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Hi everyone –

This is one of the most special and important wine offers of the year. There is a TON of info here, so take your time going through it. There’s lots to learn!

Also, and I’ll be completely transparent about this, the offer can be intimidating. There are many wines, with many price points, and tons of details. We’ve simplified things into a “buying guide” at the end for you, but take the time to go through this, please.

Paolo Scavino: Four Generations of Barolo Excellence

When people ask me about the producers that truly embody the soul of Barolo, Paolo Scavino always jumps to the top of my list. Not because they’re the flashiest name in Piedmont (they’re not), or because they make the most expensive bottles on the shelf (again, they don’t).

Scavino earns that spot because they represent something increasingly rare in today’s wine world: a family operation that has managed to evolve and modernize while never losing sight of what made their wines special in the first place. This is the basis of this week’s wine offer.

Four generations of the Scavino family have worked these vineyards in the heart of Barolo country, and if you’ve been paying attention to Italian wine over the past few decades, you’ve watched this estate transform from a respected local producer into one of the most consistently excellent names in all of Piedmont. That transformation didn’t happen by accident.

The Foundation: Lorenzo Scavino and Traditional Roots

The story begins in 1921 when Lorenzo Scavino established the winery in Castiglione Falletto, one of Barolo’s most prestigious communes. Like many producers of his era, Lorenzo was making wine primarily for local consumption—sturdy, traditional Barolos that reflected the no-nonsense approach to winemaking that had sustained families in this region for centuries.

The hamlet of Castiglione Falletto, one of my favorite places on the planet.

Lorenzo’s approach was fundamentally sound: work with Nebbiolo from prime vineyard sites, ferment long and slow, age in large Slavonian oak casks, and let time do its work. These were wines built to last, which was essential in an era when most Barolos wouldn’t even be approachable for a decade after harvest. The style was uncompromising—tannic, austere, and demanding of patience—but when those wines finally opened up, they revealed the incredible depth and complexity that makes Barolo legendary.

What’s remarkable about this foundation is how it continues to influence the estate today. While winemaking techniques have certainly evolved under subsequent generations, the fundamental respect for terroir and the patient approach to crafting age-worthy wines remains central to the Scavino philosophy. You can still taste that DNA in every bottle they produce.

The Evolution: Paolo Scavino’s Vision

The real transformation began when Paolo Scavino took the reins in the 1950s. Paolo had a vision that extended beyond the local market—he saw the potential for Barolo to compete on the world stage, but recognized that would require some evolution in approach without abandoning the traditional foundation his father had built.

Paolo’s innovations were subtle but significant. He began experimenting with shorter fermentation periods and introduced some French oak alongside the traditional large casks. These might sound like small changes, but in the conservative world of Barolo in the 1960s and 70s, they were quite progressive. Paolo was essentially finding a middle ground between the ultra-traditional approach and the more radical modernist movement that would emerge later.

More importantly, Paolo focused intensely on vineyard management and site selection. He understood that great Barolo begins in the vineyard, and began acquiring some of the most prized parcels in Castiglione Falletto and beyond. This wasn’t just about expansion—it was about building a portfolio of vineyard sites that could express the full range of what Nebbiolo could achieve in different terroirs.

The wines from this era show Paolo’s transitional approach beautifully. They retained the structure and longevity of traditional Barolo but showed more immediate fruit character and approachability in their youth. It was a style that could satisfy both traditionalists and a new generation of wine lovers who didn’t want to wait fifteen years to enjoy their bottles.

The Modern Era: Enrico and Elisa Scavino

When Enrico Scavino joined his father in the 1980s, followed later by his sister Elisa, the estate entered its modern golden age. Enrico brought fresh ideas and technical expertise, while maintaining deep respect for the family’s traditional foundation. It’s this balance that makes Scavino such a compelling producer—they’re not trying to reinvent Barolo, but rather perfect their expression of it.

Under Enrico’s leadership, the estate has embraced selected modern techniques where they improve quality: temperature-controlled fermentation, more precise vineyard management, and careful use of French oak barriques alongside traditional large casks. But these innovations serve a traditional goal—making wines that express their terroir with greater clarity and precision.

The vineyard holdings have expanded strategically over the decades, and today Scavino farms some of the most coveted sites in Barolo country. Their flagship vineyard, Bric dël Fiasc, is a spectacular south-facing slope in Castiglione Falletto that produces wines of incredible power and elegance. But they also work with fruit from prestigious sites like Cannubi, Rocche dell’Annunziata, and Monvigliero—each bringing its own personality to the final wines.

The wine world lost Enrico Scavino in February of 2024. Enrica and Elisa have taken over operations.

What strikes me most about the current generation is their understanding that great Barolo is about more than just technique—it’s about interpreting the character of each vineyard site and each vintage. Their single-vineyard Barolos are studies in terroir expression, showing how the same grape variety can produce dramatically different wines depending on soil, aspect, and microclimate.

Elisa Scavino, in charge of the winery today along with her sister, Enrica.

The Wines: A Portfolio of Excellence

Tasting through the Scavino portfolio is like taking a masterclass in Barolo. Their entry-level Barolo DOCG shows the house style beautifully—structured but approachable, with the complexity and depth you expect from serious Barolo but without the intimidating tannins that can make young Nebbiolo a chore to drink.

But it’s in their single-vineyard bottlings where Scavino really shines. The Barolo Bric dël Fiasc is consistently one of the finest examples of what Castiglione Falletto can produce—powerful yet refined, with incredible aging potential but enough fruit character to be enjoyable relatively young. The Barolo Cannubi offers a different personality entirely, showing the elegance and perfume that makes this vineyard so legendary.

What I love about these wines is how they manage to be both modern and traditional simultaneously. They show the precision and clarity that modern winemaking can achieve, but they never lose that essential Barolo character—the iron and roses aromatics, the structured tannins, the incredible complexity that develops with age.

Why Scavino Matters in Today’s Wine World

In an era when many wine regions are struggling with questions of authenticity versus market demands, Scavino represents a template for how to evolve without losing your soul. They’ve managed to make their wines more approachable and consistent without sacrificing the qualities that make Barolo special.

The estate also represents the importance of family continuity in wine. Four generations of accumulated knowledge and deep connection to specific vineyard sites creates a kind of institutional memory that simply can’t be replicated by corporate ownership or new investment. When Enrico talks about his vineyards, he’s drawing on nearly a century of family experience working these specific plots of land.

From a business perspective, Scavino has also shown how a traditional estate can build international recognition while maintaining reasonable pricing. Their wines aren’t cheap (good Barolo never is), but they’re accessible compared to some of the cult producers in the region. This matters because it means more wine lovers can experience what great Barolo is all about.

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SCAVINO BAROLOS

The Scavino lineup. Photo from Prima Vine Wine Store.

Understanding the Paolo Scavino lineup is like getting a geography lesson in some of Barolo’s most prized real estate. Each wine in their portfolio tells the story of a specific place, and when you taste through them side by side, you start to understand why Barolo geeks get so obsessed with terroir. Here’s what makes each of their wines unique, from their approachable entry-level offerings to their legendary single-vineyard Barolos.

The Gateway Drug: Barolo DOCG

Barolo DOCG 

This is where things start. Scavino’s “regular” Barolo is a blend of fruit from multiple vineyard sites, designed to show the house style and serve as an introduction to what the estate is all about. Don’t let the word “regular” fool you though—this is still serious Barolo made from prime vineyard sites, yet ready to enjoy upon release (or up to twenty years of age).

The blend typically includes fruit from some of their best vineyards, just not enough to warrant a single-vineyard bottling. What you get is a wine that shows the power and structure of great Barolo but with more immediate accessibility than their single-vineyard bottlings. The nose shows classic Barolo aromatics—roses, tar, cherry, and earth—while the palate delivers structured tannins and a long finish that hints at the wine’s aging potential.

This is an ideal wine for someone looking to understand what Barolo is all about without committing to a decade of cellaring. It’s approachable within a few years of release but will continue to develop complexity for 15-20 years.

The Single-Vineyard Stars

Barolo Bric dël Fiasc 

If there’s one wine that defines the Scavino style, it’s their Bric dël Fiasc. This vineyard sits on a spectacular south-facing slope in Castiglione Falletto, and it’s been the estate’s flagship site for decades. The name translates roughly to “hill of the flask,” and locals have recognized this slope’s potential for centuries.

What makes Bric dël Fiasc special is the combination of elevation, exposure, and soil composition. The vines sit at about 400 meters above sea level with perfect southern exposure, creating ideal ripening conditions for Nebbiolo. The soils are a mix of calcareous clay and sand, providing both the structure and elegance that make this site legendary.

The wine shows incredible power and concentration, but it’s never heavy or overwrought. You’ll find intense aromatics of roses, cherries, and spices, backed by firm but refined tannins. This is a wine built for the long haul—it can age gracefully for 20-30 years, developing incredible complexity along the way. If you want to understand why people get obsessed with great Barolo, start here.

Barolo Cannubi 

Cannubi might be the most famous vineyard in all of Barolo, and for good reason. This historic site in the commune of Barolo village has been producing legendary wines since at least the 18th century. Scavino works with a small parcel in this prestigious vineyard, and their bottling shows why Cannubi has such an exalted reputation.

The magic of Cannubi lies in its unique microclimate and soil composition. The vineyard faces south and southwest, capturing maximum sun exposure, while the soils are predominantly calcareous with good drainage. This combination creates wines of incredible elegance and perfume—Cannubi Barolos are often described as the most “Burgundian” in style.

Scavino’s Cannubi shows classic aromatics of roses, violets, and red cherry, with subtle spice and earth notes. The palate is elegant rather than powerful, with silky tannins and a long, perfumed finish. This is Barolo at its most seductive—approachable in youth but capable of decades of evolution.

Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata 

Moving to the commune of La Morra, we encounter Rocche dell’Annunziata, one of the most prestigious sites in this village known for producing more elegant, approachable Barolos. The name refers to the rocky outcroppings that characterize this hillside, and those rocks play a crucial role in creating the wine’s distinctive character.

The vineyard sits at high elevation with excellent drainage, thanks to those rocky soils. This creates wines with excellent aromatics and refined tannin structure. La Morra Barolos are generally more approachable than those from Castiglione Falletto or Serralunga, and Rocche dell’Annunziata represents this style perfectly.

Scavino’s version shows the elegance and perfume that makes La Morra special, with aromatics of roses, cherries, and subtle spices. The palate is refined rather than powerful, with tannins that integrate beautifully and a finish that goes on forever. This is a wine that can be enjoyed relatively young but will reward those with patience.

Barolo Monvigliero 

Another La Morra treasure, Monvigliero sits on a hillside that faces southeast, providing excellent exposure and natural drainage. This vineyard has gained increasing recognition over the past few decades as producers like Scavino have shown what it’s capable of producing.

The soils here are primarily calcareous clay with some sandy elements, creating wines that combine structure with elegance. Monvigliero typically produces Barolos with excellent aromatics and refined tannin structure—wines that show the best of what La Morra can offer.

Scavino’s Monvigliero shows beautiful balance between power and elegance. The nose offers classic Barolo aromatics with perhaps a bit more floral character than their Castiglione Falletto wines. The palate is structured but approachable, with tannins that provide backbone without overwhelming the fruit. This is a wine that bridges the gap between immediate pleasure and long-term aging potential.

Barolo Prapò 

Here’s a new-ish star in the Scavino lineup, and it’s already making serious waves among Barolo collectors. The family purchased this tiny 0.7-hectare (less than 2 acres) vineyard in Serralunga d’Alba in 2008, let it rest for two years, then replanted in 2010 using massal selection from their best vines. The first vintage was 2015, making this one of the youngest additions to their portfolio.

What makes Prapò special is how it defies expectations of what a Serralunga Barolo should be. Serralunga is known for producing the most powerful, structured, and austere Barolos—wines that can be almost intimidating in their youth. But the Scavino family discovered that Prapò, despite being in Serralunga, produces wines with surprising elegance and approachability alongside that classic Serralunga power.

The vineyard sits at about 370 meters elevation with south and southeast exposure, planted on the Formazioni di Lequio soils—a mix of yellow-red sand combined with silty gray marl. This soil composition is what gives Prapò its unique personality within Serralunga. The loose, open clusters that the family selected through massal selection help with disease resistance while producing intensely concentrated fruit.

The wine shows the depth and power you’d expect from Serralunga—dark fruit, iron ore, graphite, and those classic “masculine” Barolo characteristics. But there’s also an unexpected softness and sweetness (not literal sugar, but that ripe fruit character) that makes it more approachable than many Serralunga wines. You’ll find aromatics of black cherries, figs, lavender, and spices like nutmeg and black pepper, with a texture that’s dense and rich but not overwhelming.

What’s exciting about Prapò is that it represents the future of the Scavino estate—a site they’ve carefully developed from the ground up using everything they’ve learned over four generations of winemaking. The vines are still young (in Barolo terms), so the wines should only get better as the vines mature and sink deeper roots into that unique terroir. This is definitely one to watch, and honestly, one to buy while you still can.

Barolo Bussia Vigna Fantini 

And here’s the newest kid on the block—literally the most recent addition to the Scavino single-vineyard lineup. The family purchased this site in Monforte d’Alba in 2019, making the 2021 vintage their debut release from this prestigious vineyard. If Prapò represents their careful development approach, Bussia Vigna Fantini shows their willingness to invest in proven greatness.

Bussia is one of Barolo’s most legendary crus—a massive 300-hectare zone that includes some of the most famous vineyards in all of Piedmont. Within this larger area, Vigna Fantini sits at a higher elevation than most other Bussia vineyards, about 370 meters above sea level with crucial southwest exposure. The soils here are what make this site special: rocky Diano sandstone from the Tortonian period with a high percentage of sand, creating perfect drainage and ideal conditions for Nebbiolo.

The Scavino family calls this vineyard their “botanical garden” because they’re using it as a testing ground for different clones and rootstocks. This isn’t just experimentation for the sake of it—they’re applying decades of knowledge to optimize what this site can produce. They’ve admitted there was a learning curve with understanding how to work with Bussia, but that’s exactly what you’d expect from a family that takes terroir seriously.

What makes Bussia Vigna Fantini distinctive is how it bridges the gap between power and elegance. Monforte d’Alba is known for producing structured, age-worthy Barolos, but this particular site adds a level of finesse that’s immediately appealing. The wine shows classic Bussia characteristics—dark fruit intensity, mineral complexity, and firm structure—but with an approachability that makes it less intimidating than some Monforte wines.

Early tastings reveal a wine with remarkable freshness for a Monforte Barolo. You’ll find red currants, watermelon (yes, watermelon in a Barolo!), licorice, and sweet violets on the nose, with minty flavors and velvety tannins on the palate. There’s what critics are calling “leafy lightness” combined with full body—a combination that shouldn’t work but absolutely does.

This is a wine to watch closely. The Scavino family has a track record of turning new acquisitions into benchmark bottlings (look at what they’ve done with Prapò), and Bussia Vigna Fantini has all the ingredients to become a flagship wine. The fact that they’re treating it as their experimental vineyard means they’re constantly learning and adjusting their approach, which should only improve the wines over time.

Since this is only their second vintage from the site, we’re getting in on the ground floor of what could become one of their most sought-after bottlings. And given that Bussia is already one of Barolo’s most prestigious addresses, this wine has serious pedigree backing it up.

Understanding the Scavino Style Through Their Wines

What becomes clear when you taste through the Scavino portfolio is their consistent approach to winemaking across different sites. They’re not trying to impose a house style on their vineyards; instead, they’re using their expertise to let each site express its unique character as clearly as possible.

Their Castiglione Falletto wines (Bric dël Fiasc and Carobric) tend to show more power and structure, reflecting the commune’s reputation for producing age-worthy, masculine Barolos. Their La Morra wines (Rocche dell’Annunziata and Monvigliero) show more immediate elegance and approachability, typical of this commune’s style. And their Cannubi, from Barolo village, splits the difference with power wrapped in elegance.

The beauty of the Scavino lineup is that it gives you options depending on your mood, your meal, or your timeline. Want something to drink tonight with dinner? Go for the Barbera or Dolcetto. Looking for an introduction to serious Barolo? The Barolo DOCG is your answer. Ready to explore the nuances of specific vineyard sites? Pick any of their single-vineyard bottlings and prepare for a journey.

Each wine in the portfolio serves a purpose, and together they create a comprehensive picture of what this estate and this region are all about. That’s the mark of a truly great producer—not just making one or two exceptional wines, but crafting a complete portfolio that tells the full story of their terroir and their philosophy.

Buying advice

As mentioned before, this can be an overwhelming offer. What should you invest in? Here’s some advice:

#1 — Be sure to buy the basic Barolo. Multiple bottles are suggested, in all formats (375ml, 750ml, and 1500ml). It’s a joy to drink now, and will age gracefully for years. You will not regret having this wine around.

#2 — Regarding the single vineyard wines: throw a dart. Seriously. All the wines are will blow you away, and all the single cru Barolos have something incredible to offer. These are simply some of the best wines made in the world right now. Read back through the single vineyard cru wine descriptions and find one or two that tickle you. Then stash them away and plan for a glorious experience in the near (or far) future).

This is a very special offering. I don’t think all of these single vineyard Scavino wines have ever been offered like this before. Have fun and enjoy knowing you have some tremendous wines in the cellar for those special occasions!

Thank you!

Jason Kallsen
Sommelier and founder/owner of Twin Cities Wine Education

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Offer and special pricing are available as inventory lasts