Nebbiolo is, quite rightly, Italian grape royalty. The source of the majestic Barolo, it is highly strung, as befits its pedigree, and notoriously difficult to grow. It buds early, so is prone to seasonal frosts, and ripens late. Its name is thought to have come from la nebbia, the fog that often blankets the area at harvest time in October. The Barolo terroir is small and the vertiginous vineyards there are hugely expensive and diffi cult to cultivate. To ensure the quality of the grapes, yields have to be hand-harvested and kept very low. It then takes an enormous amount of experience and confi dence on the part of the producers to tame the powerful tannins in this capricious grape variety.
.Nebbiolo wines will never be cheap, but the quality they offer represents great value for money