Nebbiolo

Nebbiolo is a red Italian wine grape variety predominantly associated with its native Piedmont region, where it makes the Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) wines of Barolo, Barbaresco, Gattinara, and Ghemme. Nebbiolo is thought to derive its name from the Italian word nebbia which means "fog." During harvest, which generally takes place late in October, a deep, intense fog sets into the Langhe region where many Nebbiolo vineyards are located.

Characteristics

Nebbiolo produces lightly-colored red wines which can be highly tannic in youth with scents of tar and roses. As they age, the wines take on a characteristic brick-orange hue at the rim of the glass and mature to reveal other aromas and flavors such as violets, tar, wild herbs, cherries, raspberries, truffles, tobacco, and prunes. Nebbiolo wines can require years of aging to balance the tannins with other characteristics.

History

The first recorded mention of Nebbiolo dates back to 1268, where a wine called "Nibiol" was described as growing in Rivoli near Turin. This was followed by a 1303 account of a producer in the Roero district described as having planted a vineyard with Nebbiolo. In the 1304 treatise Liber Ruralium Commodorum, the Italian jurist Pietro Crescenzi described wine made from "Nebiolo" as being of excellent quality.

Viticulture

Nebbiolo is a late-ripening variety, with harvests taking place in October or even November in some vintages. The vine is very sensitive to different soil types and climates, and changes in these variables can result in significantly different wines. The grape prefers a calcareous-clay soil type and a climate with a long growing season, as found in the Piedmont region.

Wine regions

While Nebbiolo is most famous in Piedmont, it is also grown in the neighboring Valle d'Aosta DOC, north of Piedmont in Alto Piemonte, and in the Lombardy region's Franciacorta. It is also grown in the New World wine regions of Australia, California, Washington, and Mexico.

Synonyms

Over the years, Nebbiolo has been known under various synonyms: Chiavennasca, Picotendro, Prunent, Spanna, and many others.

See also

• List of Italian grape varieties
• Italian wine