Founded in 1956, Michele Chiarlo is one of Monferrato's leading houses, with holdings across Barbera d'Asti, Nizza, Gavi and Barolo and the La Court vineyard art park near Asti.
Signature wines: barbera-dasti-la-court, nizza-cipressi, barolo-cerequio
Address: Strada Nizza-Canelli 14, 14042 Calamandrana AT, Italy, Piedmont
The Bologna family has made Barbera at Rocchetta Tanaro since 1961. Giacomo Bologna's barrique-aged Bricco dell'Uccellone (first 1982) redefined Barbera as a serious, age-worthy red.
Tasting: Guided tastings and cellar visits at Rocchetta Tanaro, with a wine resort on the estate.
Signature wines: bricco-dell-uccellone, ai-suma, bricco-della-bigotta
The Bologna family has made Barbera at Rocchetta Tanaro since 1961. Giacomo Bologna's barrique-aged Bricco dell'Uccellone (first 1982) redefined Barbera as a serious, age-worthy red.
Tasting: Guided tastings and cellar visits at Rocchetta Tanaro, with a wine resort on the estate.
Signature wines: bricco-dell-uccellone, ai-suma, bricco-della-bigotta
The Rivetti family began with Moscato in 1977 and moved into single-vineyard Barbaresco and Barolo, marking its top crus with the rhinoceros label. Known for a polished, modern style.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by reservation at Castagnole delle Lanze, usually mid-morning or afternoon.
Signature wines: barbaresco-vigneto-gallina, barbaresco-vigneto-starderi, barolo-campe
Founded in Canelli in 1892, Coppo is a Monferrato house known for the barrique-aged Pomorosso Barbera and traditional-method sparkling wines, cellaring in UNESCO-listed tufa caves.
Tasting: Guided visits and tastings in the UNESCO-listed underground cathedral cellars beneath Canelli.
Signature wines: pomorosso-barbera-dasti, coppo-riserva-spumante, moncalvina-moscato-dasti
Roberto Voerzio set up on his own in 1986 and became famous for radically low yields and meticulous viticulture, producing concentrated, sought-after single-cru Barolo from La Morra.
Tasting: Small low-yield estate; visits strictly by appointment in La Morra.
Signature wines: barolo-la-serra, barolo-brunate, barolo-cerequio
Elio Altare led the Barolo Boys modernist movement from the 1970s, introducing rotary fermenters and barrique ageing at Cascina Nuova. The La Morra estate is now run by daughter Silvia.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment at Cascina Nuova in the Annunziata hamlet of La Morra.
Signature wines: barolo-arborina, barolo-cerretta, langhe-larigi
Founded in 1976, Domenico Clerico was a leading Barolo modernist, building a sleek Monforte cellar and crafting concentrated single-vineyard Barolo such as Ciabot Mentin and Pajana.
Tasting: Modern winery with tastings by appointment in the Manzoni hamlet of Monforte d'Alba.
Signature wines: barolo-ciabot-mentin, barolo-pajana, barolo-percristina