Quazzolo Winery is a very small winery located in Barbaresco Village which produces less than 10’000 bottle a year. This is what we call a boutique winery and Danilo, the actual owner, is the third generation of winemaker in this family. The production is mostly focused on Barbaresco wine and precisely their vineyards are located in Ovello and Cole which is at their first release this year with a 2016 Barbaresco single Cru.
Today we are presenting you Danilo Quazzolo from Quazzolo winery. He is the most eclectic of the bunch and although tied to traditions when it comes to wine, he expresses himself with his art in his winery and on his bottles. He is a “doodle master” which is why his labels have these colorful squiggles. Full of tattoos including DOCG stamped on his knuckles, and his sometimes hipster look, he stands out in the crowd. You could almost call him a garagiste winemaker and he is one of the smallest (and tallest) producers in the area. Collectors are loving these bottles because they are well made from a terrific cru vineyard site but he is hard to get a hold of because he has no website and doesn’t speak English so you have to call him to have a visit in his cellar.
The BARBARESCO denomination is a DOCG classified wine coming from Nebbiolo vineyards located on the norther side of the Langhe Region (Barolo and Barbaresco Regions). The area as seen on the map includes four villages of which Barbaresco, Treiso, Neive e San Rocco Seno d’Elvio. Barbaresco area even though if really closed to Barolo Denomination area, has such a different micro clima and this is the reason of different results if we compare the vintages with the Barolo. The law for this DOCG requires a low yield like Barolo and Roero and must be aged for a total of 26 months of which 9 minimum in barrel. Barbaresco is made of 100% Nebbiolo grape and as we menthion in the title, is a little softer style than what you would normally find in a glass of Barolo and this is the reason why we call it the wine of the Queen if Barolo is the wine of the King, for its softer tannins, easier approce, unique elegance but as well a longevity that make this wine as unique as Barolo. Actually in the future, due to the smaller quantity of the Barolo total bottles production, is an average of 4 to 5 million bottles every year, which is less than half than Barolo production and this it could be in the future a reason why Barbaresco could become more unique and hard to find than a Bottle of Barolo.
*The Map shows the BarbarescRoero Region.
