Poderi Marcarini, DOCG Barolo, Piedmont, Italy

Poderi Marcarini farms some of the Langhe’s most historic vineyards.

For generations, Poderi Marcarini has been a custodian of some of the Langhe’s most historic vineyards. Located in La Morra, the family estate farms 25 hectares of vines, producing around 130,000 bottles annually from Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, Barbera, Arneis and Moscato. At the heart of the estate are five hectares of old vines, whose historical, genetic and cultural significance defines Marcarini’s identity.

These vineyards comprise Brunate (3 ha), Boschi di Berri (0.5 ha) and an old Moscato vineyard (1.5 ha), together producing approximately 11,000–13,000 bottles each year. Their wines—Barolo Brunate, Dolcetto d’Alba Boschi di Berri Prefillossera and Moscato d’Asti—express the individuality that only mature vineyards can deliver.

Poderi Marcarini is located in the medieval hilltop village of La Morra

Among them, Brunate stands as one of Barolo’s most celebrated crus, recognised since the Middle Ages for the quality of its Nebbiolo. Marcarini was among the first estates to vinify Brunate separately and, beginning with the 1958 vintage, to place the vineyard name on the label—long before single-vineyard Barolo became the norm. Today, vines planted between 1978 and 1987 grow on the calcareous Sant’Agata Fossil Marls, producing Barolo of remarkable elegance, balsamic complexity and longevity, capable of ageing for several decades.

Equally extraordinary is Boschi di Berri, planted in the late nineteenth century during the phylloxera epidemic. Here, some Dolcetto vines are more than 120 years old and remain ungrafted, having survived thanks to the vineyard’s partially sandy soils and favourable microclimate. It is recognised as the only known pre-phylloxera Dolcetto vineyard in existence, making it an exceptional historical and genetic resource. The wine it produces is unlike conventional Dolcetto—structured, complex and capable of ageing for over twenty years, offering a rare glimpse into the variety’s original character before grafting onto American rootstocks became necessary.

Marcarini farms the only pre-phylloxera Dolcetto vineyard in existence

The estate’s old Moscato vineyard, planted in 1980 beside the Rio Tinella, completes this remarkable collection. Together, these mature vineyards demonstrate the resilience of old vines: deep root systems provide natural drought tolerance, stable yields and consistent fruit quality, while preserving historic vine populations that are increasingly rare in modern vineyards.

Recognising the genetic importance of this heritage, Marcarini has established a small nursery propagating the own-rooted Dolcetto vines of Boschi di Berri, helping preserve original plant material from before the introduction of American rootstocks. Every vineyard is maintained by hand, replacing individual vines only through layering or careful re-establishment to protect the historic balance of each site.

The Marcarini family has been farming these vineyards since the 19th-Century

The Marcarini family’s connection with these vineyards stretches back to the nineteenth century and continues today with Elisa and Andrea. Their philosophy remains unapologetically traditional and conservation-minded: these old vines are not simply the foundation of great wines, but a living inheritance. Preserving them means safeguarding an irreplaceable chapter of Barolo’s history and ensuring that this unique viticultural legacy endures for future generations.

Website: marcarini.it
Instagram: @poderimarcarini
Facebook: Poderi Marcarini

Photos supplied by winery