Elio Altare

Elio Altare is a producer of Barolo in the Piedmont region of northwest Italy. It is known for having introduced modern winemaking techniques to a traditional, old world region, and Elio Altare wines, made predominantly from the Nebbiolo grape variety, are famous for their richer style.

Elio's grandfather, Giuseppe, settled in La Morra in 1948. While at the time, some of the property was planted to Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto, fruit and nut trees yielded higher profits than wine, so most of the land was planted to peaches, hazelnuts and apple trees. In 1976, Elio visited Burgundy, where he learned winemaking techniques that he wanted to implement in the family's wines. Unfortunately, his father, Giovanni, was set in his ways, so when Elio attempted to make changes, notably taking a chainsaw to the old wooden tanks in the cellar, his father disinherited him. When his father passed away, Elio purchased the winery from his siblings.

Elio Altare has 10 hectares (25 acres) in various vineyards around La Morra. These are mainly planted on calcareous marl soils known as Tortonian, and produce more opulent fruit than their eastern counterparts. In the cellar, the wines undergo a short fermentation in stainless steel before aging sur lie in small French oak barriques. This is quite different to the traditional aging of Barolo in large Slovenian oak casks. The resulting wines are more approachable in their youth than traditional Barolo.

The winery produces a range of single-vineyard Barolos, including a Cannubi and a Brunate bottling. Elio Altare also produces a Dolcetto d'Alba and Barbera d'Alba, as well as a Langhe Rosso DOC.