3.1 Barolo shifts gear

Meanwhile the years passed. The Sixties ended and the next decade began. The Barolo world continued its positive evolution. The arrival of the denominazione di origine had revived the situation, restoring the enthusiasm that had characterised the final phase of the nineteenth century and the first fifteen years of the twentieth. Then, in 1915 the "Great War" had extinguished illusions, taking away many young people from the countryside and depriving agriculture — viticulture included — of the labour force that was the foundation of development. Things for quality origin wine would only get worse in subsequent decades, not only with the arrival of the twenty years of Fascism, but above all because of that autarchic policy which would privilege agricultural produce useful for "feeding the bellies of Italians". Finally, the situation would become tragic with the outbreak of the Second World War.
The disasters of a complicated and contradictory thirty-year period would leave serious consequences even in the following decades. Thus also reconstruction proved to be a phase full of difficulties. Though faced with determination, it would require a long time to heal the mistakes of the past and lay the foundations for future development.
In reality, the quality of vintages had also been uneven, with events of great quality immediately followed by others decidedly more critical. Emblematic were the harvests of the early Seventies: 1970 and 1971 had produced wines of great quality and long-lasting durability, but then the 1972 vintage would prove so negative that the world of Barolo and Barbaresco decreed its total downgrading for lack of minimum quality standards, renouncing the entire production.
With the arrival of the Seventies, Luciano grew increasingly convinced of the greatness of Barolo wine, an identity status that had already made an impression in Italy, while it continued to struggle at the international level. He did not yet know quite "what he would do when he grew up", but the idea of participating in the Barolo production process enticed him. He had not yet made decisions, but at an unconscious level he was probably already ready to bet on the future of this wine.
"In 1974 – Luciano recalls – through a fortunate coincidence I had the opportunity to manage my first vineyard, half Nebbiolo and half Dolcetto. A distant relative of mine was selling it and I didn't let it slip through my fingers. The vineyard was located in Barolo in a lovely position, along the road heading towards the village of Monforte d'Alba. Despite this purchase, the idea of setting up my own estate was far from my mind. At that moment it was not yet part of my plans. I preferred to think that this purchase was driven more by a hobbyist impulse. I was interested in trying, experimenting; at most having fun and comparing myself with the rest of the world. Above all I wanted to try to work as they did in Burgundy, while respecting the legitimate differences that existed between the two areas. By continuing to visit that region I had tried to imagine what might happen if I were to translate that style into our viticultural reality. Not only was I curious to improve production on my hills, but also to understand what effects it would generate in our area and among the various producers".
The idea of devoting his free time and his desire to experiment to working in that vineyard fascinated him more and more: little by little he was rationalising his plans. At that moment he simply wanted to produce high-quality Nebbiolo grapes, vinify them, make a fine Barolo wine and then, gradually, sell it. With the money earned he would be able to continue his research, keep growing, deepen his knowledge and — why not? — enjoy himself, for example, frequenting fashionable and prestigious restaurants.