Cantina Bartolo Mascarello is one of Italy's leading Barolo producers, crafting multi-vineyard wines from top vineyards across the Langhe since the early 20th century. As one of the country's most famed and traditional estates, Mascarello Barolo has experienced intense peaks and troughs due largely to legendary winemaker Bartolo Mascarello. Now led by his daughter, Maria Teresa, many critics argue that Bartolo Mascarello is now at its height, producing fresh, acidity-driven, and age-worthy Barolos.
Cantina Bartolo Mascarello History
Bartolo Mascarello was founded in 1919 by Giulio Mascarello, who began selling Barolo to restaurants local to Italy's Piedmont region. The winery remained relatively understated until Giulio's son, Bartolo Mascarello, joined the team upon his return from World War II. It was Bartolo who revolutionized Cantina Bartolo Mascarello, changing the estate's name to mirror his and transforming Mascarello into one of Italy's top Barolo producers. While several other Barolo producers began crafting single-vineyard wines (most notably Bartolo's namesake, Giuseppe Mascarello Barolo) throughout the 1960s and 70s, Bartolo remained true to his beliefs and utilized small plots of land across the Langhe.
"I don't make wines with fantasy names. I don't make crus, I don't make wine in barriques, my wines don't have perfume of vanilla and Limousine oak. I'm the last of the Mohicans." — Bartolo Mascarello for Wine Spectator
Always a blazen and controversial figure, Bartolo Mascarello remained a traditionalist winemaker his entire life and was eventually awarded the Tre Bicchieri, Italy's top wine award, in 2003. Unfortunately, Bartolo Mascarello passed away two years later after battling illnesses that confined him to a wheelchair for the last 20 years of his life. One of the star winemaker's last hurrahs was his infamous, "No Barrique, No Berlusconi" hand-painted label for the 1999 vintage, an outspoken expression of Mascarello's winemaking and political ideologies.
He was succeeded by his only child, Maria Teresa Mascarello, in 2005. Since taking over, Maria has redefined Mascarello Barolo, adding a distinct elegance and purity to the final cuvées. Over the past two decades, she has worked hard to refine the estate by cleaning the cellar, replacing old Botti, and emphasizing better vineyard work. Ultimately, renowned critic Antonio Galloni commented on her hard work, writing, "The rebirth of Bartolo Mascarello (the winery) is one of the great success stories in Piedmont."
Bartolo Mascarello Barolo
Bartolo Mascarello owns 5 hectares of land across five vineyards in the Langhe. The estate owns plots in Cannubi, San Lorenzo, Rue, Monrobiolo, and Rocche del Annuziata, where vines average 30-40 years. Unlike many other Barolo producers, Bartolo Mascarello Barolo is a blend of fruit from all five vineyards and takes a strict, traditionalist winemaking approach. Only 1,250 cases are produced, each crafted with the same meticulous methods over the past century. The fruit is hand-harvested, destemmed, and left to co-ferment in cement tanks. Fermentation is typically natural, as Maria Teresa only uses commercial yeasts in warmer years. Once complete, the wine is aged in traditional Slavonian oak (Botti) for two to three years.
Bartolo Mascarello Wine: Top Vintages
Bartolo Mascarello Barolo has undergone extreme waves of popularity throughout its storied history, from a polarizing Barolo to an antiquated winery, and ultimately, a celebrated heritage in Italian winemaking. Each bottle is known for its signature elegance and freshness on the palate, floral bouquet, and incredible aging ability. The wines are classic expressions of Nebbiolo and represent the peak of Piedmont's terroir.
Bartolo Mascarello 2020
The 2020 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo is the estate's latest release, hitting the market in January of 2025. The bottle was instantly acclaimed as another exceptional effort from Maria Teresa, celebrated for its refined tannins, fruit-forward aromas, and savory palate.
Bartolo Mascarello 2019
Mascarello's 2019 Barolo is possibly the most awarded vintage from the famed estate in recent years, receiving a 98+ point score from The Wine Advocate and a similar 98-point rating from Decanter Magazine. Both publications praised the wine for its earthy tones, vibrant acidity, and aging potential.
Celebrate Bartolo Mascarello, A Historic Italian Wine
Few names enter the pantheon of Barolo: Conterno Monfortino, Bruno Giacosa, and of course, Bartolo Mascarello. For those seeking classic, structured expressions of the famous Nebbiolo grape, Mascarello Barolo is the wine for you. Browse our selection and discover a new wine for your cellar.
