Rose, cherry, strawberry, licorice, chocolate, leather, and cloves are common flavors found in wines made from Nebbiolo. Despite these similarities, not all Nebbiolo is created equally. The red grape is synonymous with the Barolo and Barbaresco DOCGs in the Langhe, the backdrop for some of the world’s finest wines.
The varied climates, altitudes, and terroir of Nebbiolo’s other production zones add individuality to the wines, so fashioning Barolo and Barbaresco as the benchmark for the variety seems a bit unfair. Winemakers north and northwest of the Langhe are bottling attention-worthy interpretations of the grape, so here’s an overview of the popular and lesser-known Nebbiolo wines from Piedmont and Lombardy.
