It is the oldest Piedmontese grape variety, one of the most prestigious of Italy.
The origin of its name could derive from the word nebbia, which means fog in English,
for two different theories: the first due to the bloom which covers its grapes;
the second one for its late harvest in the late October, during the first Autumn
fogs. It is also well-known like the “Queen of dark grapes” because its cultivation
needs attention and hard works, like the soil orientation (preferably south or south-
west between 200 and 450 meters and protected from the frost and the spring cold
due to the high quantity of tannins in the skin, which required hill position with
a good exposure to sun) and the fertilizing. For all these reasons its production
lived also periods not so simple, however the wine-producers, aware of the high
quality of the wines produced, didn’t overlook its cultivation. The best soils are
calcareous and tuffaceous, ideal for this vine that sprouts prematurely between
the middle and the end of April. Its ripening takes place in the first part of October,
rather later compared with other vines. The wines produced have strong taste, with
a high alcohol percentage, which gives the best features after a slow ageing. According
to the production area, the Nebbiolo makes different typologies of the most important
red wines, pride of Piedmont.