Piedmont: the home of Nebbiolo, and what else grows there
Nineteen wines available, starting from €16Piedmont lies in the northwest corner of Italy, nestled against the Alps. It is here that Nebbiolo yields its two greatest wines, Barolo and Barbaresco, on the Langhe hills south of Alba. Pale in color, high in tannin, and with uncompromising acidity: the grape is unmistakable.
Reducing the region to just these two names would be a shame. The same Nebbiolo is drunk as Langhe Rosso for less than half the price, Arneis produces excellent dry whites there, and Moscato d'Asti remains one of the few sweet wines that can be opened without ceremony. The appellation chart shows what each one yields, and at what price it starts in our country.
Giribaldi - Langhe Arneis 2019
A bomb of fruit from an old Italian white grape variety!
Giribaldi - Barbera Alma 2019
A delicious and juicy red wine made from Barbera, an astonishing grape variety!
Emilio Vada - Moscato d'Asti 2025
Both fresh and explosive on the palate, this sparkling wine offers a mellow and refreshing effervescence, a real treat!
Cellar names, and what each one yields
Piedmont has dozens of appellations. Five are represented here, covering the entire range from aperitif white to age-worthy red. The price column indicates the entry price for the day, not the price of the vintage mentioned next to it.
| Denomination | Grape variety | What it means | From | A benchmark vintage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barolo DOCGLanghe, eleven municipalities | Nebbiolo only | Firm tannin, high acidity, long aging potential. Thirty-eight months of aging before release, eighteen of which were in wood. | €39.90 | Your Countries of Quick Harvest 2020 |
| Barbaresco DOCGLanghe, four municipalities | Nebbiolo only | Same grape variety, twenty-six months minimum of ageing. The wine opens up earlier without sacrificing any of its finesse. | €31.20 | Vite Colte The House on the Hill 2020 |
| Langhe DOC red regional appellation | Nebbiolo, sometimes blended | The grape variety without long aging: cherry, faded rose, light tannin. Drink within five years. | €17.90 | 460 Casina Bric Mesdì Rosso |
| Langhe DOC white regional designation | Arneis, Favorita | Dry white, pear and almond, with a fine bitterness on the finish. Two vintages from a Barolo village estate. | €16 | 460 Casina Bric Mesdì Bianco 2021 |
| Moscato d'Asti DOCGAsti and surrounding areas | White Moscato | Sweet, lightly sparkling, 5.5% alcohol in our vintage. Serve very chilled, as an aperitif or with dessert. | €16.50 | Torelli San Gròd 2023 |
Barbera, Dolcetto, and Gavi are also part of the Piedmontese landscape. Our only Barbera, Giribaldi's Alma cuvée, is out of stock, and we currently do not have Dolcetto or Gavi in our catalog.
What we open depending on the dish
Nebbiolo needs rich, flavorful food to balance it, otherwise its tannins will be overwhelming. Whites and Moscato cover the start and end of the meal.
| The dish | What we're opening | Why | A bottle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game, braised meat | A Barolo | Tannins require fat and long cooking to mellow. | Francesco Clerico Bussia 2019, €75 |
| Grilled beef, lamb | A barbaresco | The same Nebbiolo with already present tannins, which won't overpower a simply grilled meat. | Vite Colte La Casa in Collina 2020, €31.20 |
| Grilled vegetables, vegetarian dishes | A Langhe Rosso | Enough fruit and acidity to enhance meatless cuisine, without overpowering it. | 460 Casina Bric Mesdì Rosso, €17.90 |
| Fish, shellfish | A Langhe Arneis | A full-bodied dry white, with enough substance for fish in sauce. | 460 Casina Bric Ansi Langhe Arneis 2023, €21 |
| Blue cheeses, desserts | A Moscato d'Asti | Soft and light in alcohol, it stands up to sugar and salt without weighing down the end of the meal. | Torelli San Gròd 2023, €16.50 |
| Appetizer, cold starters | A Langhe white | Arneis and Favorita, freshness and a subtle bitterness that awakens the appetite. | 460 Casina Bric Mesdì Bianco 2021, €16 |
A note on serving: a Nebbiolo is served at around 17°C, a Langhe Arneis at around 11°C, and a Moscato d'Asti very chilled, at around 8°C.
A bottle for every intention
The tables give the theory. Here are the wines, and only those we can ship today.
Discovering Nebbiolo
A multi-vintage blend, signed by an estate in the village of Barolo. The grape without the wait or the price of a cru.
460 Casina Bric Mesdì Rosso · €17.90A Piedmontese white
Arneis and Favorita, the former aged six months on lees. Pear, almond, with a bitter finish. Our entry-level wine from the region.
460 Casina Bric Mesdì Bianco 2021 · €16A sweet treat that isn't heavy
Five and a half degrees, a discreet sparkle, fresh grapes. An organic estate of less than ten hectares, perfect from aperitif to dessert.
Torelli San Gròd 2023 · €16.50The first barbaresco
The gentlest introduction to the appellation: a Nebbiolo aged for a shorter period, therefore more approachable upon opening.
Vite Colte La Casa in Collina 2020 · €31.20The first Barolo
Our lowest-priced wine in the appellation, without the intimidating tannins of the grand cuvées. Decant for an hour and it's ready.
Vite Colte Your Countries 2020 · €39.90An altitude vintage
Bricco delle Viole, among the highest plots in the municipality of Barolo. A 2016 that is already settled, fragrant, and fresh.
460 Casina Bric 2016 · €65For the cellar
Prapò, a cru from Serralunga d'Alba, on the more limestone-rich and austere slope when young. To be aged.
Ceretto Barolo Prapò 2020 · €194All our Barolos
From village wines to named crus, with details on the communes and their soils.
Barolo section, from €39.90All our Barbarescos
Three vintages available, from village wine to Asili cru.
Barbaresco section, from €31.20
Piedmont does not begin with Barolo
One almost always arrives in this region via Barolo, and many never leave. This is understandable: it's the wine that made the Langhe famous, and it deserves it. But starting with it is expensive and gives only a partial idea of what Nebbiolo can do.
A Langhe rosso at €17.90 already tells the essential story: the cherry, the faded rose, the acidity that keeps the wine upright, the slightly rasping tannin. What a Barolo adds on top is depth and longevity, not a different taste. Tasting the grape at this price before moving upmarket avoids many disappointments at higher price points.
How do you choose
On readability before power. A Piedmont wine that drowns its acidity under new oak loses exactly what we're looking for.
And on the consistency of the range: in each appellation, we make sure to keep an entry-level cuvée that holds its own, not just the crus.
The Wine Wanderer Team
What we're being asked about Piedmont
Which grape varieties are grown in Piedmont?
In red, Nebbiolo for Barolo, Barbaresco and Langhe, then Barbera and Dolcetto for everyday wines. In white, Arneis and Favorita in Langhe, Cortese for Gavi and Moscato Bianco for Moscato d'Asti. Our current focus is on Nebbiolo, Arneis and Moscato.
Barolo or Barbaresco, which to choose?
The same grape variety, a few kilometers apart. Barbaresco is aged for a minimum of twenty-six months before sale, compared to thirty-eight for Barolo: it opens earlier and often costs a little less. In our shop, it starts at €31.20 compared to €39.90. For a dinner next week, choose a Barbaresco; for your cellar, a Barolo.
What is a Langhe DOC?
The regional appellation for the same hills. It accommodates Nebbiolo as well as Arneis, with much more flexible aging rules than Barolo. It's the most direct way to taste the grape without paying the price of a cru, and our Langhe rosso comes from an estate located on the hills above the village of Barolo.
Is Moscato d'Asti just a dessert wine?
No. Our Torelli cuvée has an alcohol content of 5.5%, is sweet, barely sparkling and is served very chilled. It goes well with an aperitif, a fruit tart or a blue cheese, as well as with dessert. Not to be confused with Asti spumante, which is distinctly more effervescent and has a higher alcohol content.
Should Nebbiolo be decanted?
On a young wine, yes: an hour in a decanter is enough to soften the tannins and open up the nose of a young Barolo or Barbaresco. For a bottle twenty years old or more, serve gently in a large glass; decanting could exhaust it. A Langhe Rosso can be drunk without preparation.
Do you have Barbera, Dolcetto, or Gavi?
Not at the moment. Our only Barbera, the Alma de Giribaldi cuvée, is out of stock, and neither Dolcetto nor Gavi are in the catalog. The Piedmontese section currently revolves around Nebbiolo, Arneis, and Moscato d'Asti. Write to us if you are looking for one of these appellations.
What budget should I plan for a Piedmontese wine?
Sixteen euros for a white Langhe, €17.90 for a red Langhe Nebbiolo, €31.20 for a first Barbaresco, €39.90 for a first Barolo. Beyond that, you're paying for the cru and the winery's signature: our most sought-after bottles go up to €272.
What to serve with a Piedmontese wine?
Nebbiolo pairs with braised meats, game, lamb, porcini mushroom risotto, and aged cheeses. Langhe Arneis pairs with fish and shellfish, and Moscato d'Asti with aperitifs, blue cheeses, and dessert. The pairing chart above suggests a bottle for each case.