2025 Piemonte Vintage Review
In the Langhe, one of the world’s great wine regions - where Nebbiolo, and consequently Barolo and Barbaresco, are the pillars supporting a wine production that, in a generally difficult market, stands apart and continues to hold strong - there is also a thriving wine tourism economy with an estimated impact of €400 million per year. As the 2025 harvest has now concluded, there is a strong sense of optimism in the air.
“Balance between the various components of the grapes” and “homogeneous and perfect ripening at exactly the right time” are the most frequently repeated themes among the producers of Deditus, an association bringing together major names in the region such as Azelia, Cordero di Montezemolo, Michele Chiarlo, Pio Cesare, Poderi Gianni Gagliardo, Poderi Luigi Einaudi, Prunotto (Antinori), Luciano Sandrone, and Vietti. They are united “by the desire to give something back to a fortunate land that has allowed us to do this job and live this life together,” said president Gianni Gagliardo, noting that everything began in 2011 with the Accademia del Barolo, “which is still our brand.”
Alberto Gagliardo of Gianni Gagliardo described the vintage: “We had a rainy and well-distributed winter, and from February to mid-May we had 400 mm of rainfall - an excellent reserve - with above-average temperatures and very few days below freezing, no more than 4–5. Then, after May 20, spring brought a climatic shift to a dry, mild period with windy days and well-timed rainfall - another 400 mm distributed almost perfectly between late June, late July, and late August. We therefore had high temperatures, well supported by water reserves, and a textbook autumn in September and October, with just the right rains to complete the vegetative cycle, ventilated conditions, and cool nights with temperature swings of up to 15°C. The spring rains caused some concern, but ultimately helped us get through the hot summer with minimal damage. Autumn was perfect - no one could ask for better: perfectly healthy grapes, thick skins, and temperature variation that contributed to great aromatic and phenolic complexity. We deserved a vintage like this, and now we begin the cellar phase with enthusiasm.”
Eugenio Palumbo of Vietti confirmed this view: “We finished harvesting on October 11. We had a beautiful progression across all seasons and were able to pick all the grapes at the right time with full ripeness across different sites. I’ve done 24 harvests at Vietti, and I can say that 2025 gave us great balance between sugars, acidity, colour, and aroma. There are years when it’s easier to make great grapes and great wine—this is one of them. After years of hard work in the vineyard, perhaps we deserved it. It’s early to say, but all the conditions are there for a vintage of great longevity.”
Stefano Chiarlo of Michele Chiarlo added: “We’ve learned to interpret climate change - we effectively turned an early vintage into a classic one, thanks to vineyard work. For example, we’ve learned not to thin grapes during extreme heat. Some did it before or after the heat. 2025 is an early vintage, but much closer to classic years like 2010 or 2016. It will certainly be very good to excellent.”
“With grapes this beautiful, the risk shifts to the cellar - if mistakes are made, they’re made in the cellar,” joked Gianluca Torrengo of Prunotto (Antinori). “The vine is increasingly showing its ability to withstand climatic extremes. We’ve gone from heat extremes to heavy rains that once would have compromised quality and quantity. Today, perhaps yields are lower, but the quality of the grapes is outstanding, with great uniformity in the vineyard. We have a Nebbiolo as balanced as we’ve seen in a long time. In the cellar, you could smell Nebbiolo - rose aromas - while unloading the grapes. We also have very sweet and elegant tannins. All the elements are in place for a great, possibly exceptional vintage. We proceed cautiously, as many wines are still on the skins, but the raw material is outstanding. Alcohol levels are around 13.5% on average, compared to 14.5% in 2022 or 2023 - the result of nature helping us meet market demands.”
Zvonimir Jurkovic of Poderi Luigi Einaudi added: “I’ve been here for 30 years, and things are changing - earlier harvests and drought years. But 2025 offers excellent quality and gives us confidence for the future. It shows we can respond to challenges, thanks also to investment in new equipment and vineyard research.”
Luca Sandrone of Luciano Sandrone highlighted “the perfect uniformity of grape ripening, thanks to an excellent flowering period that occurred over just a few days. We have great balance in all components, without excessive sugar levels as seen in some recent vintages. I’ve done 40 harvests - much has changed, but knowledge allows us to make the right decisions depending on the vintage, all different, like the last 4–5, in which we’ve still made great wines like Barolo and Barbaresco. This is thanks to Nebbiolo’s resilience, human expertise, and skilled labour.”
Claudio Pira of Pio Cesare confirmed: “We are certainly looking at a great vintage. We had peaks of heat, but supported by strong water availability. In the cellar, we’ve been working for years to adapt to climate change, though vineyard work remains crucial. We aim for wines that are rounder and more approachable without losing structure and longevity. We’re doing more detailed phenolic ripeness monitoring to determine optimal harvest timing. With Nebbiolo vineyards in 10 municipalities, we deal with many different conditions, so precise monitoring is key. We are implementing many technical adjustments to preserve Nebbiolo’s character while also making wines more approachable. Ultimately, climate change has not been entirely negative for us.”
Alberto Cordero of Cordero di Montezemolo added: “We confirm the quality of the harvest and hope 2025 will be among the great vintages. The wine world is going through major changes - new generations prefer more approachable wines, there’s a focus on health and no-alcohol trends, as well as wars and economic challenges. Our region has a unique identity thanks to Nebbiolo, but also strong landscape appeal that attracts consumers. The market remains stable—the post-Covid boom is over, but things are not bad. It’s important to anticipate trends and challenges and maintain strong dialogue. US tariffs have so far been absorbed, but future shipments will feel their impact. Exchange rates also play a role, but overall the market is holding steady.”
Finally, Lorenzo Scavino of Azelia concluded: “We are satisfied with the harvest—it’s a return to balance, both in weather and grapes. We’ve gone back to the past, harvesting perfectly ripe Nebbiolo with the right timing and a calm pace that hasn’t been common in recent years. Our vines average 70 years old, with very low yields, giving great concentration without excess—and therefore moderate alcohol levels. We are very happy and optimistic about the future, both for the market and wine tourism, which continues to grow. In 2024, the Langhe and Roero recorded 1.5 million overnight stays, with high-level international tourism. We need to manage it, spread it across seasons, and invest in infrastructure—but already today, the sector generates around €400 million, which is a real asset.”