Nestled in northwest Italy, between the foothills of the western Alps and Apennines, lies the country’s second largest region: Piedmont, or Piemonte, in Italian. Home to the House of Savoy, Italy’s ruling dynasty until 1946, it’s no surprise this area birthed the king of Italian wines.

While Barolo reigns supreme, an array of indigenous grapes call Piedmont home. “Part of the greatness of this region is its diversity and the high level of quality of its wines,” shares Nadine Brown, sommelier and former wine director of Charlie Palmer Steakhouse in Washington D. C.. However, this article is focused on three wines: Barolo, Barbaresco, and Barbera.