The Terre del Barolo cooperative, established in 1958 in Castiglione, began its journey with its first vintage in 1959 and has since become a significant player in the wine industry. The cooperative launched the Arnaldo Rivera project in 2017, named after its founder, who also served as the mayor of Castiglione Faletto for 37 years. In a recent discussion with Gabriele Oderda, the current director of Arnaldo Rivera, we explored the cooperative’s history and the trajectory of Barolo as a renowned wine region.
Historically, after World War II, the Langhe region was one of Italy’s poorest agricultural areas. However, with Arnaldo Rivera’s efforts in creating the cooperative, local growers found a supportive community amid an exploitative grape market, where prices were controlled by a few brokers, leading to the market’s nickname: "the dead people market." The cooperative aimed to empower growers, offering them a platform where they could collectively improve their conditions.
Initially, just 22 growers joined Terre del Barolo in its founding year, but this number quickly grew to 250 as interest surged, demonstrating the need for a united front in the face of market challenges. Rivera’s vision prioritized community over individual fame, opting to build a cooperative winery instead of branding wines under his own name.
Today, Terre del Barolo stands as the only grower cooperative in Barolo, producing 12% of the entire region’s wine within its 240 hectares. The cooperative categorizes its wines into tiers, ranging from bulk wine for broader markets to high-end, vineyard-designated wines under the Arnaldo Rivera label. This premium tier comprises about 10% of their overall production, involving just 35 of the 300 growers who are compensated based on their vineyard’s potential yields.
Aside from Barolo, the cooperative has diversified its offerings by incorporating lesser-known grape varieties like Freisa, Verduno Pelaverga, Dolcetto, and the rare Nascetta, highlighting their commitment to showcasing the region’s rich diversity.
Gabriele explained that the cooperative’s decision-making process, carried out by its members, is deliberate and thorough, which has allowed them to maintain traditional practices—specifically, sticking with large-format casks for aging wines for a longer time. However, with the establishment of the Arnaldo Rivera project, they recognized the need for smaller vessels to accommodate small plot vinifications while ensuring that the quality of wine remains uncompromised.
Among the notable wines sampled were the Arnaldo Rivera Langhe Nascetta del Commune di Novello and various Barolos, which showcased the cooperative’s balanced approach to winemaking, blending tradition with modernity to produce wines celebrated for their elegance and complexity.
For more information, visit Terre del Barolo and Arnaldo Rivera.