Collection: Nebbiolo

Nebbiolo is one of Italy's most respected red grape varieties and has its roots in north-western Italy. Although Piemonte is the grape's heartland, it originally belongs to a larger area that also includes Lombardia (with Valtellina) and Valle d'Aosta. The name is thought to derive from the Latin 'nubiola', meaning fog or mist, a reference to the late ripening in the autumn fog or to the grape's rich bloom on the skin. The oldest written sources go all the way back to 1268.

At Copenhagen Wine we carry predominantly Nebbiolo from Piemonte, the home of the grape's two most famous monovarietal wines, Barolo and Barbaresco. From here also come wines from, among others, Alto Piemonte, where appellations such as Gattinara, Lessona, Ghemme and Boca give the grape its own expression, often in interplay with local varieties such as Vespolina and Croatina. We also have a smaller selection from Valle d'Aosta, where Nebbiolo is grown in cooler alpine surroundings.

It is a late ripener that thrives in a cool climate and is harvested well into the autumn. Despite the wines being full and powerful in body, they have a light, clear colour that often plays in orange-red tones already in their youth. The garnet tone therefore does not necessarily say anything about the wine's age. With moderate colour intensity, but high tannins and fresh acidity, Nebbiolo is built to develop over time.

The wines are dry and characterised by a complex aromatic range that typically spans from red flowers and rose petals to tar, tobacco and truffles. The tannic structure and acidity make them well suited to dishes with weight, such as red meat, game and mature cheeses.

Nebbiolo is very sensitive to soil and microclimate and expresses terroir clearly. The grape has proven difficult to move outside its Italian core areas, and precisely for that reason clone selection and placement are so decisive. It is a grape that rewards patience, both in the vineyard and in the glass.