There is something enchanting about discovering where whatever is in your glass is made. Whether it’s a whisky distillery in Scotland, Champagne house in Champagne, or Barolo winery in Barolo, seeing the landscape that affects the taste and meeting the passionate people behind it, connects you with the spirit making it taste even better. My day trip to Barolo from Milan was one of the most memorable days of my trip to Italy, and easily one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been.
As all aficionados of food and drink know, terroir (aka, geography) plays a big part in flavor, along with a place’s culture and history. So experiencing all of it together firsthand helps you better understand and appreciate the nuances of it. Personally, I didn’t know much about Barolo so I was excited to learn anything and everything. And I came away from my day trip to Barolo not only knowledgeable, but a big fan of the wine.
Along the way, I learned a few tips for a day trip to Barolo from Milan. So here’s what to know if you want to go.
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7 Tips for a Day Trip to Barolo from Milan
1. Barolo, in Italy’s Piedmont region, is about 2.5 hours away from Milan.
Milan, in Italy’s Lombardy region, is about 100 miles from Barolo, in the Piedmont region. It’s possible to take mass transit to get there but that requires a train and a bus (or two) depending on the winery, taking more than three hours. But then getting to different wineries is a hassle. So the best option is to drive, which takes about 2.5 hours.
It’s even better to have someone drive for you. While you can hire a driver, the easiest solution is to take a guided tour specifically designed to take you to the best wineries. I took this day trip to Barolo from Milan, which included transportation, a four course pairing lunch, and two winery visits.
2. The Piedmont region has 11 communes making 11 unique styles of wine.
Just like how Champagne must be made in Champagne, many wines in the Piedmont region must be made in their respective areas be called a certain name. Piedmont has 11 types of DOCG-certified wines — essentially meaning they are guaranteed to be from a certain place and made in a certain way.
Even though there are 11 types of wine, many are made from the same grape, just with different techniques and requirements. The most popular is arguably Barolo, made from the Nebbiolo grape. Known as the “King of Wine,” it is considered one of Italy’s greatest wines.
In addition to Barolo, the indigenous Nebbiolo grape also produces Barbaresco wine, which has its own distinct region. Nebbiolo, named after the nebbia, or fog, is known for violet and rose aromas with flavors of truffle, fennel, licorice, and tar. It has good acidity and plenty of tannins, make it a wine makers’ favorite.
3. Marrone Winery is the only winery on the edge of Barolo and Barbaresco, making both types of wine.
If you want to taste Barolo and Barberesco, one winery conveniently sits on the edge of both regions, Marrone Winery. It’s the only winery with such a unique geographical location. And in addition to Barolo and Barberesco, Marrone also makes Dulcetto, a dry, fruity wine, and Favorita. Actually a local white wine known as Vermentino, it’s called Favorita because it was the king’s favorite.
4. Have a wine pairing lunch to taste both the wines and flavors of the region.
The Piedmont region is also famous for truffles, chocolate, and hazelnuts. Not surprisingly, it’s where Nutella was invented. Known here as gianduia, a chocolatier added hazelnut paste to his chocolate to stretch supplies when Napoleon imposed a ban on British goods in 1806, creating the hazelnut chocolate spread.
Anyway, find a winery that serves food to taste all the flavors of the Barolo region. My guided tour included a four course lunch at Marrone Winery. Each delicious course was paired with a Marrone wine, creating a fantastic lunch. Plus the scenery was stunning, making for the perfect afternoon.
5. Don’t forget to indulge in a little sightseeing.
Barolo is mostly focused on wine, and so are most tourists, but there are a few detours to take if you’re looking for something else to do. If you’re short on time, stop at the Barolo Chapel, a church-turned-artpiece in La Morra, near Barolo. Originally built as a shelter for vineyard workers in 1914, it was never consecrated and eventually fell to ruins. But new owners breathed life into it when artists painted it in 1999. Honestly I think the views were more impressive than the church, but to each their own!
If you have a little more time, visit the Barolo Wine Museum in a 10th Century castle. The castle’s history weaves from a king’s castle to a family home to a community college, finally becoming a museum in 2010. Today the museum houses “an interactive voyage through culture and wine tradition.”
And finally, if you have a lot of time, you haven’t drank enough wine. Kidding! But if you have an entire afternoon or so, don’t miss truffle hunting. Alba, about a 20 minute drive from Barolo, is considered the truffle capital of the world, with the finest white truffles.
6. Consider taking a guided tour to do everything you want.
Whether you want to become a wine expert in your day trip to Barolo, drink every kind of wine in the region possible, or combine food and wine, the easiest option is to find a tour catering to your desires. I had such a great experience on my tour; the small group had just seven of us and we all felt like friends by the day’s end. (Although it was probably the wine talking!)
If you don’t need transportation from Milan, this tour covers all of Piedmont’s wines. Or you could do an even deeper dive with a four-day Piedmont wine tour.
7. The wine is cheaper to buy in Barolo than in the United States
At the end of our tour of Marrone Winery, we were given the opportunity to buy wine. They would even ship it to the U.S. for a fee, as long as an entire case was purchased. I bought two bottles, but the biggest mistake I made was not buying an entire case to have shipped home.
The winery said their bottles were sold in Chicago but once I got home I couldn’t find it anywhere. I’m devastated! Not only that, other Barolo wines are significantly more expensive here than any sold at the winery. Even with the price of shipping, the wines were cheaper in Italy then in Chicago. So stock up while you’re in Barolo!
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No matter what winery you visit or what other specifics you decide, you’ll have a fantastic time in Barolo. It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen and my day trip to Barolo from Milan was one of the highlights of my trip to Italy.
Related :: Tips for a Day Trip to Champagne, a Day Trip to Pompeii from Rome, and a guide to Milan.
Let’s have a toast :) thanks for sharing those Barolo wines :) greetings from Portugal, PedroL