Parusso

The Parusso family have been farmers and vintners based in Bussia for over 120 years, with a deep knowledge of the Dolcetto, Barbera and Nebbiolo vines in and around Bussia, Monforte d’Alba. 

It is here that two ancient soil types, Tortonian and Elvezian, have formed hills which mingle and blend a rich and diverse landscape.  Gaspare Parusso purchased a parcel of land called Mariondino in 1901 and planted Nebbiolo;  further parcels were acquired in the 1920s and again later by his son Armando in the 1970s. Today the estate is managed by Armando’s children, brother and sister Marco and Tiziana Parusso and is one of the most respected producers in Barolo. 

We last caught up with Marco at the Paris Wine Expo in March this year, with a very excited crowd of sommeliers from all over the world clambering to speak and taste with Marco.  In our chat with them, what we took away was the deep sense of belonging for the Parusso family to the region, and this shows through their immensely terroir expressive wines and respect for the land they cultivate without any chemical sprays – everything is farmed sustainably and organically, and the fruit is all harvested by hand ensuring the human impact on the soil and vines is as minimal as possible. 

Marco is indeed a revered Barolo winemaking legend, and is constantly pushing the boundaries as only a true artist would dare, walking a fine line between traditional winemaking and experimental techniques, such as employing a high percentage of whole-bunches for the Barolo wines (which is unheard of), these hand-harvested whole-bunches are laid down and dried out to let the stalks ripen before pressing, encouraging the ambient yeasts and bringing more terroir complexity to the Nebbiolo wines. 

If we were to give a tagline for the Parusso wines it would be that they are Barolo wines for lovers of Burgundy.  Parusso’s Dolcetto and Barbera are not to be dismissed either, and are some of the most structured, ethereal and comtemplative renditions of these varietals we have tasted. 

If you are seeking innovation, creativity, and a true sense of place in your wines then look no further. Explore the Parusso wines available in our portfolio by clicking here.