Cascina Ballarin Dolcetto d'Alba Pilade 2015
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At Cascina Ballarin they grow grapes in their own vineyards in La Morra, Monforte d’Alba, Novello and produce wine in their own cellar. Barolo is their main wine. Different types of Barolo are produced separately from different vineyards in order to preserve the nuances that different types of soil offer. In addition, they produce Barbera d’Alba , Dolcetto d’Alba , Langhe Rosso e Langhe Bianco. The entire family works at Cascina Ballarin, each member taking care of different tasks: from the work in the vineyards to the production of the grapes to the wine-making process. After ageing the various wines for the specific amount of time, they are bottled and sold under their own name,Cascina Ballarin. The final quality of their wines is at the core of all operations, along with the respect of the environment and nature and the employment of sustainable practices. Cascina Ballarin organizes, upon reservation, guided tours and tastings for small and large groups, and proposes food and wine pairings with some traditional local products, particularly cheese and cold cuts.
An easy drinking red with soft fruity flavors—but catchy tannins, Dolcetto is often enjoyed in its native Piedmont on a casual weekday night, or for apertivo (the canonical Piedmontese pre-dinner appetizer hour). Somm Secret—In most of Piedmont, easy-ripening Dolcetto is relegated to the secondary sites—the best of which are reserved for the king variety: Nebbiolo. However, in the Dogliani zone it is the star of the show, and makes a more serious style of Dolcetto, many of which can improve with cellar time.
An historic village situated right in between the famous regions of Barolo and Barbaresco, Alba is also the name for the larger wine region surrounding the village.
In a sense, “Alba” is a catch-all phrase, and includes the declassified Nebbiolo wines made in Barolo and Barbaresco, as well as the Nebbiolo grown just outside of these regions’ borders. In fact, Nebbiolo d’Alba is a softer, less tannic and more fruit-forward wine ready to drink within just a couple years of bottling. It is a great place to start if you want to begin to understand the grape. Likewise, the even broader category of Langhe Nebbiolo offers approachable and value-driven options as well.
Barbera, planted alongside Nebbiolo in the surrounding hills, and referred to as Barbera d’Alba, takes on a more powerful and concentrated personality compared to its counterparts in Asti.
Dolcetto is ubiquitous here and, known as Dolcetto d'Alba, can be found casually served alongside antipasti on the tables of Alba’s cafes and wine bars.
Not surprisingly, given its location, Alba is recognized as one of Italy’s premiere culinary destinations and is the home of the fall truffle fair, which attracts visitors from worldwide every year.