ELIO ALTARE

Elio Altare, the innovator of Barolo

Elio Altare winery was established in 1948 when Giuseppe Altare, who had just arrived from Dogliani, decided to buy a farmhouse, some Nebbiolo and Dolcetto vineyards and many hazelnut trees, which at that time were more profitable than vineyards.

The Altare's began to produce their wine even though the fundamental year for the family's destiny was 1976, when the young Elio left for a journey in Bourgogne which shocked him.

Back home with new convictions he started experimenting, both in the vineyard and in the cellar, revolutionizing the whole philosophy of the family production: selection of plants and vinification of single cru, but above all the substitution of the old big casks with French barriques. This led him to clash with his father, who disinherited him forcing him to buy back his cellar and vineyards in 1985 from his brothers.

Today Elio Altare has become a reference point for Piedmontese wines in the Langhe, confirming that his vision was correct. Together with his wife and daughter, he personally supervises the work in the vineyard and in the cellar.

The philosophy on which the production of Elio Altare's wines is based is the safeguard and the respect of the environment, in the vineyard are not used chemical substances, fertilizers or pesticides, only sulfur and organic manure. In the winery the philosophy is the same, vinification with indigenous yeasts followed by spontaneous malolactic fermentation, no filtration or clarification and very little sulfur added.

After years of experimentation and refinement of techniques, today the production of the winery boasts 6 different Barolo Altare, two blends and four vinified separately, recognized worldwide as balanced, elegant and impeccable wines, which perfectly embody the spirit of the Langhe.