WHY RAVERA HAS BECOME
A TOP CRU IN BAROLO
The Ravera vineyard is located in Novello but also covers a small part of the Barolo town. Although it was not mentioned on Renato Ratti’s historical Carta del Barolo as a qualitatively significant vineyard, Ravera Barolos have now reached an elevated status! So why is that?
RAVERA SOIL
Ravera is one of the largest MGA crus and therefore heterogeneous. The soil types can range greatly depending on which part of Ravera it is from. The soil elements of loam, st. agatha marls, calcareous limestone and clay percentages vary according to the section of Ravera. Abrigo states that the higher elevations facing southeast have fossily marls and heavy loamy and clay soils. Vietti’s vineyards on the other hand are facing southwest with calcareous clays. The predominately clayey soil generally produces Barolos that are powerful but always with a refreshing acidity! As the vintages seem to get warmer and warmer, Ravera’s cooler and later ripening position is a plus!
POSITION
Ravera is giant for Barolo standards) at approx. 130 hectares/320 acres. The elevation is quite high for the area reaching up to 480 meters/1575 feet. The highest altitudes form a ridge on the Western side which can block the bad storms coming from the Alps. Most of the exposure would be facing the south-east for a cooler morning sun. This can now be considered an advantage because of the warmer and warmer vintages in the last few years which still brings freshness and energy to the wines!
(you can see the Ravera cru in the tan/beige color at the bottom left of the map)
RAVERA – FUN FACTS:
- Not only does this vineyard cover 2 towns (Barolo and Novello) but there is another similarly named MGA called Ravera di Monforte which is located obviously in the village of Monforte!
- You can also find iron rich pockets in the Ravera cru which give it a beautiful minerality and sapidity.
- You can find approximately 29 winemakers with parcels in Ravera and at least 17 different labelled Barolo with Ravera.
- Its soils tend to be good at retaining water and since it is illegal to irrigate in the area, Ravera can do well even in dry or warm vintages. Hint: Look for Ravera in 2011, 2015, 2017.
- Cogno always believed in this vineyard and was the first to put Ravera on the Barolo label in 1991.
ELVIO COGNO
We have featured many of Cogno‘s wines in our Barolo Wine Club selections ranging from the renowned white Nascetta to the Ravera Barolo and finally the subzone of Ravera Vigna Elena planted with the old Rose clone. Their wines are packed with character and power but with a beautifully crafted finesse and sense of terroir.
Nadia Cogno and Valter Fissore have one of the most beautiful estates right in the heart of the Ravera cru in Novello. I would dare say that they can be credited with bringing this cru to a grand cru status if you could compare it to Burgundy. Their wines perfectly represent the essence of the cru with floral and bright red fruit notes and a strong backbone with nice acidity able to age for decades. The Ravera Barolo 2016 & 2017 was included in our Fall 2021 wine shipment.
You can watch my interview on Nascetta with Valter Cogno here: YOUTUBE VIDEO
If you want to try the super elegant and seductive Barolo Vigna Elena 2014 or the Bricco Pernice 2015, consult our shop page here.
