Brandini
bran-DEE-nee
A southwest-facing La Morra MGA delivering perfumed, approachable Barolo with red fruits, roses, and refined tannins from organic vines.
Brandini is a Barolo MGA in La Morra, Piedmont, known for elegant, floral Nebbiolo grown at 410 to 435 meters. The vineyard's southwest aspect and calcareous marl soils produce wines with fine tannins and strong drinkability from a relatively young age. Agricola Brandini, the site's defining producer, has farmed organically since 2011.
- Official Barolo MGA (Menzione Geografica Aggiuntiva), recognized under the 2010 MGA classification system
- Located in the La Morra commune, Barolo DOCG, Piedmont, Italy
- Elevation ranges from 410 to 435 meters with a southwest aspect
- Soils are clay and sandy with calcareous marl, typical of La Morra's western sector
- Sole grape variety permitted is Nebbiolo
- Also known by the parcel code R56, referencing its single vineyard designation
- Agricola Brandini, founded in 2007, has held organic certification since 2011
Location and Geography
Brandini sits within the La Morra commune, one of the largest and most celebrated townships of the Barolo DOCG. The vineyard occupies a southwest-facing slope at elevations between 410 and 435 meters above sea level. This altitude, combined with Alpine influence and good ventilation, moderates the continental climate and extends the growing season, allowing Nebbiolo to develop aromatic complexity while retaining freshness. The position within La Morra places Brandini firmly in a zone known for producing some of Barolo's most perfumed and approachable expressions.
- Parent commune: La Morra, Barolo DOCG
- Elevation: 410 to 435 meters above sea level
- Aspect: Southwest, maximizing afternoon sun exposure
- Climate moderated by altitude and Alpine ventilation
Soils and Viticulture
The soils at Brandini consist of clay and sandy material layered over calcareous marl, a combination characteristic of the western Barolo zone around La Morra and Barolo village. This soil profile tends to yield wines with more generous aromatics and softer tannin structure compared to the compact Helvetian soils found in Serralunga d'Alba to the east. Agricola Brandini has farmed the site organically since 2011, avoiding synthetic inputs and supporting the vineyard ecosystem through certified organic practices.
- Soil type: Clay and sandy soils over calcareous marl (Tortonian epoch)
- La Morra marl soils are associated with earlier-drinking, perfumed Barolo styles
- Organic certification held since 2011 by Agricola Brandini
- Single grape variety: Nebbiolo (Lampia clone dominant in Barolo)
History and Recognition
Brandini was officially recognized as an MGA when Barolo's Menzione Geografica Aggiuntiva system was established in 2010, giving producers the right to name specific vineyard sites on labels. The parcel is also referenced by its cadastral code R56, a designation used internally to identify the single vineyard plot. Agricola Brandini, the winery most closely associated with this site, was founded in 2007 by Piero Bascagno along with his daughters Serena and Giovanna Bagnasco, making it a relatively young estate by Barolo standards. The family's commitment to organic viticulture from an early date reflects a broader movement among quality-focused Barolo producers toward sustainable farming.
- MGA status granted under the 2010 Barolo MGA classification system
- R56 is the official parcel code for this single vineyard site
- Agricola Brandini founded in 2007 by the Bascagno and Bagnasco family
- Organic certified since 2011, among the earlier adopters in the zone
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Open Wine Lookup →Wine Style and Character
Barolo from Brandini expresses the classic La Morra profile: aromatic, floral, and fruit-forward relative to MGAs from the eastern communes. Red fruits such as cherry and raspberry dominate the nose alongside rose petals and violet, with the calcareous marl contributing a chalky mineral underpinning. Tannins are fine-grained rather than grippy, and the wine reaches a point of pleasurable drinkability earlier in its life than Barolos from Serralunga or Castiglione Falletto. Extended aging potential remains intact, but approachability is a distinguishing feature of this site.
- Aromatic profile: red cherry, raspberry, rose, violet, floral notes
- Tannin structure: fine-grained, polished, approachable in relative youth
- Minerality from calcareous marl soils adds backbone and definition
- Style sits within the more elegant, perfumed La Morra tradition
Red cherry, raspberry, and dried rose petals on the nose with violet and subtle floral lift. The palate shows fine, well-integrated tannins and bright acidity typical of Nebbiolo, with calcareous minerality providing structure. Approachable from a relatively young age, with the capacity to develop tar, leather, and dried fruit complexity with bottle age.
- Agricola Brandini Barolo Brandini DOCG$55-80The estate's flagship single-vineyard Barolo from organically farmed Nebbiolo on the MGA's calcareous marl soils.Find →
- Brandini is a Barolo MGA in La Morra, officially recognized under the 2010 MGA classification system; also known by parcel code R56
- Elevation of 410 to 435 meters with a southwest aspect; soils are clay and sandy over calcareous marl, placing it in the Tortonian soil zone associated with perfumed, approachable Barolo
- La Morra calcareous marl soils contrast with the compact Helvetian soils of Serralunga d'Alba, producing wines with finer tannins and earlier drinkability
- Agricola Brandini was founded in 2007 by Piero Bascagno and daughters Serena and Giovanna Bagnasco; organic certified since 2011
- Sole permitted grape is Nebbiolo; wine style is floral and red-fruited with fine tannins, characteristic of the western Barolo communes