Wine tasting in Barolo and Barbaresco without an appointment – let’s talk tasting rooms!
If you read my blog regularly you know I stress that the Piedmont wine tasting experience is unique. For the most part you need appointments to visit wine producers. And, the wine tour and tastings usually last much longer than in New World regions.
Wine tasting in Barolo and Barbaresco is an intimate and personal experience. Often the winery visit is led by a family member or their lone employee. But, for those Wine Tasting Warriors looking to get in more sips and swirls, walk-in tasting rooms do exist.
A lot of our Barolo wine tour clients come to us looking to learn about the region for a few focused days. We arrange producers visits, vineyard stops, food experiences, and more to showcase the area.
But, an important way to take in the Piedmont wine region is to explore on your own. Take in the villages, drive the countryside — really get lost and found in the culture.
That’s why I created this reference guide for wine tasting in Barolo and Barbaresco. So you can more easily navigate the area and visit the walk-in tasting rooms that do exist.
Wine Tasting in Barolo and Barbaresco: Barolo Tasting Rooms
There are a handful of walk-in tasting rooms in the Barolo villages. Keep in mind that like most business here these tasting rooms close for a 2-hour lunch break. Tasting rooms are open most weekdays plus state holidays.
Located in the primary wine town of Alba is the historic Ceretto Winery. It is one of the area’s oldest producers with vineyards and wineries in both Barolo and Barbaresco. The Alba location has a walk-in tasting room that is open daily as well as a wine shop where you can buy wines from Ceretto, wines from outside the region (think Champagne!), and accessories, like the Coravin, the Lazenne Wine Check luggage, and other products.
And, don’t miss Ceretto’s other cultural offerings, including Piedmont’s only three Michelin starred ristorante, Piazza Duomo located in Alba’s historic center. In addition, visit their contemporary art displays — the Cappella delle Brunate (chapel in the Brunate vineyards in La Morra) and the glass cube structure in the vineyards at their Bricco Rocche winery in Castiglione Falletto.
They offer three tastings flights, seminars, and tailor-made programs, including cellar tours and vineyard visits. Click for details.
Find it! Ceretto Winery
- Address: Strada Provinciale Alba/Barolo, Località San Cassiano, 34, 12051 Alba
- Phone: +39 0173 282582
- Email: visit@ceretto.com
- Hours: Open daily.
- April 1 to November 15, 10:00 to 18:00 (final visit starts at 17:00).
- November 16 to March 31, 10:00 to 17:00 (final visit starts at 16:00).
Located in the center of the village of Barolo is the Borgogno winery. Another historic producer that dates back to 1761. The tasting room is open daily and cellar tours are available by appointment.
If you are in the market for older Barolo, you will find plenty here. Storage limitations and financial struggles mean that most area producers have been unable to maintain older bottles. But, Borgogno has an incredible vintage library. Bottles are available for purchase at the wine shop / tasting room.
Find it! Borgogno
- Address: Via Vincenzo Gioberti, 1, 12060 Barolo
- Phone: +39 0173 56108
- Email: info@borgogno.com
- Hours: Open daily, 10:00 to 13:00 and 15:00 to 17:00
Damilano is another historic producer, dating back to 1890. You can find these wines all over the world. They have two tasting rooms, one in the village of Barolo and one in the Barolo village of La Morra. Stop in for a tasting or schedule an appointment for a cellar tour.
Find it! Damilano
- Address:
- Barolo Tasting Room: Via Roma 31, 12060 Barolo
- La Morra Tasting Room: Provincial road Alba, Barolo 122, 12064 La Morra
- Phone:
- Barolo Tasting Room: +39 34 596 03588
- La Morra Tasting Room: +39 0173 56105
- Email: info@damilanog.com
- Hours:
- Barolo Tasting Room: Open daily from 10:30 to 18:30; closed Wednesdays.
- La Morra Tasting Room:
- Open Monday to Friday, 8:30 to 12:30 and 14:30 to 18:00
- Open weekends, holidays, 10:00 to 18:00
Marchesi di Barolo is a historical winery with the 5th generation at the helm. Find their wines at their tasting room and wine shop in Barolo as well as all over the world. Schedule a specialty tasting or a cellar tour. Read more about Marchesi di Barolo at Adventures of a Carry-on.
- Address: Via Roma, 1, 12060 Barolo
- Phone: +39 0173 564491
- Email: reception@marchesibarolo.com
- Hours: Open daily, 10:30 to 17:30
The Marcarini Winery remains a family affair, six generations strong. Both the cellar and the tasting room are located in the Barolo village of La Morra. Visit the tasting room to try the wines or schedule an appointment to see the wine making facility. In addition to their Barolos, don’t forget to try the Boschi di Berri Dolcetto, which comes from century old, pre-phylloxera vines.
Find it! Marcarini
- Address: Via Umberto I, 34, 12064 La Morra
- Phone: +39 0173 50222
- Email: wineshop@marcarini.it
Wine Tasting in Barolo and Barbaresco: Barbaresco Tasting Rooms
Barbaresco is a much smaller area than Barolo, so fewer tasting rooms exist.
The historic Produttori del Barbaresco is not to be missed. Situated in the village of Barbaresco, the tasting room is open daily for complimentary pours. You can also schedule a full tour and tasting.
The Produttori is distributed all over the world and is considered one of the top cooperative wineries in Europe. Often these producers have a reputation for low quality based on the belief they pay on weight vs quality. The Produttori adheres to strict regulations on what is purchased from the 50 growers involved in the co-op.
They only make Nebbiolo wines: Langhe Nebbiolo, the classic Barbaresco and, single vineyard Barbaresco Riserva in vintages when the grapes are the best. The single vineyards are produced from the nine best crus within the Barbaresco village boundaries: Asili, Rabajà, Pora, Montestefano, Ovello, Pajè, Montefico, Muncagota, and Rio Sordo.
Find it! Produttori del Barbaresco
- Address: Via Torino, 54, 12050 Barbaresco
- Phone: +39 0173 635139
- Email: Click to contact
- Hours:
- Open Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 18:00
- Open Saturday and Sunday, 1o:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 18:00 (no tours on Sundays)
BoffaAlso located in the village of Barbaresco is the Boffa tasting room. Get a glass or a flight to sit outside and take in the incredible vineyard views.
Find it! Boffa
- Address: Via Torino, 17, 12050 Barbaresco
- Phone: +39 0173 635174
- Email: boffa@boffacarlo.it
Find the Roberto Sarotto tasting room in Alba’s Piazza Savona. Here you will get to taste this Barbaresco producer’s wines alongside some amazing meats and cheeses. Enjoy wines by the glass, bottle, and / or by tasting flight. Aperitivo plates are complimentary with any wine ordered.
Find it! Roberto Sarotto
- Address: Piazza Savona 3/A, 12051 Alba
- Hours:
- Open Friday to Tuesday, 10:00 to 22:00
- Open Thursday after lunch
- Closed Wednesdays
Wine Tasting in Barolo and Barbaresco: Regional Enotecas
Beyond just the walk-in winery tasting rooms are also Regional Enotecas, located in villages and cities. The wines sold and poured at these locations vary from only wines of the commune to all wines of the particular regional.
Barolo:
Enoteca Regionale del Barolo: In the village of Barolo you will find wines from all over Barolo, for sale and to taste. The shop has an Enomatic dispenser so you can taste and explore Barolo wines from across the wine making area.
Cantina Comunale di La Morra: When visiting La Morra (definitely do it for the Belvedere viewpoint – the highest point in Barolo and Barbaresco as well as to see Ceretto’s Cappella delle Brunate), check out the enoteca in the town center. Find wines from all 70 La Morra producers with four open to taste – prices start at 3 euros.
Cantina Comunale di Castiglione Falletto: Wines from the Barolo wine making area of Castiglione Falletto. Taste and purchase daily.
Barbaresco:
Enoteca Regionale del Barbaresco: A unique tasting experience as the enoteca is located in a restored church. Buy wines from producers all over the Barbaresco zone. Four wines are always open for tasting, prices start at 3 euros a pour.
La Bottega dei Quattro Vini (Neive): Taste and purchase the four primary wines produced in Neive – Barbaresco, Barbera, Dolcetto, and Moscato.
Other:
Enoteca Regionale Piemontese Cavour: Located in the 13th century Grinzane Cavour Castle, find wines from all over Piedmont for tasting and purchase.
Enoteca del Roero: Located in Canale with more than 100 Roero wines to buy – tasting available.
Enoteca Regionale Colline del Moscato: Try some yummy Moscato at the beautiful castle in Mango. Find more than 80 winemakers and 20 food producers of the area here.
Enoteca Regionale di Acqui Terme: Dolcetto and Brachetto, anyone? Explore these local wines from the Acquese and Ovadese wine zones.
Enoteca Regionale di Canelli e dell’Astesano: Find Piedmont’s great sparkling wines here, including Moscato d’Asti, Asti Spumante, and Alta Langa metodo classico (traditional Champagne method) wines. In addition, you can taste and buy area reds and whites like Cortese, Piedmont Chardonnay, Ruché, Grignolino, Freisa, Barbera, Dolcetto, and more.
Wine tasting in Barolo and Barbaresco – are you ready?
I hope this list gives you a good starting point for walk-in ready wine tasting in Barolo and Barbaresco.
And, if you are visiting the area, check out our Barolo wine tours for a full day out or for program planning support.
A presto!
Read More about Wine Tasting in Barolo and Barbaresco:
- Insider’s Guide to Barolo & Barbaresco Restaurants
- Barolo Wine Tour Planning – things to know before you go!
- Getting Around Barolo and Barbaresco
Got any favorite places for wine tasting Barolo and Barbaresco? Let us know below – appointments or not!
Another great post Valerie! Such a wonderful area with amazing wines and people. Your articles are exactly what people need to make sense of area and help visitors focus on the good stuff. I want to jump on a plane and visit right now!
Thanks, Chris! We can’t wait for you to come back!! When is that on the schedule!? Had a great time with Niki and Nate – thank you! Hope you are well! Val
Great suggestions for folks that are looking to wing it and not make reservations. The last time I was there I didn’t have much trouble stopping in places, but surprisingly it was during harvest so I got lucky. I was always greeted by someone within the family that would take time out to do a tasting ; ) Obviously now-a-days I would reach out to contacts and make reservations for a full tour.
Ciao, Jen!
Thanks for reading!
Really, no one here will turn you away, and that’s what makes it so difficult for producers, especially during busy times. They want nothing more than to welcome people to their facility, but it really affects their day – though, they are so gracious you’d never know!
Can’t wait till you make it here again and I can take you around!
A presto! Val
Found this post very useful for planning a day trip to Barolo while visiting Turin for the week. Was able to get a tour of the Marchesi di Barolo cellars which was the highlight of the trip. Largest issue I faced was getting around the region. Due to timing I wasn’t able to book a tour, but you were still willing to help and appreciate it. Next time I visit I’ll make sure to book a tour. Thanks again!
Ciao, Sam! Sorry we could not do a tour with you. I’m so glad you got into Marchesi di Barolo!
Getting around this area is not easy – even if you have a car! I’m so glad you were able to experience it and I hope we can show you around on your next visit out!
Cin cin! Val