Italian winemaker and pioneer Michele Chiarlo, a leading figure in the global promotion of Piemonte wine, died on Nov. 18 at the age of 88. He passed away peacefully at his home from cancer. Born to winegrowers on May 25, 1935, Chiarlo attended the Scuola Enologica in Alba. In 1956, at age 23, he opened a bottling business with his sister while taking care of the family vineyards. In 1988, he acquired the La Morra hamlet of Cerequio and renovated it into the Palás Cerequio, a Barolo-themed resort. The following year, he acquired 2 hectares of vineyard on the Cannubi hill and created the first terraced vineyard with grass cover in Langhe. During the 1980s, Chiarlo, by then an advocate for the potential of Barbera as a grape variety, served as the President of the Consorzio della Barbera d’Asti e Vini del Monferrato. He was also the first president of the Associazione dei Produttori del Nizza DOCG after the DOCG was created in 2014, a role now occupied by his son, Stefano. He spent his career promoting Piemonte wines in Northern European and North American markets late into life, remaining passionate about his region’s renowned wines.