The Children of Nebbiolo, the King of Wines

If one day we were seized by the curiosity to venture into the world of nebbiolo, we might discover, tasting after tasting, how this grape variety can express a splendid potential of aromas and flavors. Nebbiolo is indeed one of the finest and most elegant grapes that Italy can boast.

In the kaleidoscope of nebbiolo we can find colors ranging from the rosé of some authentic gems of metodo classico sparkling wines made from nebbiolo alone or in blends, passing through the ruby red of younger nebbiolos and arriving at the garnet of aged reds, all the way to the orange hues of great reds from long aging.
The character is that of decisive wines loaded with personality, which know who they are and know what they can offer: structure, aromas, elegance.

The starting point for a visitor on an imaginary journey of discovery through nebbiolo could only be la Langa, the undisputed homeland of this grape variety; a series of gentle hills furrowed by orderly vineyards that provide a natural cradle for this demanding yet generous grape.
Here we can find nebbiolo in its most classic designations of "Langhe nebbiolo DOC" and "Nebbiolo d'Alba DOC", where nebbiolo is vinified as a single variety, with aging limited to one year to produce well-balanced wines with broad fruity and floral aromas with just a hint of spice.

But it is always in Langa where wines of rare finesse and great longevity are produced, such as Barolo and Barbaresco, which are made exclusively from nebbiolo grapes (single variety).

Barolo DOCG (which was chosen as the representative wine of casa Savoia and for this reason called "il Re dei vini, il vino dei Re") follows a strict production code that requires production in only eleven municipalities around the eponymous village of Barolo, low yields per hectare, and aging in the cellar of at least 3 years (4 to become a RISERVA) before it can be sold, with two of those years spent in oak or chestnut barrels. Usually its appearance is garnet-colored for younger Barolos, but it is not uncommon to encounter orange hues in older wines that will express their full balance. The aromas are usually characterized by notes of ripe fruit and spices, and less often extend to balsamic hints.
Worth a brief mention is the chinata version of Barolo, where the base wine is enriched with spices (a different recipe, personalized and strictly secret for each individual producer) to create a complex and absolutely unique dessert wine, to be tried paired with a refined sacher torte.

Barbaresco DOCG is equally well known and appreciated around the world, combining the aristocratic quality of its aromas and structure with a more natural drinkability compared to Barolo. Here too the colors range from more or less deep garnet intertwined with orange hues. The fruity and spiced aromas are refined, with a fine tannic quality that makes it increasingly enjoyable with the passing of years.

All of this is nebbiolo… many expressions for a single prince!