Exploring the Hidden Gems of Piedmont Joining Nebbiolo Wine Tours
Welcome to the Piedmont region, a not-to-be-missed hidden gem in Italy and heaven for Nebbiolo wine tours! If you’re passionate about wine and looking for an unforgettable experience, you’re in for a treat. In Piedmont, you’ll discover curated Nebbiolo wine tours that will take you on a journey through the region’s rich wine heritage, allowing you to taste some of the finest wines in the world.
From the famous Barolo and Barbaresco to lesser-known wines such as Roero, Gattinara, and Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont is the best region worldwide for growing Nebbiolo grapes.
While certain characteristics of the Nebbiolo varietal persist in all wines, many other qualities express the soil of specific hills or regions where the deep roots of Nebbiolo take their nutrients.
Curated Nebbiolo wine tours are what you need to indulge in tastings at prestigious wineries scattered around Piedmont, meet passionate winemakers, and explore vineyards nestled in breathtaking landscapes like the Langhe Hills near Alba.
Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or a curious beginner, these tours are designed to engage all levels of expertise.
So, pack your bags and get ready to uncover Piedmont’s hidden gems. Embark on a journey that will excite your taste buds, awaken your senses, and leave you with unforgettable memories. Cheers to many Piedmont Nebbiolo wine tours like no other!
Nebbiolo Wine Grape Facts
In Piedmont, there are three main biotypes (or sub-varieties) of Nebbiolo grape: Michet, Lampia, and Rosè.
Known as “the queen of the black grapes”, Nebbiolo prefers lime-rich soils, mostly in hilly areas with strong sun exposure, protected from spring frost. In Piedmont, Nebbiolo is grown at low elevations not exceeding 500 meters (1650 ft) above sea level.
Nebbiolo has one of the deepest root systems among Italian varieties. Its roots can be up to 7 meters (23ft) deep and capable of sourcing from each underground layer.
With a black-purplish round berry, good productivity, and a medium-sized, three-lobed, orbicular or pentagonal leaf, Piedmont Nebbiolo Wine Tours are perfect to see up close the elongated, medium-sized, bunches covered in a waxy substance visible on the grape skin.
Such a whitish veil reminds of fog and according to some, the term Nebbiolo was given after “nebbia”, Italian for fog. On the contrary, it is considered a more reliable theory that the name derives from the fact that Nebbiolo ripens quite late and the harvest takes place in fall when the first fog of the season appears in Piedmont.
What Time Of The Year Is Best For Wine Tours In Piedmont?
Piedmont is charming all year round and each season brings something to the experience. Spring and early summer offer pleasant weather and fewer tourists, making it easier to secure reservations at hotels and restaurants.
The harvest season, typically from late September to October, is a fantastic time to experience the vibrant atmosphere of the vineyards, but it can also be more crowded.
Winter is also great, except for the holiday season between Christmas and New Year’s Eve when most wineries are closed.
What Is Nebbiolo Wine?
Nebbiolo wine is, in general, a wine obtained with 100% Nebbiolo grape, an indigenous variety of Piedmont.
Depending on the area of production and the requirements of the DOC or DOCG appellations to which each wine belongs, Nebbiolo wine can be called by different names.
While the most iconic wines made from 10% Nebbiolo are Barolo, Barbaresco, and Gattinara, lesser-known Nebbiolo wines are Nebbiolo d’Alba DOC and the Langhe Nebbiolo DOC.
Outside of Piedmont, Nebbiolo wines can be found in nearby Lombardy, at the foot of the Alps as Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG, Valtellina Superiore DOCG, and other local wines.
A small area of Aosta Valley hosts a Nebbiolo wine region. The grape can also be found in Umbria and Sardinia.
What Does Nebbiolo Taste Like?
Piedmont Nebbiolo Wine Tours are the perfect opportunity to taste different wines and compare vintages and production areas.
The taste of Nebbiolo wine is often high in acidity and in-mouth drying tannins making it quite tight and austere in its youth. Such tannins tend to soften or even disappear with aging.
The natural presence of tannins is the reason why we can enjoy bold and full-bodied wines. Leathery and gripping tannins clinging to the front of the mouth quickly reveal fruity notes and floral aromas, depending on the specific wine.
Why Piedmont Is A Hidden Gem For Nebbiolo Wine Tours
Piedmont, a region nestled in the northwest of Italy, was often overshadowed by its more famous counterparts such as Tuscany and Veneto. However, this enchanting area is a true treasure trove for many reasons, one of them being the best production area of Nebbiolo-based wines.
Its varied landscapes, from rolling hills to majestic mountains, provide the perfect backdrop for vineyards that produce some of the world’s most revered wines. Unlike the crowded wine regions, Piedmont offers a more intimate experience, allowing visitors to connect deeply with the wine culture and the passionate people who create it.
One key reason why Piedmont is considered a hidden gem is its diversity in grape varieties and wine styles. While Barolo and Barbaresco may be the stars of the show, the region also boasts an impressive array of lesser-known wines and varietals.
Arneis, Barbera, and Cortese, as well as very local smaller productions of Ruchè, Grignolino, and Dolcetto, can be an interesting discovery alongside the bold Nebbiolo wines. This diversity means that wine lovers can explore a vast spectrum of flavors and styles, from robust reds to delicate whites, all within a single region.
Where Is Nebbiolo Grown?
Piedmont Nebbiolo Wine Tours are centered around the town of Alba and the unique terroir of the Langhe Hills. Its clay and limestone soils, coupled with a favorable climate, characterized by cold winters and sunny summers, allow for optimal grape ripening, resulting in wines that are complex and elegant.
Piedmont Nebbiolo Wine Tours In The Roero Hills
North of Alba and on the left bank of the Tanaro River, Nebbiolo wine tours explore the territory known as Roero. Here, Nebbiolo has adapted well on steep hillsides, in the most meager and sandy soil, where winemakers get fragrant and perfumed wines.
Wines made from at least 95% Nebbiolo grape and the remaining part of other red varietals are named Roero DOCG and Roero Riserva. Aged at least 20 months (of which 6 in barrel), is generally fruity, with a ruby or garnet color and good texture.
Since the XV century, Alba vineyards north of the Tanaro River have been home to a white grape variety called Arneis, ideal with appetizers, starters, and pasta dishes.
Nebbiolo Wine Tours In Northern Piedmont
In northern Piedmont, less than one hour away from Milan Malpensa airport and from the lake district (lake Maggiore, lake Orta), lies a hilly territory. Its great sun exposure benefits as well as the protection provided by the Alps. In fact, mountains stand behind, like a shield, avoiding cold winds and harsh climate hitting the area. This is the area of wines like Ghemme, Gattinara, and Colli Novaresi.
Other Nebbiolo Wines
In most cases, 100% of Nebbiolo grape is used in these wines, produced across the Piedmont region:
Albugnano DOC
Barolo And Barbaresco Wine Tours
The most popular Piedmont Nebbiolo Wine Tours focus on Barolo and Barbaresco, two different wines both made from 100% Nebbiolo grape.
Our Barolo & Barbaresco Wine Tour with the Winemaker explores the two wine regions located on Alba’s west and east sides, roughly less than 30 minutes apart.
In the early 1800s, in the small village of Barolo, Juliette Colbert, wife of the local Marquis Charles Tancredi, suggested aging the local Nebbiolo grape in wood, a technique she became familiar with in the Bordeaux wine region where she grew up.
This newly aged wine tasted differently than the local table wine farmers used to drink and gained appreciation among Juliette and Charles’s friends at the court of the House of Savoy in Turin. Many stories and facts related to those early days are at the center of our Barolo Wine Tour.
When Barolo And Barbaresco Become Two Different Wines?
In a time of no regulations, anyone around Alba aging Nebbiolo in wood for over a century would call Barolo their wine. Today, the DOCG appellation requires Barolo to be produced within a restricted zone of eleven villages only. All the details, fun facts, and interesting things to know about Barolo wine can be found in our article Top 11 Facts About Barolo Wine.
On the contrary, farmers on the east side of Alba, encouraged by studies and soil analysis of local enologist Domizio Cavazza, by the early 1900s teamed up and started calling their wine after the small hamlet of Barbaresco. The DOCG appellation defines the production area across the towns of Barbaresco, Neive, and Treiso, plus a small part of the outskirts of Alba.
The History And Significance Of Piedmont Wines
The history of winemaking in Piedmont dates back to ancient times, with evidence of viticulture as early as the Roman Empire. The region’s strategic location, with its proximity to major trade routes, facilitated the exchange of wines and viticultural knowledge, allowing it to flourish over the centuries.
As the area transitioned through various rulers and cultures, the local winemaking craft evolved, incorporating influences (and grapes) from the north and south of Italy. By the 1700s, vineyards had spread around Alba and Asti, and Piedmont established itself as a significant player in the Italian wine landscape.
The significance of Piedmont wines became evident throughout the 1800s when King Charles Albert of the House of Savoy invested to improve agriculture and viticulture. In the large estate of Pollenzo, rebuilt in neo-gothic style to look like an ideal medieval village with watching towers, a castle, and battlements, farmers, and scientists worked together to experiment with new cultivation techniques.
The Role Of Piedmont In The Early Italian Wine Scene
One of the earliest congresses of winemaking was organized and the most prominent scientists of that time attended under the vigilant eye of Camillo Benso Count of Cavour, Ministry of Agriculture and, later, Prime Minister under King Charles Albert, considered to be the mind behind the planning of the unification of Italy.
Cavour, who first lived in the Castle of Grinzane, near Alba played a strategic role in understanding the quality gap between French and Italian wines at that time. Moreover, he contributed to finding a cure against phylloxera, an American-imported disease causing severe consequences to vines across Europe.
Later, Alba gave birth to Teobaldo Calissano, one of the first senators of Italy to suggest initiatives in favor of winemaking and protecting agricultural products.
In 1904 he wrote a draft law establishing the backbones of early wine appellations and defining production requirements for Italian wines.
The modern classification system was introduced in the 1960s and includes Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) and Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG).
These classifications ensure that wines produced in the region adhere to strict quality standards and reflect the unique characteristics of their terroir. Barolo and Barbaresco, both classified as DOCG in 1980, exemplify the high standards and rich heritage of Piedmontese wines. The regulations surrounding these classifications also promote traditional practices and limit yields, ensuring that the wines produced are of the highest quality.
Exploring The Different Wine Regions In Piedmont
Wine Tours in Piedmont are immersive experiences that enhance the understanding of Nebbiolo wines that here find ideal conditions.
In addition, multi-day wine tours in Piedmont can include the nearby Monferrato, another prominent wine region, known for its diverse range of grape varieties, including Barbera, Grignolino, and Dolcetto.
Finally, the Gavi region is celebrated for its white wines from the Cortese grape. Gavi di Gavi, in particular, has gained a reputation for its crisp and refreshing characteristics, making it a favorite among white wine lovers. The vineyards here benefit from a cooler microclimate, resulting in wines that are bright and aromatic.
Exploring these regions allows visitors to experience the diverse landscapes and wine styles that Piedmont has to offer, and foster a deeper appreciation for the craftsmanship involved in their creation.
Moreover, Piedmont’s wines have received international acclaim, garnering prestigious awards and recognition in wine competitions worldwide. The rich history of winemaking in Piedmont, combined with a commitment to quality and tradition, has established the region as a cornerstone of Italian viticulture, making it a must-visit destination for anyone passionate about wine.
