Piedmont

Piedmont is located in the northwest corner of Italy and is considered a top wine region in Italy. The region is best known for Barolo wines made from the thick skinned Nebbiolo grape. Other common varieties include Barbera, Dolcetto, Moscato, Cortese and Arneis.

Peidmont borders with France and Switzerland and is located around the foothills of the Alps. The name ‘Piedmont’ in Italian translates to ‘at the foot of the mountain’. The geography of the region being amongst the valleys and surrounding mountains creates considerable fog coverage over the vineyards. The Nebbiolo grape, native to Piedmont, is actually named after the fog covering the area – the Italian word ‘nebbia’ meaning ‘fog’ or ‘mist’. Piedmont is known for its cold, continental winter climate and hot, muggy summers. The Nebbiolo and Barbera vines are commonly planted on the warmer south facing vineyards while Dolcetto and Moscato are planted on the cooler slopes.

Below is a map of the Piedmont region. Outlined are the famous appellations, the winding Sesia, Po & Tanaro Rivers and many smaller towns in the region.

Michele Chiarlo

Michele Chiarlo is one of the leading Piedmont producers and is a 100% family owned and managed winery (see image below of Chiarlo family). Since 1956, Michele Chiarlo has been vinifying the essence of Piedmont. Michele Chiarlo is founded on tradition and only uses native vines of Nebbiolo, Barbera, Cortese and Moscato. All of their wines come from classic Piedmont appellations and are not blended. The Chiarlo Estates include 150 hectares of vineyards in total, 70 hectares of which are owned including 30 hectares of Grand Crus. 10 hectares of Crus in Barolo and Barbaresco and 20 hectares of Crus in the Nizza area.

The house style has always been one of highly elegant and complex wines. The vineyards and landscapes of this winery are so unique that they have been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on account of their history, traditions and culture. For this reason Michele Chiarlo vineyards and winery management is based on integral sustainability. The winery has been a continual participant of VIVA, which is a project supported by the Italian Ministry of Environment that assess a winery’s sustainability along the entire supply chain. All Michele Chiarlo Grand Crus produced are VIVA Certified.

The Michele Chiarlo labels are recognised as works of art. A partnership, and friendship, between Michele Chiarlo and the painter Giancarlo Ferraris first struck in the mid-eighties. Ferraris transformed the winery’s classic and geometric labels into works of art. The aim of the new label designs was to reflect the uniqueness and beauty of the landscape and give life and renewal to the classic labelling.

Michele Chiarlo is a highly regarded winery and has a number of wines that are continually rated 90+ points from international bodies including Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast and Decanter. Head to our shop page to explore the full range of Michele Chiarlo wines available.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or to find out more!

Cheers,

The Single Vineyard Sellers

Map of Piedmont Wine Region

From left to right: Alberto Chiarlo (Sales & Marketing – CEO) Michele Chiarlo (Founder – President) Stefano Chiarlo (Winemaker – CEO)