Born of the noble Nebbiolo grape, Piedmont’s Barolo and Barbaresco rank among the greatest red wines not only of Italy, but of the world. But there is more to the story of this large and varied region, from the complex, heady reds of the Alpine zones to hearty Barberas and silky Dolcettos. Even more surprising are the pleasures offered by the region’s under-appreciated white wines. Yes, of course there will be Barolo, but this class will illustrate how much more Piedmont has to offer.
A native New Yorker, Oliver Longwell caught the wine bug in 2012 after a number of years working in government and politics. He has worked for leading wine retailers in New York and Los Angeles, with a particular focus on organically-farmed and natural wines. Oliver is a Certified Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers and works as a freelance wine consultant. He enjoys experimenting with fermentations, especially ciders. He and his wife moved to Northeast Portland in 2021 and welcomed a daughter in 2022.