“Barolo en primeur” No. 6, record revenue of 1.14 million euros waiting for the oak barrel No.15

With 1.14 million euros raised, the sixth edition of Barolo en primeur, Italy largest wine charity event, set a new record. Held at Grinzane Cavour Castle and now firmly established on the international stage, the charity auction is promoted by Crc Donare Ets Foundation and Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Cuneo, in collaboration with Consortium of Protection Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe Dogliani. The total was achieved, pending bids for Barrique No. 15, which will go under the gavel on November 8th during the World Alba White Truffle Auction, also at Grinzane Cavour Castle and connected live with Hong Kong - through the sale of 14 barrels of “Barolo Gustava” 2025, individually vinified by winemaker Donato Lanati, each producing 270 bottles; seven municipal lots of Barolo and Barbaresco donated by 39 wineries belonging to the Consortium, including 681 bottles and more than 660 litres of wine; and, new for 2026, 31 historic bottles from vintages dating back as far as 1996. All the en primeur bottles, made unique by labels reproducing “Paisaje de vino” by Venezuelan artist Sol Calero, will be delivered to their new owners in 2029, once the ageing period required by the production regulations has been completed. Bids were called by Cristiano De Lorenzo, managing director of Christie’sItaly, during an evening punctuated by the comic performances of Federico Basso, who accompanied the allocation of the lots. Thanks to this edition, the project has now raised a total of 5,674,800 euros since 2021, supporting more than 120 projects in the fields of healthcare, social welfare, education and culture.
Among the 2026 initiatives, Crc Foundation has chosen in particular to support two highly topical projects aimed at ensuring fair conditions for seasonal vineyard workers: Accademia della Vigna - Academy of Vineyard, promoted by social enterprise We.Co, which operates in the wine sector of Alba, Langhe and Roero to foster skills development, social inclusion and a local model that combines excellence in production with social sustainability; and a temporary overnight accommodation service set up in premises provided by the Municipality of Alba for homeless people and seasonal workers without stable housing, beginning with those employed in the vineyards.
“Barolo en primeur” is now a model of philanthropy deeply rooted in our community and one that has increasingly opened up to the world over the years - declares Davide Merlino, board member of Crc Donare Ets Foundation - every euro raised at auction is transformed entirely into social value, funding projects that place people at their centre. The 1,140,500 euros collected this evening enables us to support highly valuable initiatives not only in the province of Cuneo and throughout Italy, but also in Africa, China, the United States and, this year, Cambodia. Our sincere thanks go to all donors who allow the project to continue growing edition after edition”.
“The success of the 2026 edition, as well as the previous five, says a great deal about how Barolo is perceived around the world - comments Sergio Germano, president of Consortium of Protection Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe Dogliani - markets change and consumer habits evolve, but quality endures, and that is what consumers reward. We saw it again this evening: the reputation Barolo enjoys in markets such as the United Kingdom and the United States, which largely shape global consumption trends, was clearly evident. In this context, the en primeur formula, which allows buyers to secure today a wine destined to increase in value over time, can become an increasingly useful tool for the entire denomination and beyond”. “Since its very first edition, Barolo en primeur has demonstrated its ability to embody the spirit that guides the work of Italy banking foundations: a commitment to people wellbeing and to enhancing the communities in which they operate, concludes Mauro Gola, president of Crc Foundation. Who added: “with this objective in mind, Fondazione Crc chose in particular to support two projects born locally that aim to guarantee fair working and living conditions for those who work in the vineyards every day. We believe that one of our territory finest products, an ambassador of the Langhe and of Italy throughout the world, should also serve as an ambassador for a fair and welcoming society”.