🍇 Nebbiolo
A red grape of Piedmont; the only grape of Barolo and Barbaresco, called Chiavennasca in Lombardy.
Nebbiolo is a red wine grape from Italy, used to make Barolo and Barbaresco. The VIVC catalogue lists 110 synonyms for it: in Lombardy it is called Chiavennasca, and other names include Spanna and Picotendro.
Barolo and Barbaresco from the province of Cuneo are made only from Nebbiolo — the rules allow no other grapes. Both wines became DOC in 1966 and DOCG in 1980. Barolo is aged for at least 38 months, 18 of them in wood, and Barolo Riserva for 62 months. Barbaresco needs at least 26 months, 9 of them in wood, and Riserva 50.
In northern Piedmont, Nebbiolo is the basis of the Gattinara DOCG, where it has to make up 90 to 100%. In Valtellina in Lombardy, the Valtellina Superiore DOCG requires at least 90% Chiavennasca and 24 months of ageing. Sforzato di Valtellina is made only from partly dried grapes and has at least 14% alcohol.
The grape is rarely found far from home. According to VIVC, Italy had 4,957 ha of it in 1990, and Argentina only 189 ha in 1991.
Why it matters to you. The names Chiavennasca, Spanna and Picotendro on a label mean the same Nebbiolo. The word Riserva on Barolo guarantees at least 62 months of ageing, and on Barbaresco 50. DOCG wine is sold in bottles of up to 6 l with a state control mark. Reds are served at 15–18 °C and stored lying down at 10–16 °C.
How it connects to Wine
🍇 Nebbiolo → kind of → 🍇 Grape varieties → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- What is made from it
- 🥃 Grappa piemontese, 🥃 Grappa di Barolo
- Part of
- 🍇 Grape varieties
- Origin
- 🗺️ Italian wine
- Where it grows
- 📍 Piedmont, 📍 Lombardy, 📍 Aosta Valley, 📍 Langhe, 📍 Roero, 📍 Alto Piemonte
- Main grape in
- Italy: 📜 Barbaresco, 📜 Barolo, 📍 Langhe, 📜 Nebbiolo d'Alba, 📍 Aosta Valley, 📜 Gattinara, 📜 Sforzato di Valtellina, 📍 Roero, 📜 Valtellina Superiore, 📜 Albugnano
- Related to
- 🍷 Nebbiolo Costantino Charrère, 🍷 Nebbiolo Sommet, 🍷 Les Crêtes Nebbiolo, 🍷 Sforzato
- Offspring
- 🍇 Vespolina, 🍇 Rubin, 🍇 Neretto di Bairo, 🍇 Freisa, 🍇 Bric
- Similar and different
- 🍇 Barbera
Frequently asked questions
What grape is Barolo made from?
Only from Nebbiolo; it is aged for at least 38 months, 18 of them in wood.
How do the rules for Barbaresco differ from Barolo?
Both are 100% Nebbiolo, but Barbaresco is aged for at least 26 months (9 in wood) and Barolo for 38 (18 in wood).
Is it true that Chiavennasca is a separate grape?
No. According to VIVC and the Valtellina rules, Chiavennasca is the local name for Nebbiolo; Valtellina Superiore holds at least 90% of it.
What is Sforzato di Valtellina?
A DOCG made from partly dried grapes: at least 90% Nebbiolo and 14% alcohol.
How much Nebbiolo is there in Italy?
According to VIVC, 4,957 ha in 1990; outside Italy the grape is rare.
What to read next
- 🗺️ Italian wine — The country's wine and winemaking: regions, grape varieties, appellations.
- 📍 Aosta Valley — The Alpine valley of the Dora Baltea in north-west Italy; a single DOC with 7 sub-zones and 19 varietal wines.
- 🍷 Nebbiolo Costantino Charrère — Nebbiolo Costantino Charrère: red wine by Les Crêtes from Aymavilles in the Aosta Valley; Valle d’Aosta DOC Nebbiolo.
- 🍇 Barbera — A red grape of Piedmont: 18 thousand ha in Italy (2015); the basis of Barbera d'Asti and Nizza.
- 🥃 Grappa piemontese — Grappa piemontese (Grappa del Piemonte) is an EU-protected grappa from pomace of Piedmontese varieties, distilled and bottled in Piedmont: strength from 40% vol., only 4 permitted plants.
Similar
🍇 Vespolina · 🍇 Erbaluce · 🍇 Arneis · 🍇 Barbera · 🍇 Croatina · 🍇 Pelaverga
Sources
- VIVC (Vitis International Variety Catalogue): passport Nebbiolo, area
- MASAF: Elenco dei vini DOP e IGP italiani (agg. 18.03.2026) e disciplinari di produzione (Barolo, Barbaresco, Gattinara, Valtellina Superiore, Sforzato di Valtellina)
- eAmbrosia — the EU geographical indications register: Barolo (PDO)
- Legge 12 dicembre 2016, n. 238 — Testo unico del vino, art. 48 (Normattiva)
- Simons C.T. Left out in the cold: Serving wines chilled. Temperature, 2019