Nebbiolo

Name of varietal: Nebbiolo

 

Common synonyms: Spanna, Picutener and Chiavennasca.

 

Parentage of the grape: Debatable whether it is indigenous to Piedmont or first plantings in Valtellina in Lombardy, Italy. 

 

History of the grape: Two schools of thought exist as to the origins of Nebbiolo (which means “little fog” either for the Piedmontese autumn weather or the frosty appearance of the mature grapes). One is that it is indigenous to Piedmont, Italy. The other is that it was first planted in Valtellina, a valley within the Lombardy region, where it was then brought to Piedmont. There is some suggestion that in the 1st century, Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder gave high regard to a wine made in what is now the Barolo region, attributing to it similar characteristics associated with Nebbiolo. In the 13th century, there is reference to a wine called “nebili” from a grape that was growing near Rivoli outside of Turin. More concrete written history notates examples from the 14th century and 15th centuries praising the grape by name. Wines made from Nebbiolo became the official wines of the court of the Savoys, who ruled Piedmont for nearly 800 years starting in the early 11th century. Barolo became known thus as the “king of wines and the wine of kings.” The British first took notice of it in the 18th century as their supplies of Bordeaux dwindled with their rocky relationship with the French and they looked toward alternative wines. Unfortunately, the Phylloxera crisis decimated the vineyards and when grapes were replanted, other varietals such as Barbera and Dolcetto took precedence over the notoriously fickle grape. Today, Nebbiolo is grown in only 6% of Piedmont. 

 

Characteristics of the grape: dark berries, dark cherries, black plums, anise, tobacco, cedar, smoke, tar, violets, truffles, black licorice, moss, earth, leather, dried fruits, rosemary, thyme.

 

Regions where the grape currently is important: Piedmont: Barolo, Barbaresco, Gattinara, Langhe, Ghemme, Alba (as in Nebbiolo d’Alba). Other parts of Italy: Lessona, Carema, Roero, Val d’Aosta, Valtellina, Frianciacorta, Veneto. USA: Caifornia, Washington and Oregon. Mexico, Argentina, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Brazil. 

 

Type or types of wines the grape produces: The Piedmontese versions are predominately dry, elegant red wines that benefit from long bottle aging. To be consumed young, there are more accessible varietal releases, such as Nebbiolo d’Alba, that don’t require as much aging. Warmer, New World climates produce more fruity versions. It is also one of the allowed blending wines in Franciacorta sparkling wine. ~Amanda Schuster