Francesco Rinaldi 2025 Grignolino

The Wine

A pale and aromatic expression of one of Piedmont’s most distinctive reds. The color is a light, translucent ruby with hints of orange, classic for this obscure grape - Grignolino.

Grignolino naturally produces delicate, aromatic wines marked by cherry, pomegranate, rose petal, dried herbs, and a signature peppery spice leading to a subtle earthy note.

The palate is bright and feather‑light, with crunchy red fruit, and the fine, slightly raspy tannins that define the variety. A textbook example of Grignolino’s charm: aromatic, energetic, and low alcohol.

Pairings: Salumi, roast chicken, herb‑driven vegetable dishes, and simple pastas. Cheeses such as young Pecorino, Robiola, and mild Alpine styles like a Toma-style (try these cheeses as part of your favorite grilled cheese recipe!)

The Winery

Francesco Rinaldi & Figli is one of Barolo’s historic traditionalists, founded in 1870 and still family‑run today. The estate has passed through multiple generations of the Rinaldi family, maintaining a classic, restrained approach to winemaking rooted in long macerations, large neutral botti, and an emphasis on purity and site expression.

The family farms vineyards in Barolo, Barbaresco, and the surrounding hills with a focus on sustainable, low‑intervention practices. Their holdings include parcels in Cannubi, Brunate, and other storied crus, but they also continue producing traditional Piedmontese reds such as Grignolino and Barbera, wines that are for everyday enjoyment in the region - likely the house wines you can get for a few euro at the local enoteca.

Rinaldi's winemaking pre-dates today's "Natural Wine" fad, though it adheres to most of the definitions - native fermentations, careful/modest extraction, and aging that avoids overt oak influence. The goal is transparency and longevity, producing wines that are reflections of Piedmont’s soils and traditions, and the Rinaldi family’s long lineage as growers.