This full-bodied, red wine is made from Nebbiolo grapes in a small area in Piedmont with a unique soil and climate conditions. It has been produced since the 19th century, and soon after its invention, it became a favorite among the Italian and European nobility.

According to Italian DOCG regulations, Barolo needs to matured for at least 36 months, while those aged for five years carry the prestigious Riserva label. It is a robust, but elegant wine, which is very high in tannins that soften with aging. 

Barbera d’Asti (DOCG) is an Italian red wine produced on the hilly vineyards in the provinces of Asti and Alessandria in Piedmont. The minimum of 90% Barbera grapes must be used in its production, while the other 10% may be made up with Freisa, Grignolino or Dolcetto varieties.

The wines are mostly ruby red and well-balanced, with notes of red and black fruits, while Superiore varieties, which are aged for at least six months in wood, may have hints of spiciness. The wine pairs well with dark meat, mushrooms, matured cheese, and braised greens.

Barbera is the most common grape in Piedmont and the third most-planted grape in the country. It is used in varietals and blends. Nowadays, it is considered to have great potential to produce excellent quality wines, although it was once considered as a grape designated for rustic, everyday wine.

Dark Barbera-based wines are typically low in tannins and high in acidity. The flavors usually include a combination of raspberries, blackberries, cherries, and strawberries, sometimes with a hint of spices. Oak-aging will typically improve the tannin structure in Barbera wines. 

Nebbiolo is the highly-praised Italian grape that is mostly cultivated and gives the best results in its native Piedmont. Wines made with this red-skinned grape tend to be powerful, age-worthy, and high in tannins as well as acidity. Distinctive aromas found in Nebbiolo wines are often described as tar and roses, with the accompanying notes of cherries, violets, leather, truffles, licorice, and undergrowth.

The grape is mostly used as a varietal, and it is best known as the backbone of the exceptional and expensive Barolo and Barbaresco. A small amount of Nebbiolo is also cultivated in California and Australia. Nebbiolo-based wines should be paired with rich meat dishes, but they can also work well with acidic or mushroom-based sauces, moderately spicy Asian cuisine, truffles, and aged cheese.

This powerful red wine is produced from Nebbiolo grapes grown on the nutrient-rich soils around the city of Barbaresco in Piedmont. For a long time, the wine was considered as the less prestigious, lighter cousin of the Nebbiolo-based Barolo, but in the 1960s Barbaresco managed to emerge from Barolo’s shadow and position itself as an approachable, good-quality wine.

According to the Italian DOCG regulations, Barbaresco needs to mature for at least two years, while those aged for four years carry the label Riserva. Barbaresco wines are often described as refined and elegant, but also rich in acidity and tannins, with spicy flavors and aromas of roses, fruits, licorice, and truffles. 

This red Italian wine is produced in the DOC region that surrounds the city of Alba and in some areas overlaps with Barolo and Barbaresco wine regions. The wine is produced with a minimum of 85% Barbera grapes, with the only permitted addition of Nebbiolo. Barbera d’Alba wines are age worthy and well-balanced, with high acidity, refined tannins, and typical floral and fruit notes, which may evolve with age.

Though they are bold and rich, the acidity in the wine makes it work well with charcuterie, cheese, poultry, risottos, and pasta dishes.

Dolcetto is a red grape that is mostly cultivated in Piedmont. Although its name translates to a sweet little one, the variety is used for the production of dry, medium-bodied red wines. Dolcetto based wines are usually deep ruby and have well-balanced acidity.

They may vary from soft and fruity styles to more intense and powerful expressions. The flavors and aromas found in Dolcetto wines include a combination of red and dark berries, plums, and violets. They will usually have a subtly bitter finish. Dolcetto wines can be enjoyed young, and though they are sometimes aged for longer periods, it is generally considered that they are best consumed within three to five years of age. 

This red Italian wine is produced in the province of Asti with Grignolino as its principal grape variety. The wines produced in the region are fresh, bright, and pleasant, with light tannins and good acidity. They typically display delicate floral aromas with subtle underlying notes of berries and spices.

Usually described as food friendly, they can be enjoyed with cold cuts, pasta dishes, or soups, as well as poultry, red meat, and fish courses.

This ruby red wine is produced in the provinces of Asti and Alessandria in Piedmont. The wine must be made with a minimum of 85% of Barbera grapes, while the rest may be made up with Freisa, Grignolino, and Dolcetto. Barbera del Monferrato is typically medium-bodied and comes as a dry, still wine that is less robust than other Barbera-based wines.

The wine is characterized by the notes of ripe fruit, low tannins, and well-structured acidity, which makes it work well with charcuterie, meat or tomato-based pasta dishes, and braised, grilled, or roasted meat.