For us, the Langhe is an incredibly special place that still holds dear the human values of community and endeavour. Surrounded by rolling hills and blessed by warm breezes, the region lies to the west of the Maritime Alps. To the south lie Liguria and the Italian Riviera, areas rich in beauty and culture.

Whilst striving to make their family businesses successful, the people have not lost sight of what's important: helping each other. This generosity of spirit is evident across the Langhe. Whilst the locals − the Piemontese − are difficult to get to know at first (history has taught them to be wary of strangers), once trust develops they are some of the most friendly and warm people you could ever wish to meet. For us, Barolo captures the spirit of the Langhe, hard to understand at first, but with a little patience, a rich and highly rewarding experience awaits.

In the words of Giovanni Avpino, a famous local writer:

"The antique soul of Barolo possesses sparks and tones that we, during the passing of time, have lost. Now it is very rare to find the man worthy of such a deserving bottle, whereas some time ago one could say the opposite."

Visiting the area has taught us to appreciate food, wine and the hard, passionate labour required to make great produce. The Langhe is famous for white Alba truffles and also snails and chocolate from Cherasco. Hazelnuts from across the region are interwoven between the vineyards, and the vegetables (which are only eaten in season) are a sight to behold. There is no supermarket-driven uniformity here, but a ripeness that is jam-packed with sweetness and flavour. If you love to cook, to be at Alba market on a Saturday morning is simply heaven. The sights and smells are amazing and the choice of herbs, fruits, and cheeses almost limitless.

For us, the greatest experience has been the friendships we have made, especially amongst the wine makers, who at their heart are humble farmers despite the global stage they have built for one of the greatest red wines of Italy. Tastings at the cantinas are just great fun and also a fantastic insight into the culture. After over 15 years we have started to understand what has shaped the wines of this area - not just the terroir but the vision, love and energy of its people.

Life has not always been easy for these farmers. One of the defining features of the landscape are the castellos which tell the tale of many wars. Being so close to the French, Swiss and Austrian borders, this area has been a battleground for many European wars from the Renaissance period right through to the Second World War when the Piemontese were fierce in their resistance to the Nazis.

Vineyards have thrived in the Langhe for centuries and yet, despite the many vineyards, historically local farmers have focussed on arable farming, selling their grapes on to the big wine cooperatives until well into the 1970s when producers really began to bottle and market their wines under their own labels. In fact, it wasn't until the 1990 vintage that Barolo got noticed. Indeed if you look in many international wine guides prior to this date, commentary about this great wine is limited.

Now of course many people have heard of Barolo, but few understand what makes it a great wine or indeed have the patience to discover its secrets. Once you have visited the Langhe, you will begin to understand the story…