The parallels between Piedmont and Burgundy are many. Both are highly regarded wine regions, where production is rooted in carefully defined, family-owned vineyards, each shaped by its precise location and terroir.

Among all grape varieties, Nebbiolo stands apart as the finest red grape of Northern Italy.

The Character of Nebbiolo

Nebbiolo does not need to be grown in Barolo or Barbaresco to produce well-structured and fragrant wines. It is rarely notable for its depth of colour, often developing a distinctive brick-like tone as it ages.

Today, there are several expressions of Nebbiolo that offer remarkable quality, including Nebbiolo d’Alba, Langhe Nebbiolo and Langhe Rosso. These wines provide an accessible way to experience the grape, while still reflecting its distinctive character.

Nebbiolo Across the Region

Nebbiolo gives exceptional results in several parts of Piedmont, particularly in the hills above Novara and Vercelli.

Here, the grape is known locally as Spanna and dominates the production of numerous local denominations. Among the most notable are Ghemme, Gattinara, Boca, Lessona, Bramaterra and Fara, each offering a unique interpretation shaped by local soils, altitude and tradition.

Two Kings, One Throne

However it is made, Barbaresco is always a tannic wine that requires time to age, where structure frames a remarkable range of complex and evolving flavours.

Great Barbaresco and Barolo wines can reveal smoky woodland notes layered over deep sweetness, with flavours of raspberry, leather and spice, alongside a balance of richness and freshness. With age, these wines develop further, moving towards notes of tar, earth, wax or incense, alongside hints of rose, mushroom, truffle and dried cherry.

What unites them is the precision of their tannins and acidity, which refresh rather than overwhelm the palate.