Italy — wine

Piedmont

Northwest Italy, 'foot of the Alps.' Home to Nebbiolo — Italy's answer to Pinot Noir: thin-skinned, high acid, high tannin, late-ripening, terroir-sensitive. Barolo and Barbaresco are the twin Grand Cru expressions. Also Barbera d'Asti (high acid, everyday), Dolcetto (soft, cherry-bitter), Moscato d'Asti (delicate sweet fizz), Gavi (Cortese — crisp mineral white). The autumn fog (la nebbia) names the grape variety.

Sub-regions

Asti DOCG Barbaresco DOCG Barolo DOCG Gavi DOCG

Benchmark products

wine still

Braida Bricco dell'Uccellone Barbera d'Asti Superiore

Braida di Giacomo Bologna

estate

wine still

Michele Chiarlo Barbera d'Asti Superiore La Court

Michele Chiarlo

estate

wine still

G.D. Vajra Dolcetto d'Alba

G.D. Vajra

market

Vintage assessments

Year	Rating	Notes
2022	87	Good warm vintage. Piedmont generally reliable. Gavi and Asti performing alongside the Barolo appellation.
2019	92	Outstanding Piedmont vintage. Barolo, Barbaresco, and Barbera d'Asti all excelling.
2016	96	Century Barolo vintage quality extends to broader Piedmont. Nebbiolo, Barbera, and Dolcetto all exceptional.