Cappellano sits with the greats of Barolo along with Giuseppe Rinaldi, Bartolo Mascarello and Giacomo Conterno. Traditional and beguiling wines from Nebbiolo, Barbera that is a standard barer and the infamous Barolo Chinato made to a traditional recipe of the family which helped revive their fortunes.

The estate was started in 1870 and has been headed by some influential figures across its history, rising to early fames and then fading a little. Its current history is now the stuff of legend, restarting almost from scratch by Teobaldo Cappellano.

The pivotal moment coming in 1985 when Teobaldo purchased a 4ha parcel in the Gabutti vineyard in Serralunga from a farmer named Fiorin. He named the parcel “Otin Fiorin”, meaning “Garden of Fiorino”. Replanting a 1/3 of this parcel with Nebbiolo grown on European root stock using the Michet clone which now forms the Pie Franco cuvee, the Rupestris being a mixture of clones planted on American rootstock. 

The Rupestris is a wine that carries its weight and depth with an elegance, showing a refinement to its power. Swirling red fruits, tobacco, earth and florals classically mingle with those tight emery board tannins structured with chew and depth yet flow effortlessly through what is a very fine vintage.

Like all the greats of Piedmont, there is not enough of these wines to satify the world thirst. These are special bottles for any collector.