
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.
- Cabernet Sauvignon876
- Pinot Noir832
- Bordeaux Red Blends616
- Other Red Blends417
- Tempranillo246
- Rhône Blends209
- Sangiovese191
- Syrah/Shiraz168
- Merlot164
- Malbec162
- Zinfandel117
- Nebbiolo110
- Grenache66
- Cabernet Franc62
- Tuscan Blends58
- Gamay46
- Barbera34
- Carmenere25
- Petite Sirah25
- Other Red Wine24
- Mourvedre21
- Mencia18
- Montepulciano16
- Nero d'Avola15
- Dolcetto14
- Carignan12
- Pinotage10
- Aglianico9
- Nerello Mascalese9
- Primitivo6
- Bonarda5
- Agiorgitiko5
- Cinsault4
- Corvina4
- Petit Verdot4
- Tannat4
- Negroamaro2
- Valdiguie2
- Blaufrankisch2
- Frappato2
- Gaglioppo2
- Xinomavro2
- Lagrein1
- Touriga Nacional1
- Alicante Bouschet1
- Freisa1
- Pais1
- Refosco1
- Sagrantino1
- Schiava1
- Zweigelt1
-
Gaja Costa Russi 2017Nebbiolo from Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy
- JS
- RP
- WS
-
G.D. Vajra Barolo Albe 2017Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy
- WE
- JD
- RP
- JS
- W&S
-
Damilano Barolo Lecinquevigne (375ML half-bottle) 2016Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy
- JS
- WS
- RP
- WE
- JD
- W&S
-
Massolino Vigna Parafada Barolo 2017Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy
- W&S
- RP
-
Vietti Barolo Brunate 2018Nebbiolo from La Morra, Piedmont, Italy
- JS
-
G.D. Vajra Nebbiolo Langhe 2020Nebbiolo from Piedmont, Italy
-
Paitin Barbaresco Serraboella 2017Nebbiolo from Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy
- JS
- WS
-
Azelia Barolo Cerretta 2017Nebbiolo from Serralunga d'Alba, Piedmont, Italy
- JS
- WS
- JD
- RP
- WE
-
Damilano Barolo Lecinquevigne 2016Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy
- JS
- WS
- RP
- WE
- JD
- W&S
-
Arnaldo Rivera Barolo Ravera 2015Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy
- JS
- WS
- WE
-
Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili Riserva 2016Nebbiolo from Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy
- JS
- WS
- RP
-
Massolino Vigna Rionda Riserva Barolo 2015Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy
- WE
- W&S
- WS
-
Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili 2017Nebbiolo from Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy
- JS
- D
-
Boroli Barolo 2016Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy
- JS
- RP
- WS
-
Sottimano Barbaresco Cotta 2017Nebbiolo from Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy
- WE
- RP
-
Vietti Perbacco Nebbiolo delle Langhe 2019Nebbiolo from Piedmont, Italy
- WW
-
Adriano Marco e Vittorio Basarin Barbaresco 2018Nebbiolo from Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy
- WW
- JD
-
Gaja Sperss Barolo 2017Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy
- JD
- JS
- RP
- D
- WS
-
Tenute Neirano Barbera D'Asti Superiore Tirteo 2019Nebbiolo from Asti, Piedmont, Italy
- JS
-
La Spinetta Barbaresco Bordini 2018Nebbiolo from Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy
- RP
- JD
- W&S
-
Terre del Barolo Barolo 2017Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy
-
Gaja DaGromis Barolo 2017Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy
-
Luigi Oddero Barolo 2015Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy
- WE
- JS
-
Sottimano Barbaresco Curra 2016Nebbiolo from Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy
- RP
- W&S
- JD
- WS
- WE
-
Travaglini Gattinara Riserva 2015Nebbiolo from Piedmont, Italy
- RP
- WE