An Italian resemblance to Pinot Noir: Nebbiolo Grape

Nebbiolo bears a resemblance to Pinot Noir in that it is a very old grape variety that goes back centuries. Nebbiolo is not only once of the noblest varieties in Italy but it was also one of the first to be cited historically, perhaps of this very reason. It is mentioned in some of the oldest documents on Italian grape varieties, dated from the second half of the 1200’s.

In the Alpine area, it can be traced back to the 1300’s, with the name “Prunent”. In 1250, Nebbiolo wines were sold to Switzerland, in 1600 they were bought to Milan. The first annotation of Barola was in 1865, and at a exposition in Vienna in 1873 where a Barola won a gold medal, the famous grape variety has been cultivated for centuries with eminent commercial success.

However, it has always been grown in a relative small and selective area, for the Nebbiolo has never strayed away from the Alpine foothills and had always been favoured by its mountain and continental micro climates.

In 2011, Italy has about 725,000 hectares of vineyards in production. Of the national total some 5,200 hectares were planted with Nebbiolo. In Piedmont, the production zones for Nebbiolo in the Langhe and Roero areas where he famous Barola, Barbaresco Roero, Langhe Nebbiolo and Nebbiolo d’Alba are originating, currently account for 4,216 hectares of Nebbiolo vines or 81% of the Italian total Nebbiolo plantings.

The worldwide success of wines like Barola and Barbaresco has led to some plantings in the rest of the world: Plantings of the Nebbiolo grape are now also found in Argentina with 206 hectares, followed by the USA with 206 hectares, Australia with 120 hectares, Mexico with 1000 hecateres, South Africa with 15, New Zealand with 10 and last but not least Chile with 9 hectares which I presume will be in Maipo at the mountain foot of the Andes, knowing the planting situation at for instance at Santa Emma vineyard I guess that would be the ideal situation to have Nebbiolo plantings.

Nebbiolo is considered a difficult grape to grow, it requires a lot of care, and it is very dramatically over the centuries, and today Nebbiolo is cultivated only in those areas that allow the production of high quality wines. To obtain wines with a sufficient alcohol content and a balanced structure with interwoven and balanced acidity and tannins, the Nebbiolo grape requires the best sites, in vineyards facing south and with well-drained soil.

If one studies Langhe vintages over the last decades one observes a lot of vintage similarities between Langhe and Bordeaux. Hereunder a selection of excellent harvest years:

·         2012: A fresh, cool vintage producing elegant wines for the medium to long term. For one understanding medium means here 10 years potential from the harvest onwards, long term means 20 years plus of drinking potential from the time of harvest.

2012: Is also a great vintage for Nebbiolo for the long term. Long hang time of the grapes with very nice and balanced fresh acidity.

·         2004: A classic vintage. Square like wines both in Barola and Barbaresco. For the long term.

·         1999: Classic vintage with very long hang time. Recommendable for the long term.

·         1990: Great vintage, sunny, focused, stressed. Also long term.

·         1989: In the same league as 1999.

·         1982: Great vintage made up of small quantities of high quality fruit. Long term.

Currently we have one 1990 Giovanni Manzone Barolo le Gramolere on the VintoVino's marketplace.

There are more great vintages with the Nebiollo grape on VintoVino. 

Check them out at VintoVino