Sbirolo (2022)

About this wine

Sbirolo is made from 100 percent Nebbiolo from the Langhe, vinified with a short maceration and kept in stainless steel or concrete to preserve freshness. On the nose it offers red cherry and raspberry on the front, followed by rose or violet petals and a hint of sweet vanilla. The palate is medium bodied with bright acidity, juicy red fruit and a touch of baking spice, balanced by fine, elegant tannins that give structure without heavy astringency. Alcohol sits around 13.5 to 14 percent depending on market bottling, and the wine is presented as an accessible, youthful expression of Nebbiolo that emphasizes immediacy over extended oak aging. Sbirolo takes its name from local dialect and is often described as an outgoing, lively example of the variety, offering a clear sense of place from the Langhe hills where soils include limestone and sand.

About the grape

Nebbiolo is an ancient Piedmont grape that developed its reputation in the Langhe for high acidity and firm tannins, and here it is used as the sole variety for Sbirolo to showcase that lineage. The fruit for this bottling comes from sandy and calcareous Langhe hills, often from lower or younger parcels of the same hills that produce Barolo and Barbaresco, which gives the wine a more immediate, approachable expression. Viticulturally Nebbiolo is demanding, it prefers limestone rich soils and careful canopy work to manage ripening and maintain acidity, and Marchesi di Barolo report sustainable practices in their vineyards. In the cellar the grapes see short to moderate maceration and ageing in stainless steel or concrete rather than long oak ageing, a choice that preserves Nebbiolo aromatics and freshness while softening its tannic backbone.

Quick facts

• 😏 The name Sbirolo comes from Piedmontese dialect and roughly means a cheerful rascal or extrovert, a playful nod to the wine's lively personality.
• 🍒 Sbirolo is made entirely from Nebbiolo, yet it is crafted to be approachable young, often called a gentle introduction to the grape's Barolo character.
• 🏰 The wine is produced by Marchesi di Barolo, a house whose cellars and story date back over two centuries in the town of Barolo, tying Sbirolo to deep local tradition.
• 📦 Marchesi di Barolo positions Sbirolo as a value driven Langhe bottling, sourcing fruit from Langhe sites rather than single Barolo crus, which keeps it fresh and expressive.
• ✈️ Sbirolo has become an export favorite in markets like Sweden and the United States, so spotting it on a foreign shop shelf is a reliable Nebbiolo discovery moment.

Palate profile

Producer

Marchesi di Barolo, located in the town of Barolo, Italy, is renowned for its pivotal role in transforming Barolo wine from a sweet, sparkling beverage into the dry, robust red wine celebrated today. In the early 19th century, Marchesa Giulia Falletti di Barolo, originally Juliette Colbert from France, recognized the potential of the Nebbiolo grape and introduced innovative winemaking techniques, including fermentation in large casks within temperature-controlled cellars, to produce a stable, full-bodied wine. This transformation earned Barolo the moniker "The King of Wines, the Wine of Kings," as it became a favorite among European nobility. After the Falletti lineage ended without heirs, the estate was acquired in 1929 by Pietro Abbona, whose family continues to uphold the winery's legacy, now spanning six generations. Today, Marchesi di Barolo manages approximately 120 hectares of vineyards, producing wines that honor both tradition and innovation.