Juliette Colbert—Historical Barolo Influencer and Philanthropist

Anna Savino | Italianna Food & Wine Tours

Few people know about the inspiring aristocratic French woman with family ties to King Louis XIV—Juliette Colbert (better known in Italy as “Giulia). She was extremely influential in two areas: Barolo and philanthropy. 

Barolo
Born in the era of the French Revolution, her family lived in exile in Germany and the Netherlands until Napoleon granted most of the aristocrats amnesty. Looking to unite ties between Piemonte and France, Giulia married a fellow courtier and soon-to-be Count of the Empire, Carlo Tancredi Falletti, who had strong ties to the Barolo area. She became known as the Marchesa of Barolo.

This is where Giulia influenced the wine-making style enormously, turning the sweet wine made from the noble grape Nebbiolo into a “modern” dry style by improving wine making techniques. Furthermore, she was a talented business woman and entrepreneur who was responsible for introducing the wines to King Carlo Alberto in Turin.

Juliette (“Giulia”) Colbert Falletti, Marquesa of Barolo
Image | Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

Philanthropy
More importantly, she and her husband,  lived their lives to give to the poor. They dedicated their time and money to adopting the orphans of Turin, setting up kindergartens and reforming women's prisons, which was her most important contribution.

It is hard to believe that so few people, even locally, know about this hero and her good deeds.

I personally thank author Suzanne Hoffman for sharing Giulia's story in English through her first publication Labor of Love: Wine Family Women of Piemonte. The author and Piemonte-lover also credits the historian Pierangelo Vacchetto and local winemakers Chiara Boschis and Maurizio Rosso. If you would like to watch our interview to learn more about this inspiring woman who is on the road to sainthood, watch our video here!