Nebbiolo
Nebbiolo is arguably Italy’s greatest red grape variety, responsible for the great reds of Barolo and Barbaresco.
What does Nebbiolo taste like?
The thick-skinned grape produces a range of fabulous violet and rose-like perfumes and flavours of truffle, fennel, liquorice and tar. It’s a tricky grape variety to grow but rewards growers with good acidity and plenty of tannins. Its elegance and ability to translate terroir has been likened to that of Pinot Noir in Burgundy.
Nebbiolo is named after the ‘nebbia’, or fog, which enshrouds the limestone hills of Monforte around Alba.
Small quantities are grown in California and Australia, although it has yet to show the pedigree of its Italian counterpart.
-
-
A tour of Barolo vineyards with Ian D’Agata
-
Barolo 2011 vintage report
-
Barolo 2011: Ian D'Agata's top wines
-
Anson on Thursday: Discovery of a Barolo monopole
-
Stephen Brook’s top Serralunga Barolo wines
Stephen Brook gives his verdict, tasting notes and drinking windows on top Barolos from Serralunga.
-
Top Italian varieties from California
-
History of Wine in 100 Bottles: Barolo
-
International Trophy Red Italian Varietals over £15 - Rivetto, Leon, Barolo Riserva, Piedmont, Italy 2009
Enrico Rivetto, a fourth-generation Langhe winemaker whose great-grandfather set up shop in the centre of Alba in 1902, has strong views on modern technology.
-
Jefford on Monday: Secrets of the Quilt
-
Barolo 2008
-
Barolo 2009: panel tasting results
-
Anson on Thursday: The hills of northern Piedmont
Wine lovers would probably choose to visit Piedmont in October, when the late-ripening Nebbiolo grapes are luscious on the vines, while truffle hunters might plump for the frosty November fogs, when the delicate white truffles of Alba are advertised on chalk boards outside local trattorias in every village, and haggled over in open air markets.
-
Barbaresco wine: first among equals
It’s time for Piedmont’s ‘other’ great Nebbiolo wine to stop being seen as the perennial bridesmaid to Barolo, says Ian D’Agata. Barbaresco is just as good and (whisper it) in some cases better, especially when it comes to price
-
Barolo’s golden age
Michael Garner finds out what’s behind an unprecedented string of strong vintages...
-
Barolo producer Giacomo Conterno buys Arione vineyard
Barolo producer Giacomo Conterno has purchased the prized nine-hectare Arione vineyard to the south of Serralunga d’Alba from Cantina Gigi Rosso.
-
Investment analysis: SuperTuscans and Barolos
As Bordeaux’s pricing woes continue, interest in Italy as a fine wine investment vehicle grows, with SuperTuscans and Barolos leading the way. Ella Lister analyses the hot prospects
-
Serralunga Barolos: Mellowing with age
Held in high esteem, Serralunga Barolos have at the same time earned a reputation as fierce and tannic beasts. Yet today's wines are more approachable than ever, finds Stephen Brook
-
Barolo: The glory days
1978 was the one vintage that really put Barolo on the map. Since then there have been enormous changes in both vineyard and cellar, as well as global warming. So has this changed the intrinsic character of the wines? Tom Maresca reports...
-
Vintage Report: Barolo 2009
Tom Maresca was roundly disappointed by this 2009 tasting, citing the winemakers' failure to address how difficult the vintage was as one reason for this 'dismal' showing
-
Barolo producers celebrate Cannubi victory
Italian wine producers are claiming victory after a tribunal ruled to return the Cannubi vineyard area in Barolo to its previous size.
