Can a $89 wine from one of Italy’s smallest DOCs beat Barolo?
Certified Sommelier John Alanis blind tastes the 2017 Luigi Ferrando Carema Etichetta Bianca against a 2021 Barolo — both made from Nebbiolo — to find out which is truly better.
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What you’ll discover in this Whole Bottle Review:
✅ Why Carema Nebbiolo has higher acidity AND silkier tannins than Barolo — explained simply
✅ How to evaluate a wine blind using sight, nose & palate like a Certified Sommelier
✅ The story of the ancient “peloon” stone pillars unique to Carema’s alpine terroir
✅ Why legendary importer Neal Rosenthal said Carema would be his ONE wine for life
✅ How this wine completely transformed over two days — glass by glass
✅ Full Sip & Swallow Score
Whether you’re just starting your wine journey or you’ve been drinking Barolo for years, this blind wine tasting challenge will open your eyes to one of Italy’s most criminally underrated wine regions.
⏱️ CHAPTERS
0:00 — The $89 Wine That Rivals a $200 Barolo
0:38 — What Is Carema? Italy’s Hidden Gem DOC
1:41 — Blind Tasting Setup: 2017 Carema vs. 2021 Barolo
4:11 — Sight: What Wine Color Tells You
5:25 — Nose: Red Fruits, Dried Cherry & Volatile Acidity
7:39 — Palate: Tannins, Acidity & the Deciding Clue
9:03 — The Reveal: Which Glass Is the Carema?
10:44 — Carema Deep Dive: History, Terroir & the Ferrando Family
13:30 — Get Your Free Magical Wines Guide
🍷 WINES IN THIS VIDEO
→ 2017 Luigi Ferrando Carema Etichetta Bianca — $89
→ 2021 Agricola Brandini Barolo del Comune di La Morra
🔍 LEARN MORE
What is Carema wine?
Carema is one of Italy’s smallest and most historic DOCs, located at the northern tip of Piedmont near Valle d’Aosta. Nebbiolo grapes grow on ancient granite terraces at 350–700 meters altitude, trained on traditional stone pillars called “peloon” that absorb solar heat and extend the ripening season.
Carema vs. Barolo — what’s the difference?
Both are made from Nebbiolo, but Carema’s significantly higher altitude produces wines with noticeably higher acidity and lower, silkier tannins compared to Barolo. Carema is also far rarer — only a handful of producers exist in the entire DOC.
Who is Luigi Ferrando?
The Ferrando family are the benchmark producers of Carema, making wine there for generations using traditional methods. Their Etichetta Bianca (White Label) is the entry-level bottling and remains one of the finest values in Italian fine wine.
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6 Comments
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Nope. The camera says they are the same age; at best
Thanks. I will look for Carema for sure. Total Wine by me does not have it. But I will keep looking for it.
lets go down to about $25 to $30 bucks, forget $90…….it is called Xinomavro from Greece and often beats high-end Nebbiolo wines (Barolos and Barbarescos) in what truly counts, blind tastings; even though Xinomavro and Nebbiolo have no relationship, they are very similar in character and elegance and that is why blind tastings are conducted; some nice examples: Diaporos, Diamantakos, Alpha Estate, Dalamara, Karydas
I’ve experienced that exact bottle of Carema and it was sublime. It’s a fantastic expression of Nebbiolo. Need to get a few more bottles.
might as well have done this unblind! you can see shapes of the bottles😅