Family history
How Sandrone Started
Passion, transparency, integrity, value. We, the Sandrone family and our winery staff, believe that the best and only representation of our work and effort is the quality in the bottle, not a pretty ad campaign or flashy marketing.
Passion, transparency, integrity, value. We, the Sandrone family and our winery staff, believe that the best and only representation of our work and effort is the quality in the bottle, not a pretty ad campaign or flashy marketing.
The Sandrone winery was founded in 1978, born from a desire to make the finest possible expression of the Nebbiolo grape from the unique terroirs of the Langhe. This passion has informed the decision making at every step of the process. Furthermore, the wines should represent the best quality achievable at every price point. In effect, the basic wines are made with the same commitment to quality as the luxury cuvees.
Between 1973 and 1977, several bottles exist that were “made” by Luciano’s father from purchased bulk wine. He put a family label on them to give as gifts to his customers and friends. A few remaining bottles of 1973 and 1975 Barolo decorate the winery. These are not recognized as Sandrone wines – Luciano did not make the wine!
In late 1977, Luciano was able to purchase a first small part of the Cannubi vineyard. The following year (1978) he began making minute quantities of his own wine in the garage of his parents’ home, testing and refining his ideas about how to make a wine of distinction and high quality that respected the traditions of the Barolo, while incorporating many of the new technological innovations that were being used to make Barolo less forbidding and hard. In 1982 he met his first international distributor at VinItaly who bought nearly all 1500 bottles of his first 1978 Barolo and who began exporting his wines first to the US and Switzerland, then eventually around the world. Dolcetto and Barbera were added in 1981 and 1982. The growth of Luciano’s Cannubi production was slow and measured as adjoining parcels became available.
How Sandrone Grew
With the 1989 and 1990 vintages, Luciano Sandrone caught the attention of the world with his Barolo Cannubi Boschis, made in minute quantities from his great estate vineyard site, which received 97 and 100 points, respectively, from the critic Robert Parker. This was one of the earliest perfect scores given a Barolo.
With the 1989 and 1990 vintages, Luciano Sandrone caught the attention of the world with his Barolo Cannubi Boschis, made in minute quantities from his great estate vineyard site, which received 97 and 100 points, respectively, from the critic Robert Parker*. This was one of the first perfect scores given a Barolo. The 1990 vintage also brought the first release of the Le Vigne Barolo, an assemblaggio wine made from cru-level sites of various Barolo villages.
His brother Luca, 20 years younger and also a university-trained oenologist and winemaker, joined the company in 1992 and is now in charge of all vineyard management. The low yields, healthy and perfectly ripe fruit that characterize Sandrone wines are now in his very capable hands.
Winery output and vineyard holdings expanded gradually and slowly, and in 1998 ground was broken on the current winery building. Luciano’s daughter Barbara began working with the winery in 1997 and now she handles all administrative duties, outreach and education. The Valmaggiore vineyards were laboriously assembled over many years; in 1994, the last parcels were purchased and the replanting completed.
*Source: Robert M Parker, Jr., The World’s Greatest Wine Estates, Simon & Schuster, NY, ©2005, page 516.
Sandrone Today
Currently the estate farms a total of 27 hectares, 75% of which are owned, and produces between 90-100,000 bottles, or about 8,000 cases, per year. None of the wines are made from purchased grapes, and the rented vineyards are managed and farmed in exactly the same way as our estate vineyards. The current lineup of 5 bottlings was finalized after the 2001 vintage.
Currently the estate farms a total of 27 hectares, 75% of which are owned, and produces between 90-100,000 bottles (about 8,000 twelve-bottle cases) per year. None of the wines are made from purchased grapes, and the rented vineyards are managed and farmed in exactly the same way as our estate vineyards. The current lineup of 5 bottlings was finalized after the 2001 vintage.
Throughout all the winery’s growth and expansion, Luciano has never lost track of the things that brought him his initial success: wines of integrity, purity and deep expression, made with passion and honesty to provide great drinking pleasure.
Sustainability
In 2006, solar panels were added to the roof of the winery’s south-facing tractor and equipment sheds. Luciano wants to have the lowest possible impact on his property and environment and these panels now provide most of the considerable energy required during harvest time.
In 2006, solar panels were added to the roof of the winery’s south-facing tractor and equipment sheds. Luciano wants to have the lowest possible impact on his property and environment and these panels now provide most of the considerable energy required during harvest time. During the rest of the year, he sells excess power back to the grid.
Recycling is a religion at the winery.
Rainwater is collected in a cistern underneath the courtyard and is used to irrigate the plants, trees and flowers around the winery building. Consistent with Luciano’s low-impact ethos, the winery generally follows organic farming rules but has chosen not to seek certification. Only EU organic-approved quantities and types of copper, sulfites, fertilization and organic pest treatments are used, and no chemicals or enzymes are ever added to the must or the wine.
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Cannubi: Morphology
 Cannubi is one of the great Cru vineyards of the town of Barolo. Luciano’s plot is at the northern end and is in the “Boschis” or “Monghisolfo” subzone. A long hill, comprised of clay with veins of sand.
The Town of Alba
 The Romans established Alba in the first century a.D. and it has been a wine and farming center ever since. Slopes not planted to vines are often hazelnut groves, which supply the Nutella factory here.
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