Sandrone
Piedmont, Italy
The late Luciano Sandrone was an iconic figure in Barolo, with an extraordinary story of determination. He started to learn viticulture at the age of 14, and after years of work as a cellarman he depleted his life savings and purchased his first vineyard on the Cannubi hill in 1977, though he could only manage his land on the weekends while he continued to work. He made his first vintage in 1978, in the garage of his parents, and then spent years refining his ideas about how to make a wine of distinction and utmost quality that respected the traditions of Barolo while incorporating
new ideas and understanding about viticulture and vinification.
He made every vintage until 1999 at home, until the winery he constructed in 1998 was ready for use. This winery, built at the foot of the Cannubi hillside in the heart of Barolo, is characterized by the respect for tradition and desire for innovation that also define Sandrone wines. Luciano had devoted every fiber of his being towards cultivating the finest Nebbiolo expressions from his sites in Barolo and the Roero, and transmitting these expressions through his wines. In the bottle, Sandrone’s wines straddle the modern and traditional styles of the region: elegant, attractive and easy to appreciate right from their first years in bottle, but with no less power and structure over time than the most traditional Barolo. The entire range of wines, all limited in production, are jewels of impeccably balanced concentration and precision, and the ability to age for long periods of time.
Along with the extremely low yields in the vineyard and an obsessive attention to training, pruning and harvesting, Sandrone has a very rational approach in the cellar. This approach, however, is also unique and outside of simple classification: Sandrone subjects his wines to medium-length maceration period, shorter than traditional, but makes limited use of new oak in the maturation process, which takes place in 500 liter tonneaux, all signs of a more traditional approach in the cellar.
Learn more here.
Wines
Dolcetto d’Alba
Dolcetto d'Alba
Sandrone's Dolcetto d’Alba is produced using Dolcetto grapes from 11 different vineyards, all within the Barolo DOCG. Sandrone’s Dolcetto sees no time in wood and is a remarkably robust and complex example of the variety.
Le Vigne Barolo
Barolo
Le Vigne is a wine created from four different Nebbiolo vineyards, each of which brings its own contribution. This union generates an exceptionally complex wine that is round and harmonious on the palate, with fruity and spicy notes, and this approach of blending together plots is in fact the traditional one in Barolo.
Barbera d’Alba
Barbera d'Alba
The Sandrone Barbera d'Alba comes from three vineyards: Merli and Rocche di San Nicola in Novello, and Cascina Pe Mol in Monforte d’Alba. It is widely considered one of the most intense and complex Barberas produced.
Valmaggiore
Nebbiolo d'Alba
Valmaggiore is the product of Luciano’s incredible passion for the Nebbiolo grape variety and its different expression. Just 15 miles away from Barolo, in the Roero region, Nebbiolo produces a lighter structure and ripe, smooth tannins that are not unlike those of Pinot Noir. This is not a “baby Barolo” or a second wine at all – it is a distinct interpretation of Nebbiolo from a completely distinct geographic zone.
ALESTE Barolo
Barolo
A combination of the names of Luciano Sandrone's grandchildren ALEssia and STEfano, ALESTE is the new name for Luciano's first wine, the Barolo Cannubi Boschis, which garnered early acclaim with the international trade and press. This single-vineyard wine is typically dense and concentrated, but shows incredible harmony and balance.
Reviews
Sandrone Barolo ALESTE 2016 (98 VM)
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"The 2016 Barolo Aleste is ample, creamy and expansive in feel. But more than that, the 2016 stands out for its freshness, persistence and brilliance. In so many vintages, the Aleste (formerly known as Cannubi Boschis) has been rich and powerful in feel, but in 2016, the wine is all about finesse. The red-fruited, floral purity of Nebbiolo comes through beautifully here; I especially admire the wine's translucence. Wow."
Sandrone Barolo Le Vigne 2016 (98+ VM)
(98+) -
"The 2016 Barolo Le Vigne is brilliant and explosive in the glass, with tons of brightness, energy and tension. Classically austere, the 2016 is going to take a few years to be at its best, and yet the wine is so arrestingly beautiful today. A mix of freshly cut and dried flowers, mint and pine add an intriguing upper register. In 2016, Le Vigne is finely chiseled and sculpted from start to finish. Bright saline notes add a closing kick of freshness."
Sandrone Barolo ALESTE 2016 (97 WE)
- "Dark berry, exotic spice, blue-flower and menthol aromas take shape on this fragrant red. Full bodied and loaded with finesse, the firm palate doles out juicy morello cherry, raspberry compote, licorice and hints of French oak alongside firm fine-grained tannins."
Sandrone Barolo Le Vigne 2016 (98 WE)
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"Fragrant, full bodied and boasting great finesse, this delicious Barolo hits all the right buttons. It opens with enticing aromas of woodland berry, rose, camphor, botanical herb and exotic spice while the elegantly structured palate doles out juicy red cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and cinnamon. Firm, fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity keep it impeccably balanced. It's already tempting but hold for even more complexity."
More on Sandrone
Sandrone Calendar Year 2018 Releases
September 28, 2018 - THE 2014 VINTAGE IN BAROLO The 2014 vintage, despite being one of the most complex to manage in recent years, gave way to very pleasant surprises as a result…
Luciano Sandrone’s New Super Barolo
February 20, 2020 - Robert Camuto, Contributing Editor for Wine Spectator, writes of his recent visit to Sandrone earlier this winter to get a first hand account of the wineries' new Super Barolo. Camuto writes that over the…
People
Luciano Sandrone
Luciano Sandrone is one of the iconic producers in Barolo, and his is both a well known and extraordinary story. He started to learn viticulture at the age of 14, and after years of work as a cellarman he depleted his life savings and purchased his first vineyard on the Cannubi hill in 1977, though he could only manage his land on the weekends while he continued to work. He made his first vintage in
1978, in the garage of his parents, and then spent years refining his ideas about how to make a wine of distinction and utmost quality that respected the traditions of Barolo while incorporating new ideas and understanding about viticulture and vinification. He made every vin-
tage until 1999 at home, until the winery he constructed in 1998 was ready for use. This winery, built at the foot of the Cannubi hillside in the heart of Barolo, is characterized by the respect for tradition and desire for innovation that also define Sandrone wines.
Luciano has devoted every fiber of his being towards cultivating the finest Nebbiolo expressions from his sites in Barolo and the Roero, and transmitting these expressions through his wines. His wines are sometimes described as straddling the modern and traditional styles in the region: elegant, attractive and easy to appreciate right from
their first years in bottle, but with no less power and structure than traditional Barolos. The entire range of wines, all limited in production, are jewels of impeccably balanced concentration and precision, with the ability to age for long periods of time.
Barbara Sandrone
Barbara Sandrone, the daughter of Luciano, has been involved with the day-to-day running of the winery operation since 1989, and on a full-time basis since returning to the Barolo in 1994. She was raised in Barolo and though she has studied in London and lived in Milan, her heart was always in Piedmont.
After careers in the travel and legal sectors, she began taking an active interest in the family business. Today she is responsible for all outreach, external relations and winery visitors, and tirelessly travels the globe to bring her father’s wines to the public. The diversity of roles she has at the winery only accentuates her many talents and her passion for communicating the culture, wines and history of the family cantina. Barbara has two children, Alessia and Stefano, and enjoys cooking and sports in her spare time.
Trade Materials
Sandrone Dolcetto d’Alba 2019 Tech Sheet
Spec Sheet | PDF
The late Luciano Sandrone was an iconic figure in Barolo, with an extraordinary story of determination. He started to learn viticulture at the age of 14, and after years of…
Sandrone Le Vigne 2016 Tech Sheet
Spec Sheet | PDF
The late Luciano Sandrone was an iconic figure in Barolo, with an extraordinary story of determination. He started to learn viticulture at the age of 14, and after years of…
Sandrone Barbera d’Alba 2018 Tech Sheet
Spec Sheet | PDF
The late Luciano Sandrone was an iconic figure in Barolo, with an extraordinary story of determination. He started to learn viticulture at the age of 14, and after years of…
Sandrone Valmaggiore 2018 Tech Sheet
Spec Sheet | PDF
The late Luciano Sandrone was an iconic figure in Barolo, with an extraordinary story of determination. He started to learn viticulture at the age of 14, and after years of…
Sandrone ALESTE 2016 Tech Sheet
Spec Sheet | PDF
The late Luciano Sandrone was an iconic figure in Barolo, with an extraordinary story of determination. He started to learn viticulture at the age of 14, and after years of…
Maps
Videos
Sandrone: Wine is Family
August 13, 2018 - A window into the winery, vineyards and most important--the family--behind Sandrone.
LIVE with Barbara Sandrone
May 28, 2020 - VINTUS Brand Manager Michael Gitter catches up with Barbara Sandrone over a glass of the 2013 Valmaggiore. The pair discuss how Sandrone family is fairing during quarantine and the current…
