Elio Altare

Elio Altare was a leading figure in the modernist wing of the Barolo Wars during the 1980s. He championed a new style of Nebbiolo winemaking that utilized shorter maceration times and new French oak barrels to create softer, fruit-forward wines.

Unlike traditionalists who age wine in large, neutral Slovenian oak casks for years, Altare adopted the use of small French oak barriques. He also uses much shorter maceration periods, which extracts less harsh tannin and results in a distinctly softer, modern style of Nebbiolo.

The Elio Altare estate is based in the village of La Morra in the Piedmont region of Italy. This specific area of Piedmont was historically a hub for the modernist Barolo movement that Altare helped pioneer in the 1980s.

Yes, Elio Altare was among the progressive Piedmontese producers who introduced rotary fermenters to his winemaking process in the 1980s. These rotating tanks help extract color and fruit flavors from the Nebbiolo grape quickly while avoiding the bitter tannins associated with traditional long maceration.