Luciano Sandrone - Barbera d'Alba 2024

Luciano Sandrone’s story is one of remarkable ambition built from modest beginnings. With no inherited vineyards, he developed his skills working in the cellars of Marchesi di Barolo before purchasing his first parcel in Cannubi Boschis in 1977. The following year, supported by his wife Mariuccia, he made his first Barolo in the garage of his parents’ home. Just 1,500 bottles were produced—a small beginning for a producer who would become one of Piedmont’s defining names.

International recognition followed when an American buyer discovered his inaugural 1978 Barolo at Vinitaly and purchased the production. Luciano continued refining an approach that respected Nebbiolo’s origins while exploring ways to achieve greater purity, balance, and finesse. His wines helped shape modern Barolo, combining generous fruit and carefully managed tannins with the structure and complexity needed for long aging.

Family has remained central to the estate’s development. Luciano’s younger brother Luca became an essential partner in the vineyards, while his daughter Barbara, involved in the business since 1989, took on an increasingly important role in its management and international relationships. Following Luciano’s death in January 2023, Barbara and Luca have continued his work alongside the established team, with grandchildren Alessia and Stefano also involved in the family estate.

The winery is based in Barolo, with vineyards extending across the Langhe and neighboring Roero. Two celebrated Barolos illustrate its understanding of place. Aleste, the continuation of Cannubi Boschis, expresses the character of Luciano’s foundational vineyard; renamed beginning with the 2013 vintage, it joins the names of his grandchildren, ALEssia and STEfano. Le Vigne, first produced in 1990, follows Barolo’s tradition of blending vineyards from different villages, with each parcel harvested, fermented, and aged separately before blending. Together, they capture the estate’s enduring interests: the individuality of a cherished vineyard and the complementary voices of the wider Barolo landscape.

“Damp earth and stewing plum and cherry open with a lush and immediately seductive depth before thyme and rosemary arrive and give the nose a wild and aromatic lift that feels almost effortlessly Piedmontese. The palate delivers everything you could want from Barbera and then some, where the generous and lush fruit is threaded through with an unexpected vein of refinement and elegance that elevates this into genuinely serious territory.” - 94 points, Wine Enthusiast

“Fruity wine with intense, floral and red and black cherry aromas, together with almost estery and slightly leafy character and depth of graphite. Supple palate with medium body, zesty acidity and a peppery finish elongated by silky tannins with a hint of blood oranges. Drink or hold.” - 93 points, James Suckling

“The 2024 Barbera d’Alba is a bold, joyous wine. Succulent dark-toned fruit, chocolate, new leather, cloves and rose petal build nicely in the glass. This exuberant, generous Barbera hits all the right notes. It’s another impressive 2024 from Sandrone.” - 91-92 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous

Producer: Luciano Sandrone

Country: Italy

Region: Piedmont

Varietal: Barbera

Appellation: Barbera d'Alba

Vintage: 2024

Size: 750ml