
Nebbiolo
Learn about Nebbiolo — taste profile, popular regions and more …
Named for the ubiquitous autumnal fog (called nebbia in Italian), Nebbiolo is responsible for some of the most elegant and age-worthy wines in the world and is the star variety of northern Italy’s Piedmont region. Grown as well as in the neighboring Valle d’Aosta and Valtellina, it reaches its highest potential in the Piemontese villages of Barolo and Barbaresco. This finicky grape needs a very particular soil type and climate in order to thrive. Outside of Italy, growers are still very much in the experimentation stage but some success has been achieved in parts of California. Tiny amounts are produced in Washington, Virginia, Mexico and Australia.
Nebbiolo Tasting Notes
Nebbiolo is a dry red wine with velveteen tannins, mouthwatering acidity and a captivating perfume. Common characteristics of a well-made Nebbiolo wine can include roses, violets, licorice, sandalwood, spice box, smoke, potpourri, black plum, red cherry and orange peel. Light brick in color, Nebbiolo is a more powerful wine than one might expect, and its firm tannins typically need time to mellow.
Perfect Nebbiolo Food Pairings
Nebbiolo’s love affair with food starts in Piedmont, which is home to the Slow Food movement and some of Italy’s best cuisine. The region is famous for its white truffles, wild boar ragu and tajarin (a regional pasta), all perfect Nebbiolo wine foor pairings.
Sommelier Secrets for Nebbiolo
If you can’t afford to drink Barolo and Barbaresco every night, try the more wallet-friendly, earlier-drinking Langhe Nebbiolo or Nebbiolo d'Alba. Also search out the fine offerings of the nearby Roero region. North of the Langhe and Roero, find earthy and rustic versions of the variety (known here as “Spanna”) in Ghemme and Gattinara.
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Bruno Giacosa Nebbiolo d'Alba 2020Nebbiolo from Alba, Piedmont, Italy
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Arnaldo Rivera Barolo Ravera 2015Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy
- JS
- WS
- WE
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Giuseppe Cortese Barbaresco 2018Nebbiolo from Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy
- WE
- RP
- JS
- D
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Cantina Del Nebbiolo Barolo Perno 2015Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy
- WW
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Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco 2018Nebbiolo from Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy
- RP
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Silvio Grasso Barolo 2018Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy
- JS
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Terre del Barolo Barolo 2017Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy
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Adriano Marco e Vittorio Basarin Barbaresco 2018Nebbiolo from Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy
- WW
- JD
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Damilano Barolo Lecinquevigne 2017Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy
- JS
- WE
- RP
- WS
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Pio Cesare Barbaresco 2016Nebbiolo from Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy
- JS
- JD
- RP
- WE
- WW
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Giovanni Rosso Barolo 2017Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy
- W&S
- V
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Coppo Barolo Cellar Select 2017Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy
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Patrizi Nebbiolo d'Alba 2020Nebbiolo from Alba, Piedmont, Italy
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Vietti Barolo Castiglione 2018Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy
- WH
- JS
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Damilano Marghe Nebbiolo Langhe 2018Nebbiolo from Piedmont, Italy
- JS
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Sottimano Barbaresco Basarin 2018Nebbiolo from Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy
- WE
- W&S
- RP
- JD
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Damilano Barolo Cerequio 2016Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy
- WS
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Sottimano Barbaresco Cotta 2017Nebbiolo from Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy
- WE
- RP
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La Spinetta Barbaresco Bordini 2018Nebbiolo from Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy
- RP
- JD
- W&S
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Giuseppe Cortese Rabaja Barbaresco 2018Nebbiolo from Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy
- WE
- JS
- RP
- WS
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Marchesi di Gresy Barbaresco Martinenga 2018Nebbiolo from Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy
- WS
- W&S
- WE
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Pecchenino Bussia Barolo 2017Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy
- WS
- JS
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M. Marengo Barolo Bricco delle Viole 2017Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy
- JS
- RP
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Bruno Giacosa Valmaggiore Nebbiolo d'Alba 2020Nebbiolo from Alba, Piedmont, Italy
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Luigi Pira Barolo Serralunga 2018Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy