A Different Shade of Nebbiolo:&nbsp;Exploring Northern Piedmont

The Nebbiolo-based reds of Northern
Piedmont remain some of the most exciting, under-the-radar wines in the world. 

Barolo and Barbaresco get most of
the attention in Piedmont, but the best wines of the north are equally
deserving of attention. Specifically, Gattinara, Fara, Lessona, Ghemme and
Carema – all tiny appellations – are capable of producing gorgeous, age-worthy
reds loaded with class and personality. 

For decades, these small towns,
especially those in the provinces of Vercelli and Novara, had been the victims
of rampant industrialization and the growth of the textile sector that lies at
the heart of the global economy. Over the last 10-15 years, a small number of
passionate winemakers have worked to restore these once-neglected vineyards and
bring them back to their previous glory. As readers will see, the reds from
this undiscovered corner of Italy have never been better.

<img alt="" src="https://allgrapes.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads%2F1393965790592-SellaCover2+-+article.jpg"> Tenuta
Sella, Lessona

The wines of northern Piedmont are
generally medium in body and intensely aromatic, but also surprisingly
structured and ageworthy, often deceptively so. The soils, which are defined as
‘Morainic,’ are of glacial origins and give the wines bright, sometimes
piercing acidity. As growing seasons get warmer, these appellations may turn
out to be advantaged, as the wines always retain a measure of freshness.
Nebbiolo (known here as Spanna) is often blended with other local grapes,
including Vespolina, Croatina, and Bonarda (also known as Uva Rara), which
gives these wines much of their unique personalities.

One of the things I love most about
the Nebbiolo-based red of northern Piedmont is the way they shine at the table,
where they pair beautifully with food. Because most estates release a later
than is common in other regions, the wines have a bit more bottles age when
they appear in the market. So far, the wines remain largely undiscovered, so
they tend to be available for several years after release. I often look to
northern Piedmont on restaurant lists, where these wines deliver outstanding
value and offer the added benefit of being closer to their optimal drinking
windows than so many other choices. Many estates age their top wines in cask,
making northern Piedmont a fertile ground to explore for readers who like
classically built, structured reds. 

I hope readers will take the time
to explore the small appellations of northern Piedmont. The wines have never
been better than they are today. Hopefully the burgeoning Renaissance in this
once-neglected part of Piedmont is just the beginning of things to come.

-- Antonio Galloni

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