Barolo is the wine of kings and the king of wines. This celebrated Piedmontese saying elevates the great red wine of the Langhe hills to a position of absolute supremacy in the world of wine.
Barolo is produced from the Nebbiolo grape in eleven communes around the town of Barolo in the Langhe hills south of Turin, a terrain of clay-limestone soils and morning fog that creates one of the world's most complex and long-lived red wines. The phrase 'wine of kings' refers specifically to the Savoy royal family, who ruled Piedmont and later unified Italy: King Carlo Alberto and Count Camillo di Cavour, the architect of Italian unification, were both passionate advocates of Barolo. Cavour himself commissioned the French oenologist Louis Oudart to modernize Barolo production in the 1840s, transforming it from a sweet wine to the dry, tannic, age-worthy wine known today. The Savoy kings served Barolo at state banquets and diplomatic occasions, cementing its royal identity. Today Barolo fetches prices of hundreds to thousands of euros per bottle for top producers like Giacomo Conterno, Bruno Giacosa, and Bartolo Mascarello.
The phrase is attributed to the era of King Carlo Alberto of Savoy and his minister Count Cavour, who modernized Barolo production in the 1840s with French oenologist Louis Oudart; the Langhe DOCG zone covers 11 communes.
A sommelier presenting wine at a formal dinner
Stasera serviamo un Barolo 2015. Come si dice in Piemonte: l'è 'l vin dij re e 'l re dij vin.
Tonight we serve a 2015 Barolo. As they say in Piedmont: it is the wine of kings and the king of wines.
A grandfather opening a special bottle
Questo lo tenevo per oggi. Il Barolo l'è 'l vin dij re — e voi siete la cosa più preziosa che ho.
I was keeping this for today. Barolo is the wine of kings — and you are the most precious thing I have.
A wine merchant recommending a gift
Per un regalo importante, Barolo. L'è 'l re dij vin — non sbaglia mai.
For an important gift, Barolo. It is the king of wines — it never disappoints.
A tourist visiting the Langhe hills
Capisco perché dicono Barolo l'è 'l vin dij re. Questo paesaggio, questa nebbia, questo profumo...
I understand why they say Barolo is the wine of kings. This landscape, this fog, this fragrance...