Guido Porro

Guido is the fourth generation at an estate that has always been passed from father to son, and now fifth-generation Fabio is starting to lend a hand in the family business. The Porros continue to work just as their predecessors did—the only major change over the last few decades has been the decision to bottle at the estate instead of selling the wine in demijohns or barrels—and they like to keep things simple and down to earth.

The limestone-heavy soils of Serralunga d’Alba are known for providing the most long-lived and full-bodied Barolos. The cantina overlooks Porro’s vineyards in the Lazzarito cru, a gorgeous amphitheater that faces south-southwest and offers the grapes full sun exposure and protection from the wind. Guido expanded the family’s holdings in 2007, acquiring land in the nearby cru Gianetto, where the sandier soil yields a more immediate, open-knit Barolo. He then inherited a small slice of Serralunga’s fabled cru Vigna Rionda in late 2010. After replanting the vines, which were in poor state, he welcomed his first harvest in 2014, adding an undisputed grand cru to his already impressive stable of wines. Guido sticks to traditional methods in the vineyards and cellar, and he never gets in the way of the grapes’ natural expression.