Here in the Langa region Chinato is attributed to Dr. Cappellano, a pharmacist from Serralunga d’Alba who during the late nineteenth century created this elixir for healing purposes.
Over the years each family of Langa region has developed their own recipe based on the taste preferences as well as the particular herbs found in each vineyard. Our Barolo Chinato comes from a very old family recipe using old vine Nebbiolo from the Pira vineyard which typically would be used for Vecchie Viti or our Riserva wine.

This Barolo Chinato Vecchia Formula is a unique attempt by Luca to reproduce a chinato using the old recipe from when it was born 150 years ago in pharmacies. There was no sugar added, just herbs and a base of the 2006 Pira Barolo Riserva. 440 bottles were aged in two small neutral botti. It can be opened and sipped for months or even years without any fear of oxidation.
______________________________________________________________________
This is a very special treat; indeed, there are only 446 bottles in existence. An aromatized wine, the NV Barolo Chinato Vecchia Formula uses Barolo Riserva Pira as a base wine and is infused with herbs for six years. The vines were planted in 1937 and the wine’s stunning complexity starts with quality fruit. The Roagna family found inspiration in an ancient formula for making Barolo Chinato that results in a dry mouthfeel (powered in this case by a 20% alcohol content), as local tradition dictates. The bouquet is seductive and alluring with spicy fruit, cola, sweet spice, candied orange peel, vanilla, aniseed, lilac, Indian spice and more. There is freshness on the close and a playful hint of that herb-infused bitterness that makes Barolo Chinato an excellent digestif or even a companion to artisanal aged cheese. It’s a good day when you get to try a fortified wine this special.-96pts Wine Advocate