News

London tasting to showcase best of Barolo and Barbaresco

12 August 2021 By Lucy Shaw

A comprehensive showcase of over 120 of the finest and most sought-after crus of Barolo and Barbaresco will be in pour in London on 15 September.

The trade-only tasting will feature the latest vintages coming onto the UK market, including 2017 Barolo, 2018 Barbaresco and Langhe Nebbiolo and Nebbiolo d’Alba from the 2018, 2019 and 2020 vintages.

The event is being run by the Consorzio of Barolo, Barbaresco, Alba, Langhe & Dogliani and Italian wine event specialist Hunt & Speller, run by Walter Speller and Jane Hunt MW, with the aim of shining a light on the region and its wines.

“The UK has always been the international reference point and the most important market for the highest quality wines in the world.

“The UK market has a deep knowledge of the Langhe wines, and historically it is a competitive place where you can find the largest offer of fine wine in the world.

“It is an essential market if you want to confront yourself with the rest of the world and where you simply have to be present,” said Matteo Ascheri, president of the consorzio.

“Tastings and presentations such as organised by Walter and Jane are fundamental in the education and information on the world of Barolo, Barbaresco, Langhe Nebbiolo d’Alba, its terroirs, its diversity of styles and the people behind Nebbiolo,” he added.

Speller said of the event: “After a very long and challenging time for both Italian wine and the entire trade, Jane and I felt compelled to put the spotlights back on the Langhe.

“Because of the Covid emergency and the impossibility to show new Barolo, Barbaresco and Nebbiolo releases in the past year and a half we wanted to prevent the possibility that the 2017 Barolo and 2018 Barbaresco vintages would pass the UK market by without having had a change to be tasted in-depth.

“I am particularly keen to show the 2017 Barolo and 2018 Barbaresco vintages because both are charming and quite immediate but with refinement and complexity at the same time.

“These vintages are extremely useful in a market that is beginning to recover from the economic consequences of Covid and these wines do not need a decade to come round. They will deliver lots of pleasure to Nebbiolo aficionados and novices alike.

“A good number of Langhe Nebbiolo and Nebbiolo d’Alba is included in the tasting as to give tasters an idea of what quality can be expected in the next few vintages.”

With 120 wines on show, tasters can choose from three sets of 40 wines during a two-hour, pre-booked sommelier-serviced tasting slot covering the finest and most sought-after crus from Piemonte.

A full list of wines as well as the comprehensive tasting catalogue with vintage descriptions and technical details of each of the wines will be available on www.huntandspeller.com for downloading shortly.