Cerviano-Merli
cher-VYAH-no MER-lee
A compact, south-facing MGA in Novello that delivers elegant, structured Barolo with a natural connection to the celebrated Ravera cru.
Cerviano-Merli is a 5.9-hectare Barolo MGA in Novello, Piedmont, known for structured, elegant Nebbiolo with notable depth. Sitting just south of the famous Ravera cru, it shares similar Marne di Sant'Agata dei Fossili soils and a cool alpine-influenced climate. The vineyard produces wines of complexity and longevity, with dark fruit, florals, and mineral character.
- Total vineyard area: 5.9 hectares
- Elevation: 320 to 450 meters above sea level
- Aspect: south and southeast facing
- Soil: marl, clay, and limestone on Marne di Sant'Agata dei Fossili formation
- Grape variety: Nebbiolo exclusively
- Located in the commune of Novello within Barolo DOCG
- Classified as a Barolo MGA (Menzione Geografica Aggiuntiva)
Location and Setting
Cerviano-Merli sits within the commune of Novello in the southern half of the Barolo DOCG zone in Piedmont. The vineyard lies just south of the more celebrated Ravera MGA and is widely regarded as a natural continuation of it, sharing similar geographic and geological characteristics. Elevations range from 320 to 450 meters above sea level, placing Cerviano-Merli among the higher-altitude sites in the appellation.
- Part of the Novello commune, one of the eleven Barolo villages
- Located immediately south of the Ravera MGA
- Total planted area of 5.9 hectares makes it one of the smaller MGAs in Barolo
Soils and Climate
The soils of Cerviano-Merli belong to the Marne di Sant'Agata dei Fossili geological formation, composed of marl, clay, and limestone with a notably low sand content. This dense, compact soil type is rich in minerals and retains moisture effectively, contributing to the structured, age-worthy character of the wines. The climate is cool, moderated by winds descending from the Cottian Alps, which help preserve acidity and aromatic freshness in the Nebbiolo grown here.
- Marne di Sant'Agata dei Fossili soils: marl, clay, and limestone dominant
- Low sand content means dense, mineral-rich soil structure
- Alpine winds from the Cottian Alps cool the site and extend the growing season
Wine Character
Nebbiolo from Cerviano-Merli produces Barolo of notable complexity and elegance. The wines show a distinctive aromatic profile spanning dark tobacco, blueberry, licorice, dark cherry, strawberry, and floral notes, often accompanied by white pepper and mineral undertones. Tannins are described as soft relative to some other Barolo MGAs, lending the wines an elegant, approachable character without sacrificing structure or aging potential.
- Aromatic profile: dark tobacco, blueberry, licorice, dark cherry, florals, white pepper
- Soft tannins distinguish the style from more austere Barolo MGAs
- Strong aging potential supported by mineral-driven structure
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Open Wine Lookup →Key Producers and History
Among the producers working with Cerviano-Merli fruit, Marziano Abbona has a particularly documented connection to the site. Abbona acquired vineyard holdings in Cerviano in 1999, following the passing of his brother Enrico. Other notable producers include Mario Giribaldi, Tenuta Baràc, Ca'Viola, and Elvio Cogno, several of whom also farm in neighboring Ravera and bring extensive Novello expertise to their Cerviano-Merli bottlings.
- Marziano Abbona acquired his Cerviano holdings in 1999
- Elvio Cogno and Ca'Viola are well-established names across the Novello MGAs
- The MGA gained formal recognition under the Barolo MGA classification system introduced in 2010
Dark tobacco, blueberry, licorice, dark cherry, and strawberry on the nose, with floral lifts, white pepper, and mineral notes. On the palate, the wines show full body with soft tannins, good acidity, and a structured, elegant finish suited to medium to long aging.
- Marziano Abbona Barolo Cerviano$55-75Abbona has farmed Cerviano since 1999, giving this bottling deep site-specific roots and consistent quality.Find →
- Elvio Cogno Barolo Ravera$70-90Cogno's flagship Novello bottling from adjacent Ravera offers a direct stylistic benchmark for comparison.Find →
- Ca'Viola Barolo$50-65Ca'Viola brings a modern, fruit-forward approach to Novello Nebbiolo with reliable vineyard sourcing.Find →
- Cerviano-Merli is classified as a Barolo MGA (Menzione Geografica Aggiuntiva) in the commune of Novello
- The site covers 5.9 hectares at 320 to 450 meters elevation with south and southeast aspects
- Soils are Marne di Sant'Agata dei Fossili: marl, clay, and limestone with low sand content
- The vineyard lies directly south of Ravera and is considered a geographic continuation of it
- Alpine winds from the Cottian Alps define the cool mesoclimate of the site