Nebbiolo, pronounced NEH-bee-oh-low, is such a unique variety. The name is derived from the Italian word Nebbia meaning fog.
Two theories for the name exist. The first that it refers to the fog that the vineyards of the Langhe are often immersed in. Second that the natural bloom that covers the grapes gives them a foggy appearance. Given the latter applies to most red grapes I prefer the former! There are 4 main clones of which Nebbiolo Lampia dominates over Nebbiolo Michet, Rosé (now proven to be a different variety), and, Bolla.
Where is it grown?
Southern central and north Piemonte. The two big guns here are Barolo and Barbaresco. It is grown throughout the Langhe including the Roero, Asti, Carema, Biella, Novara and Vercelli. In Alto Piedmonte, it is known as Spanna, and, is often blended with Croatina and Vespolina. We have seen Giacomo Conterno buy Nervi in the Commune of Gattinara to produce wines in the region. It is also grown in the lower parts of the Valle d’Aosta where it is known as Picotendroi, and, Valtellina in Lombardy where it is called Chiavennasca among others.
What does it taste like?
The ultimate case of not judging a book by its cover, Nebbiolo, at first appears pale in colour, old wines can have the appearance of rusty tap water.
Then you smell it! The aroma of most red wines is dominated by fruit characters. In contrast, Nebbiolo’s aroma is typically a mix of complex secondary aromas, earthy, tarry, spice, rose, citrus peel, woody herbs like rosemary, liquorice, phenol, dark chocolate, tobacco, truffles, leather, and, dark cherry fruit, often more evident on the palate. You’ll see this difference immediately by comparing it two the other two main Piedmontese varieties Barbera and Dolcetto.
Good Nebbiolo has a core of fruit running the length of your tongue, along with layers of those same secondary characters. Nebbiolo’s grape tannins give it a distinct texture, that for those who have not tried it before can seem hard, and, unyielding. Look for the quality and depth of tannin.
Achieving well balance tannin, alcohol, and, acidity makes for great Nebbiolo.
More than most other Italian wines, Nebbiolo, demands food to be at its best. A little fat and salt, enhance the texture and bring out the flavours.
Check out all the articles in the Wine Bites Mag exploring Nebbiolo.
Looking for a Nebbiolo? Check these out. If there’s something else you want call us on 1300 811 066 or Request a Wine Here. We have access to an incredible array of tasty Nebbiolo!
Check out all the Nebbiolo Here!
Nebbiolo | Serralunga d'Alba, Barolo
This one's another argument for blending sites! From a disciple of Maria Theresa Mascarello! I've now had a chance to taste through a good wedge of 2020 Barolos. It reads as an interesting vintage. There are many tightly coiled wines at this point that will need time to build generosity. Manley's M8 is one of the highlights of my tasting thus far. It's a complete wine with a caressing shape and flow of fruit underpinned by long, even, layered, serious tannins. Complex with immediate generosity,
$275
$265ea in any 3+
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Nebbiolo | Piedmont, Barolo
The Perfect intro to Nebbiolo from Italy! It's got all the complexity & style of good Neb. The Neb-Heads GO MENTAL! Varieties like Nebbiolo and Pinot can take a bit to get your head around. Sometimes you just need the right wine to kick you off. This does the job nicely. From one of the greatest Nebbiolo growing regions in the world Monforte!Year in year out this is has been the best value Neb in our portfolio. Always a great perfume a little spice, a wicked core cherry of fruit. Depth and l
$43.50
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A Baby Neb from the Family that Brought us the 8 Cru's, Sordo! This is your New House Neb! Along with Benevelli’s & Boasso Langhe Neb the GIOSO Nebbiolo d'Alba is Australia’s new house Neb!Grown on the sunny, steep, sandy vineyards of the Roero region in between the left bank of the Tanaro river and the nearby Langhe region. It sees 9 months in large old oak before a short spell in tank and some bottle time.The Roero is making excellent Nebbiolo. Many of you will know Sandro
$51
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Nebbiolo | Piedmont, Italy
Excellent perfume, great delicacy with deceptive weight, sophisticated, feminine, long fine texture, slatey delicious tannins. Savoury dark edge. Delicious thirst quenching excellent elevage. Fun wine. Fine excellent cherries.
$55
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Nebbiolo | Serralunga d'Alba, Barolo
Near a decaded ago Giovanni Rosso's Langhe Nebbiolo was the very first wine I tried from the estate. It enchanted then just as the 2021 impresses now! It has the hallmarks of all of Rosso's Nebbiolos: energy, balance, harmony, a caressing texture, restraint & purity.The winemaking here is considered and clever. The tannins are perfectly matched to the mid-weight core of fruit. Showing a level of complexity well beyond its classification flowers, earthiness red and darker fruits with a li
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Nebbiolo | Piedmont, Barolo
La Morra Fruit from the Vineyards of Luigi Oddero! Declassified Barolo! Not for quality, but, for the shorter
ageing timeframe. BOOM! We're seeing more and more whole bunch wine coming out of Barolo. Matt whole bunch skills with Pinot made for a confident hand playing with fruit from La Morra. End results are a beautiful wine, it's really quite delicate for a La Morra. The whole bunch has elicited a fine perfume over vibrant fruit, little hints of spice. The tannins have a little edge of grip, i
$61
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Nebbiolo | Piedmont, Barolo
Great drinking here, fine, long, even, and harmonious. Beautifully weighted and long. The texture and level of development have this looking like a very complete & elegant wine!
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Nebbiolo | Piedmont, Barbaresco
Galloni's interpretation intrigues. The knowledge of the Monforte component in the blend partially explains the bold nature of the tannins. I suspect there are pressings from the Cru Barolos in here. It will require a little patience to unfurl, relax and show its full potential.All of the components are there. Time will see them dial into the right levels, the superb core of fruit develop and the tannins soften. Aromas of grape marc, earthiness, and a little spice wraps dark & brood
$67 Original price was: $67.$61Current price is: $61.
$58ea in any 3+
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Verduno Fruit
Nebbiolo | Verduno, Barolo
Trying Langhe Neb's made with fruit from just one Commune is a great way to dial into the characteristics of that Commune The 2021 makes it 4 years in a row that this wine has performed well above its standing. The consistency Fratelli Alessandria are achieving here is impressive. All of the great Verduno makers speak of the perfume and spice that are the hallmark of the Commune. Both are here in spades. Plush, ultra-fine tannins are beautifully weighted against hyper-vital red and blue fruits a
$68 Original price was: $68.$63Current price is: $63.
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Nebbiolo | Piedmont, Barbaresco
A Langhe Nebb made from young vine Rabajà .. Yes it's true! Always a fun wine. Elegant and juicy fruited, with solid core of fruit wrapped in chewy tannins. It’s a playful Langhe. Typically perfumed with a savoury twang, a little orange. Loads of fun to be had here. Always better after an extra year in bottle & a good decant. Will reward 2-5 years patience.The 2021 Langhe Nebbiolo emerges from young vines in Trifolera. It's a gorgeous entry-level wine with tons of Nebbiolo charact
$64
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Nebbiolo | Valtellina, Italy
Yet another successful 'Costa Bassa' from Fay! Thoughts read pretty much the same as for the delicious 2019. Loads of pleasure here, the harmony, and, the inviting, drink me, nature of the wine is just the beginning. It really has everything in all the right places.
Excellent. Got that whole alpine thing going on. Excellent weight and shape to it. Playful dusty chalky slightly chewy tannins with fine boned acid. Sour cherry with licorice a hint of smoke, resinous. A thirst quencher with epic
$64
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Verduno Fruit
Nebbiolo | Verduno, Barolo
Trying Langhe Neb's made with fruit from just one Commune is a great way to dial into the characteristics of that Commune The Langhe Nebbiolo is a the perfect intro to the Nebbiolo range from Alessandria.
“Prinsiòt”, a Piedmontese dialect noun that means little princes, it’s the historical nickname given to our family by the inhabitants of Verduno.
This Nebbiolo, that takes origin in the vineyards “Sotto Orti”, “Campasso” and “Neirane” all in Verduno.
The 2020 is taug
$65
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Nebbiolo | Valtellina, Italy
Loads of fun to be had here. The acid balance with the fruit weight is about right. Energy here with vibrant red fruit, sour cherries, a little of that alpine spice. Heston Blumenthal once did mince tarts that were topped with sugar mixed with ground pine needles and it worked. There’s a little of that sitting here in the background. The tannins aren’t quite as polished as those in the wines of Fay or Ar.Pe.Pe. Slightly drying on the mid palate. A little salami or a plate of something roaste
Nebbiolo | Serralunga d'Alba, Italy
A great way to get your eye in on the 2021 vintage! Vibrant with loads of energy & zippy fresh acid, slatey & mineral, dark, with tobacco at play. Perfumed, fine. Roses and red fruits, a little resinous note, fine long & plenty of fun. Dusting/chalky tannins making for a good complex with the acid. Again we see the low pH offering freshness. The site near Monforte d’Alba adds altitude freshness, Alba fruit (power), Serralunga freshness and elegance. This spends 15month large
$67
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Nebbiolo | Valtellina, Grumello
Savoury, ferrous and bloody with a dusting of tannins. Lovely development. Fine a good expression of Chiavanesca from Valtellinas. Dark cherry, lacing of licorice. Beautifully weighted and flowing. Ar.Pe.Pe doing their thing!
Paul Kaan, WINEDECODED Oct 2025
$67
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Previously Labelled as 'Costa Basa'
Nebbiolo | Valtellina, Italy
Yet another successful 'Costa Bassa' from Fay! Thoughts read pretty much the same as for the delicious 2020 & 2019. Loads of pleasure here, the harmony, and, the inviting, drink me, nature of the wine is just the beginning. It really has everything in all the right places.Excellent. Got that whole alpine thing going on. Excellent weight and shape to it. Playful dusty chalky slightly chewy tannins with fine boned acid. Violets, a little plum, sour cherry with licorice and a hint of smoke,
$69
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Nebbiolo | Piedmont, Barolo
Finally got my laughing gear around this (Aug 2024). Classic structured Monforte! A day of air brings out the perfume and harmonises and softens the tannins. A classic tar and roses profile lifts from the glass with sour cherry and blood playing around red and blue fruits with baking spice and a cleansing sappiness. The elegance and transparency of the fruit profile is dominated by some serious tannin of very high quality so typical of Monforte. It will take time to resolve full, when it does th
$72
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Superb! Bravi Francesco!🍷
The 'Side Project' of ex-Bruno Giacosa's winemaker Francesco Versio ... His 1st Langhe Neb Release! There is no mistaking the quality here. It all makes sense when you discover the fruit is destined to make Barbaresco, sourced from the 50:50 Starderi and Currà cru. Seriously good P.1.S.S. Call it a cheap Barbaresco instead of a Langhe Neb. Perfume and energy with divine mouthfeel. Juicy, thirst quenching and still with plenty more to come!
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Nebbiolo | Piedmont, Barolo
A great way to introduce both Nebbiolo & Poderi Oddero to your MOUTH! This is not meant to be a baby Barolo, it will pants many a Barolo! Isabella Oddero says that the Nebbiolo from this zone is more elegant and perfumed with less structure than other zones.
$75
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Red Blend | Valli Ossolane, Alto Piemonte
Neb with a splash of Croatina from the FAR NORTH Divine perfume, beautifully weighted and poised. Exceptional balance and freshness, with a core of red and dark fruit that runs long with excellent mid-palate weight. Earth, savoury, incredibly layered.
Delicious wine. Loads going on here. Amazing harmony and sophistication. Showing beautifully straight out of the gate with the help of a % of the generous, plush Croatina. Fun drinking!
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