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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us September 27, 2005 Off The Vine Versatile grape gives wines body Lorn Razzano One of the great gifts to the wine world is the stately Nebbiolo grape from the northwest region of Italy called the Piedmont, or Piemonte. To many serious wine lovers, the Nebbiolo grape offers the best of everything: a bouquet of many layers, dark fruits, superb palate grip and length in the finish that seems endless and explosive in a variety of spice and flavors. Terrific Nebbiolo-based wines can and do blow all other varieties away in overall regal nuance and ethereal tones of truffle and earth reminding us of the history and greatness of the Italian peninsula. There are wine lovers, Italian wine lovers, then there are hard core groups of Nebbiolo lovers who search for the “perfect” Nebbiolo. Legend says that the Nebbiolo grape comes from the word in Italian “Nebbia” which means “fog.” Some say that this region of Italy, the Piemonte region, is autumnal in nature and is the region of the low-lying belts of fog throughout the fall where Nebbiolo grows the best. Whatever the origin of the word, it is clearly decided that the grape does best in the two villages that straddle the town of Alba: Barolo and Barbaresco. Over many years, these two townships have produced the most stunning Nebbiolo-based wines in the world, with the wine taking on the name of the two villages. There is no other place in the world that produces this noble grape as do the folks in the Piedmont. It can be argued that Burgundy has its rival for pinot noir in Oregon or that Bordeaux has its rivals in Washington state as well as the Napa Valley, but the two ancient and tiny villages of Barolo and Barbaresco stand alone as the best producers of this magnificent grape. Historically, Barolo is the more powerful of the two Nebbiolo-based wines. Barbaresco is considered softer, more pliant and retains far less tannins than its broodingly rich brother. As the younger winemakers take control of the wineries, the lines have begun to blur between Barolo and Barbaresco. Winemaking techniques and vineyard management have begun to make both wines very similar in body and flavors, both wines being stunning in all respects. These wines do best with any grilled foods, mushrooms, rich sauces, game and rice or polenta dishes. Great vintages go all the way from 1995 through the superb 2001 vintage and beyond. Cost of the Barolo and Barbaresco wines can run from $30 to more than $100 a bottle. Producers to look for are, among a vast array of great producers, Ceretto, Vietti, Gaja, Prunotto, Marcarello, Corsini, Presenda, Cavalotto, Oberto, Cabutto, Viraldo and Caretta. Take the plunge into the Piedmont and taste a delightful new world of special treats! See you next time! DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Deep Muscle Stimulator Ceramic Piggy Banks FREE Entertainment Guide Women's & Men's Slippers Accelerate Weightloss Products Backpacks Generic Viagra Vegas Travel Guide Search Engine Optimization Sportsbook Absinthe Supply Student Loans Hotel & Airline Reservations African Safari Hammocks Helzberg Diamonds Online Casinos Community Bonus Casino King of Spirits ink cartridges Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Mailing Lists Click Here Advertisement .:Advertisements:. Site Search: RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams