Giuseppe Rinaldi

Giuseppe Rinaldi has a unique way of seeing the world and a presence that makes a lasting impression. An overarching respect for tradition and a fascination with history seem to drive his thoughts and, in turn, his wines. Beppe’s personal history goes back five generations to the late 19th century, when his family and so many others sold the fruit of their vineyards to the Falletti family. The first Rinaldi winery (which is still running today...

I don’t want a wine that pleases easily ... when someone says I like it or I don’t like it and that’s it”, Rinaldi told The Art of Eating’s Edward Behr in 2000. Rinaldi wants Barolo that is “austere, severe, that demands research. It takes time. You have to study, to think, to understand, like all of art. It isn’t simple but complex; it doesn’t please right away. It’s the opposite of a mass-produced product. It has angles, not curves. It’s not...

As a traditional – although certainly not conventional – winemaker, Beppe sees blends as the ultimate expression of Barolo. Every vineyard site, he points out, will have shortcomings, especially in vintages that mesh less well with the character of the land. Past generations loved the creativity and individuality of blends, and even their “cru” labeled wines were often laced with non-cru fruit in order to enhance the still apparent vineyard ch...