Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The Murderer’s Birds!
Elgin Public Museum
Tynemouth Castle.
Tynemouth Priory and Castle
Fresco on the ceiling of the chapel.
Cappella Sistina
View southwest from the trilobite quarry out to Cadiz Valley.
Marble Mountains Trilobite Quarry
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Everything at Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe is served in takeout containers.
Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe
The fried green tomato sandwich comes on jalapeño cornbread toast.
Café Reconcile
BBQ shrimp braised in beer are a popular menu item.
High Hat Cafe
The pastries at Lagniappe Bakehouse are worth waking up for.
Lagniappe Bakehouse
Peter Vazquez has been quietly making a name for himself for years.
The Appetite Repair Shop
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Su filindeu doesn’t cook in strands, it cooks in sheets.
How the ‘Su Filindeu’ (or ‘Threads of God’) Pasta Recipe Was Almost Lost to Time
about 18 hours ago
Eroded rocks of the badlands in the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park.
Arizona’s Petrified Forest Is Changing What We Know About the Dawn of the Dinosaurs
1 day ago
You could probably take some of that stuff out.
Dear Atlas: How Do I Pack Light for a Long Trip?
4 days ago
Ripples in the land are remnants of the field walls that once held rows of native sugarcane and sweet potatoes.
Unearthing the Mysteries of Hawai'i's Ancient Agriculture
5 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Italy Barolo Barolo Wine Museum
Gastro Obscura

Barolo Wine Museum

A stunning medieval castle houses this eclectic, interactive tribute to all things wine.

Barolo, Italy

Added By
Jamie Cornish
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
The museum is housed in the castle on the right.   Jamie Cornish / Atlas Obscura User
The museum is housed in the castle on the right.   Jamie Cornish / Atlas Obscura User
  Jamie Cornish / Atlas Obscura User
  Jamie Cornish / Atlas Obscura User
  dunsany65
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Abbreviated as WiMu, this multimedia wine museum takes visitors on a tour of the history and culture of wine, spread across 25 rooms over four floors. Exhibits range from a Garden of Eden—suggesting grapes as the forbidden fruit—to a wine bar populated by mingling gods, both ancient and modern.

Viticulture enthusiasts in Piedmont, a renowned wine-producing region of Italy, can wander the halls and rooms of a castle that dates back to the 10th century to trace the evolution of wine’s significance to humankind. The journey begins in nature, then moves into the discovery of wine and how it's impacted civilizations and cultures throughout history. From Mesopotamia to ancient Greece and Rome to 19th-century Europe, the exhibit traces wine's influence on religion, art, music, literature, and myths. Interactive installations range from a kitchen to a small movie theater.

The experience, created by Swiss museum exhibit designer François Confino, opened in 2010. In addition to exploring wine’s ties to tradition across civilizations, Confino's work also details how Barolo—a red wine produced in the Piedmont region—ended up a favorite among 19th-century European rulers. During the final leg of the tour, participants have an opportunity to taste the storied style. Selections from each of the 11 Barolo-producing towns are available in the castle's ancient wine cellar.

Related Tags

Wine Museums Medieval Castles

Know Before You Go

The Wine Museum is open every day from 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and tours last about an hour and a half.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Italy: Roman Carbonara, Florentine Steak & Venetian Cocktails

Savor local cuisine across Rome, Florence & Venice.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Jamie Cornish

Edited By

rachelrummel

  • rachelrummel

Published

June 3, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.barolodibarolo.com/en/museums/191-wimu-wine-museum.html
  • http://langhe.net/sight/wimu/?lang=en
  • https://www.nationalgeographic.com/people-and-culture/food/the-plate/2014/07/22/history-of-apples/
Barolo Wine Museum
Castello Comunale Falletti di Barolo
Piazza Falletti
Barolo, 12060
Italy
44.611004, 7.943974
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Cappella Delle Brunate (Barolo Chapel)

La Morra, Italy

miles away

Museo Civico Craveri di Storia Naturale

Bra, Italy

miles away

Giardini del Belvedere

Piazza, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Italy

Italy

Europe

Places 1,054
Stories 110

Nearby Places

Cappella Delle Brunate (Barolo Chapel)

La Morra, Italy

miles away

Museo Civico Craveri di Storia Naturale

Bra, Italy

miles away

Giardini del Belvedere

Piazza, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Italy

Italy

Europe

Places 1,054
Stories 110

Related Stories and Lists

18 Weird, Wondrous Places for Wine-Lovers Around the Globe

List

By Diana Hubbell

Related Places

  • A strange octopus specimen

    Norwich, England

    Norwich Castle Museum

    This medieval castle is filled with an eccentric collection that ranges from ancient Egyptian artifacts to taxidermy to a mummified hand that was cut off during a duel.

  • Omodos, Cyprus

    Linos tou Charilaou (Omodos Wine Press)

    This medieval wine press is one of the oldest in Cyprus.

  • Montagnana, Italy

    Castle of San Zeno

    A medieval castle was used for centuries as a hemp farm.

  • Oxford Castle & Prison

    Oxford, England

    Oxford Castle & Prison

    This Norman castle was once the site of a Victorian-era prison, and now exists as a luxury hotel.

  • Ypres Tower

    Rye, England

    Ypres Tower

    Also known as Rye Castle, this 13th-century fortification later became a prison and held one of Rye's most famous criminals.

  • Krujë Castle in Albania.

    Krujë, Albania

    Krujë Castle

    The elliptical citadel resisted the advance of the mighty Ottomans several times, thanks to the military prowess of the "Dragon of Albania."

  • Tynemouth Castle.

    Tynemouth, England

    Tynemouth Priory and Castle

    Royal burial place of the Kings of Ancient Britain

  • Tharandt, Germany

    Tharandt Castle Ruin

    Near Dresden, a scenic medieval castle ruin offers atmospheric views, educational ties to forestry, and a glimpse into Saxony’s past.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.