Region

Piedmont

Piedmont, home to football, fiats and Nutella also happens to grow the most prestigious grapes in the world. Arguably one of Italy’s most elegant regions and the second largest wine growing region in the country it really has it all. The Nebbiolo grape is grown most widely across Piedmont and is one of the holy grails of the wine world. Do not let the light ruby or brick orange colour of this wine fool you. This grape produces almighty, full-bodied, tannic red wines. With intense aromatics and extraordinary structure, it’s easy to see why this grape is so highly regarded. Nebbiolo is fussy about where it’s grown but the clay and lime-rich soils on the bank of the river Tanaro provide the ideal conditions and is where you’ll find the famous appellations of Barolo and Barbaresco. Nebbiolo’s naturally high acidity also makes it the ideal wine for ageing too. Barbera and Dolcetto grapes grown across Piedmont also have equal prominence in the wine world and provide slightly lighter, elegant alternatives to their big brother Nebbiolo.

Grapes

Nebbiolo

Food pairing

Braised short rib