# Barolo Chinato (NV)

- **Producer:** Giacomo Borgogno & Figli
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** fortified
- **Grapes:** Nebbiolo
- **Region:** Piemonte, Italy
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 16.0%
- **Average price:** €50
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 14–16 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, plum, rose, violet, black pepper, liquorice, cloves, vanilla, chocolate, coffee, dried fig, prune, leather, tobacco, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg

## About this wine

Giacomo Borgogno & Figli, established in 1761, is one of the oldest and most historic wine estates in Piedmont's Langhe region. Renowned for their traditional, long-lived Barolo wines, the estate also preserves the ancient Piedmontese tradition of Barolo Chinato. This aromatized wine represents a historic piece of Italian winemaking culture, originally crafted in the late 19th century. Borgogno's rendition utilizes their high-quality Barolo DOCG as the base wine, transforming it into a complex digestif that bridges the gap between fine wine and herbal elixir.

## Interesting facts

- Barolo Chinato was originally created in the late 19th century by Piedmontese pharmacists as a medicinal remedy for colds and digestive issues.
- Borgogno is one of the oldest continuously operating wineries in Barolo, having served its wines at the official celebration of the Unification of Italy in 1861.
- The exact recipe and ratio of herbs, barks, and spices used in Borgogno's infusion remains a closely guarded family secret.

## Food pairing

Barolo Chinato is one of the rare wines that pairs exceptionally well with dark chocolate. The natural bitterness of the cacao mirrors the bitterness of the cinchona bark, while the residual sugar in the wine balances the chocolate's astringency. The high acidity and structural tannins of the Nebbiolo base cut through the fat of rich cheeses and cocoa butter, while the herbal aromatics complement warm baking spices.

## Wine making process

The production of Barolo Chinato begins with fully matured Barolo DOCG wine made from 100% Nebbiolo grapes. This base wine is infused with an alcohol-based maceration of various herbs and spices. The key ingredient is Cinchona Calisaya bark (china), which provides the signature bitter note, alongside rhubarb root, gentian, cardamom seeds, coriander, and cloves. After the cold infusion process, sugar is added to balance the intense bitterness and high acidity of the Nebbiolo. The aromatized wine is then aged in neutral oak barrels to allow the complex herbal components, sugar, and base wine to fully integrate.