Piedmont

The Piedmont is red wine country. Here, the nebbiolo grape reigns supreme and is responsible for two of Italy’s greatest red wines, Barolo and Barbaresco. That being said, don’t overlook the other reds of the region, Dolcetto and Barbera (made from grapes of the same name). With the exception of Dolcetto Piedmont reds are medium to full-bodied with plenty of bright acidity and firm tannins that go well with the cuisine of the region which is a bit richer than most other regions of Italy.

Dolcetto
‘The little sweet one’, in the local Piedmontese dialect, this varietal is deeply colored with soft tannins and plush fruit flavors. It ripens early and produces light to medium bodied wines that are soft and accessible and made for early drinking. This is the wine the locals drink as the every day red wine of choice. Great as an aperitif or with lighter first courses such as salumi, Bruschetta, etc.

Barbera
This grape flourishes in the hills of Piedmont, hence it is the most planted red in the region. Once considered too harsh to drink, now it is the rising star of the region. Regular Barbera is easy to drink when young but some producers are raising the bar for this varietal. Some of the single-vineyard Barbera’s will rival the best of Italy’s red wines. Wines made with Barbera are of a deep ruby red and are usually low in tannins and rather high in acidity. The perfect wine for duck and pasta dishes.

Nebbiolo
Named for la Nebbia (the fog) that enshrouds the hills of Barolo and Barbaresco this is Italy’s answer to Pinot Noir. Believed to be a native of Piedmont, dating back to the 1300s, this late-ripening, sensitive grape produces the most unique and powerful reds in all of Italy. Both Barolo and Barbaresco are made with 100% Nebbiolo. Barolo is often referred to as the King of Wines and the Wine of Kings with the more elegant Barbaresco serving as the Queen. Outside of Barolo and Barbaresco you can find outstanding wines made of 100% Nebbiolo, such as Gattinara and Carema, as well as “Super-Piedmont” blends made with Nebbiolo and Barbera and sometimes Cabernet. Although Nebbiolo has been planted outside of Italy (California) nowhere does it express itself like in Piedmont.