to bottle and sell their Nebbiolo grapes as Barolo.

Today, the winery has five hectares planted to Nebbiolo, including 2.5 hectares devoted to the production of Barolo, 2 hectares in the famed Sarmassa cru of Barolo, and another half hectare in Terlo, another highly coveted and historic single-vineyard site.

Federico uses extended maceration and large cask aging — the hallmarks of traditional-style Barolo — to make these elegant and long-lived wines. The estate’s top label, the Barolo Sarmassa Vigna Merenda, can spend up to 30 months in 25-30 hectoliter Slavonian casks.

Aging: 6 months in oak tanks.

Tasting Notes: 100% Nebbiolo. Intense ruby color, with garnet highlights. Delicate floral and fruit aromas on the nose, forest berries, and a spiciness that increases with age. On the palate, the wine is dry and concise, with good tannins.

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