Andrea Oberto

Italy, Piedmont

A small family run winery and vineyard based in La Morra, The Obertos have sixteen hectares of vineyards and produce a brilliant 'village' Barolo from La Morra itself - as well as two other Barolos from different top 'crus' in this sought after village - Rocche dell'Annunziata in La Morra and Albarella in Barolo, just above Cannubi. The wines are beautifully focused and age well, although immensely approachable in their youth as there is a deliciously juicy and generous feel that runs through all the wines.

The winery’s history dates back to 1959, when Andrea's father bought a small-holding and farmhouse in La Morra. At that time farmers could not survive with just one crop, and so he earned a living growing peaches, grapes and raising cows. However, in the family business there was not enough work for everyone and so Andrea, decided to leave the farm and started working for a big company as truck driver. He came back (thankfully!) to La Morra in 1978 when his father died, inheriting the family’s land and taking on the management of the farm.He soon began to focus solely on vine growing. At the beginning the grapes were sold to cooperatives or even to friends and family. Andrea's talents soon became clear, he was a natural with a deft hand and a great palate. The small farm quickly morphed into a wine company with sixteen hectares of their own wines and a brilliant cellar.

When we visited the family in the Autumn of 2021 Andrea was rightfully full of optimism and enthusiasm. On the subject of these latest releases Andrea tells us that because of some recent big ticket vintages proving great hits with the press, it is hard to throw the spotlight of lesser celebrated years - however good they are! But we can confirm Andrea has not put a foot wrong and these latest releases are pure joy.

Andrea Oberto, a small family company with vineyards in the Crus of Brunate and Rocche as well as Albarella, is a Barolo name to keep tabs on if you don't know it already. Joanna Simon, www.joannasimon.com


This is a strong set of 2006 Barolos from father and son team Andrea and Fabio Oberto. I had a chance to taste the 2006s next to the estate’s 2005s, and it is pretty clear the 2006s possess an extra dimension of generosity over their older brethren that, among other things, results in better integration of the oak. The 2006 Barolos were vinified in steel for roughly 10-12 days, with the exception of the Brunate, which was vinified in oak. The malos took place in a heated cellar. The single-vineyard Barolos were subsequently aged in a combination of barrel and cask (30% cask, 35% new barrique, 35% once-used barrique). The estate’s 2007s, which I tasted from barrel are highly promising as well. Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, www.RobertParker.com