Marchesi di Barolo's Historic Cellars, in the Village of Barolo

The Marchesi di Barolo cellars are in the centre of the village of Barolo, opposite the castle that gives the wine its name. They open every day from 10:30 to 18:00 and are visited by reservation: you walk through the old halls, with their great casks, and finish with a tasting. As the castle houses the WiMu, the two visits can be done without moving the car.

What it is and why it matters

The house claims that Barolo was born here, in the village that gives it its name, more than two hundred years ago, in the time of the Falletti marquises, the lords of the castle. It is the wine that in Piedmont they call the king of wines, made only from nebbiolo.

The historic cellars are on Via Roma, opposite the castle. The visit walks through the halls where the wine ages and ends in the tasting room.

Visits, tastings and booking

The winery opens every day from 10:30 to 18:00. Visits and tastings are booked on its booking website, linked from the visits page, where you choose day, time and type of experience and see the price. The visits page does not show prices: you see them when choosing the experience.

For queries, reception can be reached on +39 0173 564419 and at [email protected]. In autumn, with the grape harvest and Alba's white truffle fair, book with room to spare: the village fills up at weekends.

Getting there and parking

Barolo is a small village among vine-covered hills, south-west of Alba. The practical way is to arrive by car, along winding roads between vineyards. Leave the car outside the old town and walk in: the streets in the centre are narrow. The winery is at Via Roma 1, a step from the castle square.

If you are going to taste, have someone else drive: the Langhe roads do not forgive the second glass.

How it fits into the day

Barolo can be seen in a long morning or an afternoon:

1. WiMu. The wine museum in Falletti castle, which explains wine through history, art and myths, with the Enoteca Regionale del Barolo in the cellars.
2. Marchesi di Barolo. Visit and tasting in the cellars opposite.
3. Walk through the village. The streets around the castle, with wine shops and viewpoints over the vines.

If you have another half day, the Fontanafredda cellars, in Serralunga d'Alba, and Grinzane Cavour castle are a quarter of an hour away by car.

Children and accessibility

The tastings are for adults. If you are with children, the WiMu interests them more; ask when booking whether they can accompany you on the cellar visit. If you use a wheelchair, ask about the accessibility of the halls when booking.

Inside the cellars the temperature is low all year: bring a layer.