The Nebbiolo grape is the king of all grape varieties in Italy. Looking at the world, the Nebbiolo grape is highly recognized for being the grape variety used to make large and complex wines. The grape is known, among other things, for being the grape behind Barolo and Barbaresco, which are always made from 100% Nebbiolo.
In the new world, many wineries have tried to make similarly great wines from the Nebbiolo grape in recent years. Time has shown that Nebbiolovine is best made in its home country of Italy. One of the reasons for this is that the grape is very difficult to work with, as it is sensitive to wind and weather, which can damage the grape. The climate is therefore an important factor when making wines from Nebbiolo.
Nebbiolo - Piedmont's king grape
Nebbiolo is a blue grape variety that originates from Piedmont, the northeastern region of Italy, where it has helped create world-famous wines such as Barolo and Barbaresco. The grape has a thick skin, but unlike Cabernet Sauvignon or Malbec, which are known from Bordeaux in France, it is not quite as dark red or purple in color.
The Nebbiolo Mist
Nebbiolo is said to come from the Italian word for fog, nebbia, which usually occurs in the fall when the grapes are ripe and ready to be harvested. The fog helps cool the grapes, extending their ripening time and concentrating the intensity of the flavors.
Geography and Climate
Nebbiolo is a very sensitive grape variety, which is why it is rarely found outside of Piedmont and even more rarely outside of Italy.
The majority of Nebbiolo wines are produced in Piedmont in northern Italy. Here, the vines should be planted on the best south-facing slopes - preferably at an altitude of 150-300 meters above sea level. It does well on a variety of soil types, but it excels particularly on clay and limestone.
Differences and similarities between Nebbiolo and Pinot Noir
The Nebbiolo grape is somewhat reminiscent of the French wonder grape Pinot Noir; it is incredibly difficult for producers to grow, as it flowers early in the season and ripens late. It is therefore not possible to grow the grape in climates where spring frosts are a recurring event.
Outside of Piedmont, no one has been able to produce a decent Nebbiolo in the same way as the Pinot Noir grape, which is behind high-quality wine in both the New and Old Worlds.
Barolo and Barberesco
Barolo and Barbaresco are both made from 100% Nebbiolo, grown in the Piedmont region. They each belong to their own DOCG appellation, which ensures the highest quality Italian wine. The difference in aging periods is one of the ways in which Barolo wine differs from Barbaresco wine. A Barolo wine must be aged for a minimum of three years from the year it is harvested, with 18 months of that in barrel before being released. A Barbaresco wine must be aged for only two years, with 9 months in barrel.
The difference between the two styles in taste
Barbaresco is often a bit softer in character and is ready to drink earlier than Barolo. Although Barolo is the king of Italian wines, it is not necessarily superior to Barbaresco - it is always a matter of taste. Both wines are good choices if you are looking for a special red wine.
The Modernists vs. the Traditionalists
The Piedmontese rivalry between so-called traditionalists and modernists has been called one of the greatest in the history of wine.
The Traditionalists
The old Barolo producers (the Traditionalists) have always made their wines in a unique way with a long maceration period (where the must is in contact with the grape skins) to extract as much color, flavor and tannin as possible.
The aging has always taken place in large and old oak barrels, where they have been allowed to mature for a long time. In the past, the wines were aged for up to ten years before being released. However, this is no longer the case.
The Modernists
The younger generation of producers considered the old traditional method to be outdated and too expensive to use because the wine had to be aged for a long time before it could be sold and consumed. The modernists argued that in order to keep up with the times, the best way forward was to shorten the maceration period and produce more drinkable wines that should be aged in small French barriques, modeled after the Bordeaux style.
Barolo wines from modern producers will usually be ready to drink 6-10 years after the harvest, while it can take 12-15 years for a traditional Barolo wine to fully express itself. When buying Barolo, it is therefore a good idea to research the producer and the production process.
What do Nebbiolo wines taste like?
Wines made from the Nebbiolo grape, such as Barolo and Barbaresco, can provide some of the greatest and most unique tasting experiences. Nebbiolo wines are known for having aromatic notes of tar and roses, which may sound a bit strange to many, but that's just the way it is.
There are also often aromas of dark berries such as cherries, raspberries and currants as well as chocolate, violets, spices and pepper depending on the vintage, producer and region.
Nebbiolo wines typically have high acidity with large amounts of tannins, which helps make the wine a fantastic food wine.
Nebbiolo and food
Nebbiolo wines, including both Barolo and Barbaresco, are real food wines. The obvious choice to pair with these wines is mushrooms and truffles. Piedmont is known for their truffles, and this is something that goes exceptionally well with this type of red wine, as the great character of tannins and acidity combined with the notes of cherries and roses, play up the truffle to unseen levels.
It would be an obvious choice to serve this type of red wine with a mushroom risotto with the mushrooms that are good in that particular season.
Dishes with red meat, lamb and game will also be nice to serve when you want to drink a good wine with good food. Boiled meat dishes can also be good in the autumn season.
The wines can also be paired with firm cheeses without much sweetness. If the cheese is too sweet, the wine's acidity will create an unbalanced balance to the combination.
You can actually pair Nebbiolo wines with a wide range of dishes. If you're eating chicken or something similar, you shouldn't be nervous about opening a good Nebbiolo wine.
Reviews
Wines made from the amazing Nebbiolo grape are popular figures with reviewers such as James Suckling and Robert Parker. These two distinguished gentlemen and a host of other wine writers keep a close eye on these wines, often giving them rave reviews for their complex style, which stems from the climate that uniquely embraces this grape.
Buy Nebbiolo wines at Bottles with History
With At Bottles with History we have Denmark's largest selection of wines made from the Nebbiolo grape from over 50 different vintages. We are experts in vintage wines, where Barolo and Barbaresco in particular are a great love for us.
We have many talented wine producers in our range. If you are looking for a top producer like Conterno, Gaja or Marchesi di Barolo from Piedmont, we always have a wine from these wine houses - even in many different vintages.
Our range also includes super Tuscans such as Sassicaia and Tignanello as well as the big French names such as Chateau Latour, Chateau Margaux, Romanée Conti and Petrus.
