Castello di Grinzane Cavour, 30 October 2021
A project developed by the CRC and CRC Donare Foundations, in conjunction with the Consortium for the Protection of Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe and Dogliani
Saturday 30 October 2021 is a date destined to be etched in the memories of philanthropists and wine lovers: “Barolo en Primeur” will take place, a charity auction in favour of social projects in ltaly and abroad, in which 15 barriques of wine still being aged will be put under the hammer.
This event, unique in ltaly, has been organised by the Cassa di Risparmio di Cuneo Foundation, together with the CRC Donare Foundation, and in conjunction with the Consortium for the Protection of Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe and Dogliani. The barriques, containing wine made with the Barolo Nebbiolo grape, will be given to those who prove most generous towards the anticipated projects: a major charity auction to be held in the spectacular location of Grinzane Castle, arranged in conjunction with Christie’s, in simultaneous linkup with New York, where Antonio Galloni, the world-famous wine critic and CEO of Vinous, will be present.
Each barrique will yield around 300 bottles, which will be numbered and marked with a label specially created by the internationally renowned Italian artist Giuseppe Penone. Antonio Gallonis review will be cloned as an NFT and attached to each barrique A one-off limited edition in aid of non-profit organisations in the fields of health, research, the arts and culture, as well as schemes promoting social inclusion and the safeguarding of the ltalian cultural heritage.
The idea stems from the desire to promote the historic vineyard of Cascina Gustava, which is situated on the hills of Grinzane and once belonged to Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour. “An estate – comments Ezio Raviola, Vice President of the Cassa di Risparmio di Cuneo Foundation – acquired by the Foundation in 2019, as part of an operation aimed at benefiting the territory of the Province of Cuneo. This vineyard – continues the Vice President – gives us the chance to spread the name of Barolo worldwide, with a charity event dedicated to institutions, enlightened managers, companies committed to social investment, international corporate foundations and collectors”.
“We’re talking about a historic event for Barolo, but at the same time it’s a beacon for the whole ltalian wine sector, which has long been engaged in promoting its excellent products, but for the first time in this exclusive, prestigious way” – comments Matteo Ascheri, President of the Consortium for the Protection of Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe and Dogliani.
“Each individual barrique has its unique characteristics, since the vineyard has been divided into separately vinified parcels of land” explains Donato Lanati, one of the best-known oenologists in the world, and the brain behind Barolo Gustava. lndeed, Lanati, together with his applied research centre Enosis Meraviglia, is developing a project for training and the promotion of this historic vineyard with the Alba Wine School, thanks to the support of the Foundation.
“The event offers collectors an unprecedent opportunity to partecipate in a philantropic initiative of great importance and to benefit from a barrique of Barolo of the 2020 vintage, obtained from a specific parcel within an historic vineyard”, adds Antonio Galloni. “Bidders should be encouraged by the rarity of the wines, the specially commissioned works of art and charitable causes. All this contributes to making this initiative truly special”.