Langhe DOC Nebbiolo (Italy)
Langhe DOC red wines are made from Nebbiolo, Dolcetto or Barbera.
It is up to each producer to decide the mixing ratio of the grapes.
Langhe DOC Nebbiolo must contain at least 85% Nebbiolo grapes.
Typical Flavors
Langhe Nebbiolo tastes something between Pinot Noir and Syrah.
The flavors of the wine are an important part of the consumer enjoyment.
 Sour Cherry |
 Wild Cherry |
 Cranberry |
 Herbs |
 Violet |
 Red Rose |
 Licorice |
 Spices |
Oak added Flavors
 Tar |
 Mushroom |
 Truffle |
 Chocolate |
 Coffee |
Spices |
 Tobacco |
 Leather |
Sour Red Cherry, Wild Cherries, and Cranberries are typical Langhe Nebbiolo flavors.
Hints of Herbs, Flowers, Licorice or Anise, and Spices.
Profile
Langhe Nebbiolo wines are full-bodied with strong acidity and high tannins:
| BODY | Full | ||
| TANNINS | High | ||
| FRUIT | Medium Plus | ||
| ACIDITY | Medium - High | ||
| |||
Food Pairing
Truffle |
 Pasta |
 Risotto |
 Rich Pizza |
 Charcuterie |
 Salami |
 Duck |
 Goose |
 Pork |
 Lamb |
 Veal |
 Meat |
 Rabbit |
 Wild Boar |
 Deer |
 Hamburger |
Langhe Nebbiolo is a powerful red wine. It pairs best with strong flavor dishes.
A classic pairing is white truffles, as Langhe Nebbiolo mirrors the earthy, gamey quality of the truffles.
Pairing Suggestions
Excellent Pairing:
Truffle and Mushroom Dishes.
Risotto with Truffle. Mushroom Pizza.
Pasta with strong Tomato or Truffle Sauce.
Rich Charcuterie. Salami.
Rich Stews. Beef Stew. Ragù. Stroganof.
Meat Pie. Shepherd's Pie.
Duck Brest. Confit. Roast Goose.
Game. Rabbit. Wild Boar. Deer.
Roasted Beef. Lamb. Veal. Liver.
Read Meat. Fillet Steak.
Cheese:
Old Cheese. Mature Cheese. Hard Cheese.
Parmigiano Reggiano. Pecorino Vecchio.
Aged Cheddar.
Piemonte Spesialities:
Risotto al Tartufo Bianco (White Truffles).
Carne Cruda (Beef Tartare).
Manzo Stufato alla Piemontese (Beef Stew).
Osso Buco (Veal Shanks braised with Vegetables).
Stufato di Coniglio (Rabbit Stew).
If You Like Langhe Nebbiolo
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The Ideal Glass
The Bordeaux glass is perfect for a bodied red wine.
It is taller than other red wine glasses, and has a slimmer bowl.
The large size of the glass allows the bouquet to develop. It smooths out rough edges, plays down tannins, and allows the wines to achieve balance.
The slimmer bowl sends the wine directly to the back of the mouth for maximum taste.
Langhe DOC (1994)
The Langhe DOC area extends the geographical Langhe area in Piemonte.
It was established to prevent quality wines (that did not meet existing DOC requirements) to be categorized as table wine. The DOC also defines a number of French grapes.
These "Super Piemonteses" are a close parallel to the "Super Toscans" in Toscana.
Langhe DOC Red Wines
| DOC | Description |
|---|---|
| Rosso | Any mix of the grapes below |
| Barbera | Min 85% Barbera |
| Cabernet Sauvignon | Min 85% Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Dolcetto | Min 85% Dolcetto |
| Freisa | Min 85% Freisa |
| Merlot | Min 85% Merlot |
| Nebbiolo | Min 85% Nebbiolo |
| Pinot Nero | Min 85% Pinot Noir |
Langhe DOC White Wines
| DOC | Description |
|---|---|
| Bianco | Any mix of the grapes below |
| Arneis | Min 85% Arneis |
| Chardonnay | Min 85% Chardonnay |
| Favorita | Min 85% Favorita |
| Nascetta | Min 85% Nascetta |
| Riesling | Min 85% Riesling |
| Rossesse | Min 85% Rossesse |
| Sauvignon | Min 85% Sauvignon Blanc |
Langhe DOC Rosato
| DOC | Description |
|---|---|
| Rosato | Min 60% Barbera, Dolcetto, and/or Nebbiolo |
World Famous Grapes
Nebbiolo
Nebbiolo is the grape behind the famous Barolo and Barbaresco wines.
About Nebbiolo
Nebbiolo is an extreme grape that combines high acidity with lots of tannins. The wines need storage and a high level of alcohol to be consumable. However, Nebbiolo wines will never be completely soft.
Nebbiolo wines will usually need years of storage before the high tannin is reduced to a comfortable level. It develops storage flavors of truffles, leather, chocolate and tobacco.
These are wines that can be difficult to understand, and Nebbiolo wines should definitely be consumed with food. The acid and tannin form a structure that somehow melts into the food, and harmonize and balance the aromas of the wine.
The taste of Nebbiolo can remind you of a mixture of Pinot Noir and Syrah.
Nebbia = Fog
It is believed that "Nebbiolo" is derived from the Italian word "Nebbia" ("fog"). During harvest in October, an intense fog sets into the Langhe region where the vineyards are located. Or maybe it refers to the fog-like "dust" that forms over the berries as they reach maturity.
Piemonte (Piedmont)
Piemonte has been an important wine province since Roman times. The area is influenced both culturally and climatically by the Alps in the north, and the Ligurian coast in the south.
Red Wines:
Barbaresco
Barbera
Barbera Superiore
Barolo
Brachetto
Dolcetto
Dolcetto Dogliani
Nebbiolo
Nizza
Gattinara
Ruchè
Terre Alfieri
Vespolina
White Wines:
Arneis
Cortese di Gavi
Favorita
Langhe Rossese
Roero Arneis
Terre Alfieri Arneis
Timorasso
Rosé Wines:
Sparkling:
Piemonte
Nebbiolo (the power of the Barolo and Barbaresco) is the most famous grape of Piemonte, followed by the red grapes Barbera and Dolcetto.
For whites, Cortese and Arneis are the most popular grapes.
For dessert, the off-dry, sparkling Moscato d'Asti is the queen.
The most important wine regions are:
- Asti (Barbera d'Asti)
- Langhe (Nebbiolo, Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera di Alba, Dolcetto, Roero)
- Monferrato (Barbera del Monferrat, Nizza, Cortese di Gavi)
- North (Gattinara, Ghemme)
Piemonte's DOCG regions:
- Alta Langa (Metodo Classico)
- Asti (100% Moscato)
- Barbaresco (100 %Nebbiolo)
- Barbera d'Asti (Min. 90% Barbera)
- Barbera del Monferrato Superiore (Min. 14 months storage)
- Barolo (100% Nebbiolo)
- Brachetto d'Acqui (100% Brachetto)
- Gavi (100% Cortese)
- Dogliani Superiore (100% Dolcetto)
- Ovada Superiore (100% Dolcetto)
- Diano d'Alba (100% Dolcetto)
- Erbaluce di Caluso (aka Caluso)
- Gattinara (Min 90% Nebbiolo)
- Ghemme (Min 85% Nebbiolo)
- Nizza (100% Barbera)
- Roero (100% Arneis)
- Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato (90% Ruchè)
- Terre Alfieri (Arneis and Nebbiolo))