Nebbiolo (Italy)
Nebbiolo is a red wine grape from the foggy hills of Langhe in Piemonte.
Nebbiolo, Barolo and Barbaresco wines are made with 100% Nebbiolo grapes.
Typical Flavors
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 Nebbiolo flavors.
Hints of Herbs, Flowers, Licorice or Anise, and Spices.
Profile
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 |
Nebbiolo is a powerful red wine. It pairs best with strong flavor dishes.
A classic pairing is white truffles, as 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).
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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.
Nebbiolo DOCG Denominazioni
DOCG is Italy's highest wine classification
(Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita)
| Barolo DOCG 1980 | Riserva |
|---|---|
|
100% Nebbiolo 38+ Months Aged 18+ Months in Oak 20+ Months in Bottle Minimum 13.0% Alcohol |
100% Nebbiolo 62+ Months Aged 18+ Months in Oak 44+ Monts in Bottle Minimum 13.0% Alcohol |
| Barbaresco DOCG 1980 | Barbaresco Riserva |
|
100% Nebbiolo 26+ Months Aged 9+ Months in Oak 17+ Months in Bottle Minimum 12.5% Alcohol |
100% Nebbiolo 50+ Months Aged 9+ Months in Oak 41+ Months in Bottle Minimum 12.5% Alcohol |
| Gattinara DOCG 1990 | Riserva |
|
Min 90% Spanna * Max 10% Uva Rara ** Max 4% Vespolina 35+ Months Aged 24+ Months in Oak 11+ Months in Bottle Minimum 12.5% Alcohol |
Min 90% Spanna * Max 10% Uva Rara ** Max 4% Vespolina 47+ Months Aged 36+ Months in Oak 11+ Months in Bottle Minimum 13.0% Alcohol |
| Ghemme DOCG 1997 | Riserva |
|
Min 85% Spanna * Max 15% Uva Rara ** Max 15% Vespolina 36+ Months Aged 18+ Months in Oak 6+ Months in Bottle Minimum 12.0% Alcohol |
Min 85% Spanna * Max 15% Uva Rara ** Max 15% Vespolina 48+ Months Aged 24+ Months in Oak 12+ Months in Bottle Minimum 12.5% Alcohol |
| Terre Alfieri DOCG 2020 | Riserva |
|
Min 100% Nebbiolo 12+ Months Aged 6+ Months in Oak 6+ Months in Bottle Minimum 13.0% Alcohol |
Min 100% Nebbiolo 24+ Months Aged 12+ Months in Oak 12+ Months in Bottle Minimum 13.5% Alcohol |
* Spanna is a local name for Nebbiolo
** Uva Rara is locally known as Bonarda di Gattinara
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))