A Sense of Place Wine Tours

Where Every Sip Tells a Story

At A Sense of Place Wine Tours, we believe in the magic of wine. Our tours offer more than just wine tastings; they are a gateway to discovering the heart and soul of a region. Join us for an unforgettable exploration of wine, culture, and community.

Discover the Beauty and Diversity of Piedmont.

From our base in xxxxxx we will spend one day each in Barolo, Barbaresco, Gattinara and Ghemme. I'm sure the wines of the first two regions will be familiar to most, but have you tried the wines of Gattinara or Ghemme?

The wineries we shall be visiting are; (click on Wiery to visist their web site)
BAROLO
1.Paolo Scavino
2. Oddero
3.Ettore Germano

BARBARESCO
1. Poderi Colla
2.Cascina Vano
3.Massimo Rivetti

Gattinara
1. Cantine Nervi
2. Travaglini

Ghemme
1.Torraccia
2.Sabastiani

Barolo

Considered by some to be the King of all red wines in Italy, and certainly commanding some of the highest prices, it is the largest DOCG in Piedmont. It sits 7 miles to the south east of Alba. Which is handy because that is where the Alba truffle festival takes place and where we shall visit for dinner, and a little shopping for truffle and/or Porcini.

Barolo is situated high amongst the rolling hills of Piedmont. The views from La Morra are breathtaking (although a bad view point of Barolo would be hard to find). We shall visit 3 vineyards starting at 10 a.m and 6 pm, popping into the town of Barolo for lunch.

Barbaresco

As picturesque as Barolo is, Barbaresco is more so. Perhaps it is because everything seems a little more rural. The towns and villages are smaller, the roads windier and the hills more undulated. It's hard to put into words, but when you see it you understand.

I believe that it also reflected in the wines. Whilst no Nebbiolo is a shrinking violet, the wines of Barbaresco always seem a bit prettier and more come hither than the wines of Barolo. But you will be able to make up your own minds on that.

Gattinara

Situated 50 miles north of Turin and some 90 miles north of Alba, Gattinara is in the shadow of the Alps and on the way to the lakes on the Swiss border. The landscape is more rugged than its southern cousins, and I think this too is reflected in their wines.

Gattinara wines reflect their proximity to the Alps. The soils are thinner and mineral rich, so the fruit tends to be crunchier red fruits end of the spectrum, the acidity fresher and the tannin a bit grippier. All this adds up to rugged charm in my books.

Ghemme

Neighbouring Gattinara to the west, It shares many similarities. However Ghemme sits on the river Sesia and rivers play an important part in climatic controls.
Mountain melt water brings a cooling influence during the day, giving some respite to vines in hot, sunny conditions.

My experience with the wines of Ghemme is limited. There are not many wineries and production is small. But it is an expression of Nebbiolo that intrigues me as wine lover.
It is Gattinara on steroids. It is taut and muscular and powerful. it is most certainly age worthy (as most Nebbiolo is). I.ve had them with 15 years on them that seemed like they had been bottled the week before.