From the Roero Highlands overlooking the Langhe, Tenuta Carretta is one of Piedmont’s most historic wine estates, with its roots stretching back to 1467—over 550 years of winemaking. The estate began when Andrea Damiano, Lord of Piobesi d’Alba, granted the Porrino brothers the right to cultivate the land in a notarial deed, establishing what would become Tenuta Carretta. Over the centuries, ownership shifted among noble families until the property was acquired by the Mirollo family in 1985, who revitalized the estate and elevated its Barolo and Barbaresco production. Today, the winery sits in Piobesi d’Alba in the Roero, but its vineyards extend into the Langhe, including 2.6 hectares of Nebbiolo on the legendary Cannubi hill in Barolo—vineyards planted in 1959 and first vinified in 1961. Cascina Ferrero represents the estate’s classic, traditional Barolo, blending Nebbiolo from their own vineyards in Barolo and La Morra to create a wine that honors the old Piedmontese “recipe” of using multiple vineyard sites for consistency and complexity.

Barolo itself is one of Italy’s most revered wine regions, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its steep hills and ancient calcareous–clay marl soils that give Nebbiolo its legendary structure and perfume. The 2021 vintage is a return to what many call Nebbiolo’s “Alpine” soul, after several warmer, more solar vintages. A long, snowy winter replenished deep soil water reserves, and a dry but warm summer—without extreme heat spikes—allowed the grapes to ripen slowly while cool nights preserved the signature acidity and tension. An April frost naturally reduced yields, concentrating the fruit, and a sharply cold September night preserved the malic acid and complex aromatics. The result is a vintage of noble balance: fresh, lifted, and full of structure, with the classic “tar and roses” profile intact. Cascina Ferrero is a perfect expression of this vintage, aged 36 months total (24 in French oak, 9 in bottle) to develop elegance while keeping the wine’s dramatic Nebbiolo character.

Why You’ll Love It

• Classic, old-world structure: Dried rose, plum, tobacco, licorice, and cocoa on the palate, with firm but harmonious tannins and intense garnet red color.

• A true 2021 Barolo experience: Fresh, lifted acidity with concentrated fruit and dusty tannins, capturing the vintage’s “Alpine” Nebbiolo soul.

• Historic pedigree with UNparalleled consistency: Blends Barolo and La Morra vineyards, offering balance between the power of Helvetian marls and the elegance of Tortonian soils, with over 550 years of estate heritage.

How To Serve It

• Serve at 64–68°F, slightly cool, to let the spice and floral notes shine.

• Decant 45–60 minutes before serving in large Burgundy stems to open up the aromatics and soften the tannins.

• Pair with red meats, braised game, aged cheeses, or rich risottos—this is a Barolo built for the table, not just for the glass.