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San Lorenzo di Verduno

san lo-REN-zo dee ver-DOO-no

San Lorenzo di Verduno is a tiny 0.8-hectare Barolo MGA in the Verduno commune, celebrated for its feminine, aromatic style. Situated adjacent to the renowned Monvigliero, it shares the same Marne di Sant'Agata soils but sits at slightly lower elevation. The site produces high-toned, spicy Nebbiolo with notable finesse and accessibility.

Key Facts
  • Total vineyard area: 0.8 hectares, one of Barolo's smallest MGAs
  • Located within Verduno commune, Barolo DOCG, Piedmont
  • Elevation: 240 to 260 metres above sea level with a south-facing aspect
  • Soils: calcareous marl (Marne di Sant'Agata) with clay, sand, and limestone
  • Climate influenced by Tanaro river proximity, providing continuous cooling breezes
  • First vintage produced in 1997
  • Notable producers include Fratelli Alessandria, Castello di Verduno, Diego Morra, and Pelassa

📍Location and Geography

San Lorenzo di Verduno sits within the Verduno commune in the northern reaches of the Barolo DOCG zone in Piedmont. The vineyard occupies just 0.8 hectares, making it one of the appellation's most compact MGAs. Its south-facing aspect at 240 to 260 metres elevation captures good sun exposure while remaining under the moderating influence of the Tanaro river, which runs nearby and generates persistent cool breezes throughout the growing season.

  • Commune: Verduno, northern Barolo DOCG
  • Size: 0.8 hectares total
  • Aspect: south-facing
  • Elevation: 240 to 260 metres

🪨Soils and Climate

The vineyard sits on the same Marne di Sant'Agata formation that defines much of Verduno, a calcareous marl combining clay, sand, and limestone. This soil type promotes drainage while retaining enough moisture to support Nebbiolo through dry stretches. The proximity of the Tanaro river brings a cooler, more northerly microclimate than many other Barolo communes, with continuous breezes and cool evening temperatures that preserve aromatic intensity and natural acidity in the grapes. San Lorenzo di Verduno shares its soil profile with the adjacent Monvigliero MGA but sits at slightly lower elevation and on less steep terrain.

  • Soil: Marne di Sant'Agata (calcareous marl with clay, sand, limestone)
  • Tanaro river proximity drives cooler growing conditions
  • Cool evening breezes preserve aromatic complexity
  • Lower elevation and less steep than neighboring Monvigliero
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📜History and Classification

San Lorenzo di Verduno was first produced as a single-vineyard Barolo in 1997, a relatively recent entry among the historic crus of the zone. It holds the Barolo MGA (Menzione Geografica Aggiuntiva) classification, the official system introduced to recognize individual vineyard sites across the appellation. The site sits adjacent to Monvigliero, Verduno's most celebrated MGA, and the two share geological origins, though San Lorenzo di Verduno produces a wine that is consistently described as finer and more immediately accessible than its famous neighbor.

  • First vintage: 1997
  • Classification: Barolo MGA (Menzione Geografica Aggiuntiva)
  • Adjacent to Monvigliero, Verduno's flagship MGA
  • Shares soil type with Monvigliero but differs in elevation and slope
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🍷Wine Style and Producers

Barolo from San Lorenzo di Verduno is characterized by elegance and aromatic lift rather than power and structure. The wines show high-toned, spicy aromatics with notable floral and red-fruit qualities typical of Verduno Nebbiolo, and they tend to be more accessible in youth than wines from steeper or more southerly MGAs. This is a small site, so production is limited and wines appear under only a handful of labels. Fratelli Alessandria and Castello di Verduno are the most prominent names associated with the MGA, alongside Diego Morra and Pelassa.

  • Style: elegant, fine, aromatic, described as feminine
  • More accessible in youth than neighboring Monvigliero
  • High-toned, spicy character with aromatic complexity
  • Producers: Fratelli Alessandria, Castello di Verduno, Diego Morra, Pelassa
Flavor Profile

High-toned red fruits, dried rose petals, spice, and earthy minerality with firm but refined tannins and bright acidity. The wines lean toward floral and aromatic expression over brute structure, with a finesse and accessibility that sets them apart from more powerful Barolo MGAs.

Food Pairings
Tajarin pasta with white truffle or butter and sageRoast guinea fowl or pheasant with herbsVitello tonnato, a classic Piedmontese pairingAged Castelmagno or Toma Piemontese cheeseBraised rabbit with olives and rosemaryRisotto with porcini mushrooms
Wines to Try
  • Fratelli Alessandria Barolo San Lorenzo di Verduno$60-85
    One of the benchmark producers for this MGA, showcasing its aromatic, elegant Verduno character.Find →
  • Castello di Verduno Barolo San Lorenzo$55-80
    Historic Verduno estate with direct access to this tiny site, producing a classically fine-boned Barolo.Find →
  • Diego Morra Barolo San Lorenzo di Verduno$45-65
    Small-production bottling from a focused Verduno grower; textbook high-toned, spicy MGA style.Find →
How to Say It
San Lorenzosan lo-REN-zo
Verdunover-DOO-no
Menzione Geografica Aggiuntivamen-TSYO-ne jeo-GRA-fee-ka a-jun-TEE-va
Marne di Sant'AgataMAR-neh dee sant-AH-ga-ta
📝Exam Study NotesWSET / CMS
  • San Lorenzo di Verduno is a Barolo MGA in the Verduno commune with only 0.8 hectares under vine
  • The site shares Marne di Sant'Agata calcareous marl soils with adjacent Monvigliero but sits at lower elevation and on gentler slopes
  • First produced in 1997; considered a finer and more accessible style compared to Monvigliero
  • The Tanaro river proximity and continuous breezes create a cooler microclimate, preserving aromatic intensity in Nebbiolo
  • Key producers include Fratelli Alessandria, Castello di Verduno, Diego Morra, and Pelassa