Nebbiolo is a distinctive red grape variety, whose distinguished but temperamental character is most closely associated with the greatest wines of Piedmont, Italy: Barolo and Barbaresco.
Nebbiolo is famous for its haunting aromas of roses, tar and truffled, autumnal undergrowth. The grape’s high tannins and acidity can make it rather austere, especially in youth, but the best examples age well.
Nebbiolo can trace its Piedmont roots back to at least the 13th century and is widely believed to have originated in these Alpine foothills of north-west Italy.
Nebbiolo does not travel easily, with the result that around three-quarters of global plantings are in Piedmont, reaching their finest expressions in Barolo and Barbaresco. Beyond north-west Italy the biggest, most successful plantings are in Australia, most notably Adelaide Hills, King Valley and Yarra Valley. Small amounts of Nebbiolo can also be found in California, Washington State and Argentina.
Nebbiolo is widely believed to take its name from the Italian word “nebbia”, meaning “fog”, a characteristic feature of the hilly Piedmont region.
This grape variety is also known by the name of:
Barolo, Barbesino, Chiavennasca, Chiavennasca di Valtellina, Brunenta, Femmina, Lampia, Michet, Nebbiolo Pajrole, Nebbiolo Pignolato, Nebbiolo Nero, Nebbieul Maschio, Nebbiolo di Sinistra Tanaro, Nebbiolo di Nizza della Paglia, Nebbiolo di Piemonte, Nebbiolo di Sciolze, Nebbiolo Picotendre, Nebbiolo Occellino, Nebbiolo Michet, Nebieu, Picotender, Picotendre, Picotendro, Picoutendro maschio, Picotenero, Nibieul Burghin, Picotener, Picoultener, Melasca, Melaschetto, Melascone, Nebbieul Grosso, Nibiol, Nibio, Nebieul, Poctener, Nebiolo, Nebbiolo Pirule, Nebbiolo Sinstra Tanaro, Nebiolo du Piemont, Nebieul Fumela, Morsano di Caraglio, Nebbiolo di Stroppo, Nebbiolo Femmina, Rosetta, Nebbiolo Lampia, Pantiner, Nebbiolin, Nebbiolin Canavesano, Nebbiolin Commune, Nebbiolin Nero, Nebbiolo Crni, Nebbiolo d’Antom, Nebbiolo del Bolla, Nubiola, Nebbiolo d'Asti, Nebbiolo di Barolo, Prunent, Nebbiolo di Beltram, Nebbiolo di Bricherasio, Nebbiolo di Carema, Nebbiolo di Ivrea, Nebbiolo di Dronero, Prunenta, Nebbiolo di Lorenzi, Nebbiolo di Moncrivello, Nebbiolo di Masio, Nebbiolo di Monsordo, Nebbiolo di Nizza, Prunena, Pioultener, Nebbiolo di Barbaresco, Nebbiolin Lungo, Prugnet, Spagna, Spana Commune, Span, Spana Grossa, Pruine, Spanna Grossa, Spanna a Gattinara, Tandis, Uva Spana, Rose, Bruneta
