{"id":36911,"date":"2022-03-10T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-10T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.xtrawine.com\/?p=36911"},"modified":"2022-03-14T10:58:55","modified_gmt":"2022-03-14T09:58:55","slug":"nebbiolo-fun-facts-about-one-of-italys-most-famous-grapes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.xtrawine.com\/en\/nebbiolo-fun-facts-about-one-of-italys-most-famous-grapes\/","title":{"rendered":"Nebbiolo \u2013 Fun Facts About One Of Italy\u2019s Most Famous Grapes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It is one of the most important grapes in the Italian wine pantheon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s the grape behind some of the most famous wines, including the King of Wines Barolo. This grape has such stunning qualities that you can almost guarantee that any wine that contains it will be an absolute treat for the senses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are talking, of course, about the brilliant Nebbiolo<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This remarkable grape has been a part of the Italian wine industry for almost as long as the industry has existed. It is a grape that is the hallmark for quality, with so many of the wines it\u2019s used to produce going on to become some of the best that Italy has to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But you know all of this already.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, how about we talk about some things that you may not know?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we\u2019re going to dig into some fun facts about Nebbiolo so you can build a deeper understanding of what makes this wonderful grape so remarkable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fact #1 \u2013 It\u2019s A Foggy Grape<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The word Nebbiolo actually derives from the Italian word nebbia<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This literally translates to fog and it\u2019s a sign of just what you can expect from the region od Piedmont that is home to this gorgeous grape. Seemingly constantly coated in a blanket of fog, this region is interesting because it displays weather that you might not expect a wine grape to thrive in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And yet, Nebbiolo certainly thrives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its name means \u201cLittle Foggy One\u201d, which we believe is perfect for such a remarkable grape. The name tells us that this is a grape that can battle through some adverse conditions to demonstrate its true qualities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fact #2 \u2013 It\u2019s An Ancient Grape<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many grapes used in Italian wine that have histories stretching back for centuries. However, there are few that can claim to be quite as old as Nebbiolo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Records show us that the grape was being used as far back as the 13th<\/sup> century, with the likelihood being that it was used before that period as well. It seems fitting that the grape behind the King of Wines should have such a deep and important history. It\u2019s also amazing that the grape has survived for so many centuries to remain one of the most popular that Italy has ever produced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fact #3 \u2013 The Grape Needs a Specific Type of Soil<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t have the right soil, you\u2019re going to end up with Nebbiolo grapes that are not as refined and elegant as those used in Barolo<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many an Italian producer has discovered this the hard way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The grape thrives best in calcareous marl, which is a type of mudstone that is especially rich in lime. This soil is primarily found on the Tanaro River, which happens to be the home of the best Barolo and Barbaresco wines. This is a perfect example of just how much of a difference having the right type of soil can make on a wine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fact #4 \u2013 The Thickness of the Grape Skin Creates Ageing Potential<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nebbiolo has an extremely thick skin, which should come as no surprise given the unique conditions required to grow the best versions of the grape. This thick skin is also responsible for giving it the strong tannic quality that is a hallmark of Barolo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This thick skin also gives the grape remarkable ageing potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where many other Italian red wines start to lose their qualities after about 10 years, the best wines made using Nebbiolo can be aged for 40 years or more and only get better with age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fact #5 \u2013 There Are New World Nebbiolo Wines<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though the wine thrives best in the specific types of Italian soils and conditions that we have already discussed, that hasn\u2019t stopped producers from all over the world from trying to grow the grape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Californian and Mexican producers have tried to grow the grape in their countries, with mixed results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Predictably, these \u201cNew World\u201d versions of the grape lose many of the tannic qualities that make wines like Barolo stand out. However, this doesn\u2019t necessarily mean they\u2019re bad. The wines produced using New World Nebbiolo tend to be less complex and have more distinct floral notes. If you find Nebbiolo a little inaccessible in its Italian form, these New World wines may provide you with a pathway into the grape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fact #6 \u2013 Barolo Is Far From the Only Nebbiolo Wine<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though Barolo is the most famous Italian wine made using this wonderful grape, it is far from the only one that is worth your time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nebbiolo is actually used in a wide variety of wines, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n