North-West Italy is made up of four regions: Val d’Aosta, Lombardy, Liguria and Piedmont. Of these, by far the region with the most thrilling wines is in Piedmont. From light and grapey sparkling numbers to big reds built for ageing, Piedmont has an amazing array of treasures. However there is one grape that has really propelled Piedmont into company among the stars of international wine - the rustic and imposing, but sometimes absolutely breathtaking, Nebbiolo.
Drinking great Nebbiolo is one of the world’s great drinking experiences. The best sites produce truly magical wines with beautiful aromas, classically of tea, roses and tar. But this star has another ace in the hand - massive tannins and teeth-jarring acidity, which guarantee a long drinking life - sometimes over 50 years. However, the majestic Nebbiolo is also notoriously picky about where it is grown. Only around the towns of Barolo and Barbaresco do the wines do well and truly reach their peak, although some other excellent and more reasonably priced examples are also found labelled as Nebbiolo d’Alba, Gattinara, as well as Valtellina from neighbouring Lombardy.
While Nebbiolo does grab the headlines, there are a number of other local wines worth trying. On the lesser sites near Barolo and Barbaresco two red grapes, namely Barbera and Dolcetto, produce lively and generous wines, with Barbera being sturdy and powerful. Dolcetto on the other hand is light and juicy and made for throwing down with a simple plate of pasta. Nearby Asti is best known for sparkling, sweet, grapey wines, labelled as Asti or Moscato d’Asti, which can be just so refreshing on a warm day. A couple of other whites, Cortese and Gavi make some fairly good dry wines. Finally, the Lombardian zone of Franciacorta is home to some of the best Italian bubbly.