A Trip To Barolo

Last night we had a meal with our friends, Sam & Carol, that reminded us of the time we spent with them several years ago in Monforte d'Alba. The Barolo region of the Piedmont, about an hour or two south of Olympics famous Turin, is a beautiful area that produces some of the most beautiful wines in the world. The area consists of eleven villages - Monforte, Serralunga, Castelone, Barolo, and La Morro being the principal ones. Wine-making styles vary from big wines with traditional bouquets of tar and roses, to fruity modern lightweights and everything in between.

We stayed at Albergo e Ristorante Da Felicin where we had wonderfully hearty Piedmontese fare with a Barolo from winemaker Luciano Sandrone. Before dinner, we walked the 100 yards to Aldo Conterno where we were graciously offered a taste of their medium-bodied fruity Dolcetto. The next day we drove the rolling hills of the region, being passed and/or stopped by hordes of touring bicyclists, to visit the town of Barolo where we tasted at individual wineries and the Enoteca in town.

Last night we had a rich dish of Lamb Shanks and Cannelli Beans with onions and garlic cooked in red wine for many hours. No, we did not cook with Barolo, we used a bottle of Charles Shaw Shiraz and added the dregs from the Barolo. We started the evening with a 1999 Sandrone Dolcetto which smelled of raspberries and roses and was totally fruity in the way that Beaujolais can be. Then, a 1996 Sandrone Cannubi Boschis that was exquisite with the lamb and cheese course which followed. We ended the evening with the last of the Grappa we had brought back from our trip. Last night was a trip back to the warmth and beauty of the Barolo hills.