Cépage nebbiolo

Nebbiolo is the king of red varietals in Piedmont. Barolo wines, among some of the world’s finest, are made from this grape, as well as Barbaresco, which is seeing its reputation grow. However, we can’t limit its influence to these two appellations, since it is cultivated across the region. Requiring well-drained chalk soil in order to fully express itself, Nebbiolo vines also need a lot of sun as they ripen relatively late. The harvests are often in the autumn when the weather is foggy, ‘nebbia’ in Italian, hence the name of the grape. It is often planted on slopes facing south and south-west. A fragile varietal, it needs to be handled precisely in the vineyard and the winery. Once it is vinified the Nebbiolo grape brings together unbelievable power and finesse. The wines often have marked tannins and acidity, quite high in alcohol, with fruity and spicy notes. They are highly coveted and often benefit from a few years of ageing.