Piedmont Wines: A Beginner’s Guide
Barolo, Barbaresco, and beyond.
Piedmont is famous for Barolo and Barbaresco—two of Italy’s most prestigious red wines—yet together, they account for just three percent of the region’s wine production.
So while you might come here dreaming of a glass of Barolo with truffle tajarin, you’ll stay for the humbler everyday varieties you find on family dinner tables across the region.
Piedmont’s winemaking has a lot in common with Burgundy in France: a focus on single grapes, family-run wineries, and wines that taste different from one hillside to the next.
Read on for a beginner-friendly introduction to Piedmont's wines.
Planning a wine tasting trip to Piedmont? Start here.
Victoria Peel-Yates
The Wine Regions of Piedmont
One secret to Piedmont’s wines lies in its climate. Wedged between the warm Mediterranean and the icy Alps, vineyards here swing between hot days and cool nights.
Broadly speaking, Piedmont’s vineyards cluster in two main areas:
- The southern hills—especially Langhe, Roero, and Monferrato—a UNESCO-protected landscape surrounding the medieval towns of Alba and Asti. Langhe is the home of Barolo and Barbaresco; Roero’s sandier soils give us Arneis and softer Nebbiolo; Monferrato is a Barbera stronghold and the source of Moscato d’Asti. Lesser-known Gavi and Timorasso also come from this region.
- Alto Piemonte—north of Turin, near Lake Maggiore. Here, cooler Alpine terroir produces lighter, elegant Nebbiolos such as Gattinara and Ghemme, and ethereal whites like Erbaluce di Caluso.
What Wine Is Piedmont Known For?
Piedmont's two most famous wines are Barolo and Barbaresco, produced in the Langhe hills using Nebbiolo grapes. The name Nebbiolo comes from nebbia, the Italian word for fog, referring to the mist that hangs over the hills when it ripens in October or November.
It’s one of Italy’s oldest grapes, mentioned as far back as the Middle Ages, and has a reputation for being fussy, though it's not fully earned. "Nebbiolo isn't the hardest grape to grow", says Alberto Grasso, chief agronomist at Fontanafredda. "It's that the wine we want to get from it has to have specific characteristics, and Barolo is totally dependent on the perfect maturation of the grapes."
Nebbiolo is famously “terroir-expressive”, meaning the flavour changes dramatically depending on where it’s grown. In the Langhe's heavy clay soils, Nebbiolo holds both its tannins and high acidity that give it its age-worthy structure.
Meanwhile, in the sandier soils of the Roero, it takes on a softer, fruitier character, and in Alto Piemonte, a more mineral expression.
Everyday Piedmont Reds
Most families here don’t crack open Barolo for Tuesday lunch—they pour Dolcetto or Barbera. And honestly—I’m with them. These softer, fruitier wines are the bottles I end up tucking into my suitcase because they’re both easy to drink and easy on the wallet.
Despite its name (which means “little sweet one”), Dolcetto is a dry, food-friendly wine.
Barbera, meanwhile, is everywhere in Monferrato: on wine lists, at village festivals, and on my in-laws’ Sunday lunch table—alongside a plate of agnolotti al plin (tiny pasta parcels filled with meat or vegetables).
And don’t miss Grignolino, sometimes nicknamed “baby Nebbiolo.” It’s light, peppery, often compared to Beaujolais. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, try Freisa.
Piedmont Whites & Dessert Wines
Of course, Piedmont isn’t only about reds. The region also produces some whites that deserve just as much attention.
Take Arneis—a wine whose name means “little rascal” due to the difficulty of growing this grape, which is disease-prone and tends to have low yields.
After falling out of favour in the twentieth century, it’s recently experienced a revival, thanks to young growers who recognised its potential.
Other white wines to try in Piedmont include Favorita and Gavi.
At the end of the meal, wash down your dessert of bonet (chocolate pudding with rum and amaretti) or torta di nocciole (a flourless hazelnut cake) with a glass of sweet, lightly sparkling Moscato d’Asti or Passito, a sweet wine made from dried grapes.
Sustainable Wine Tourism in Piedmont
Wine lovers are increasingly seeking greener choices, and Piedmont is ahead of the curve.
A growing number of Piedmontese wineries are turning to sustainable, organic, biodynamic, and regenerative practices—allowing you to enjoy world-class wines while supporting the land and its traditions.
When choosing a vineyard visit or wine tour, look out for winemakers such as:
- Fontanafredda—a former royal estate that produces organic wines and is committed to regenerative practices.
- Enrico Serafino—an Alta Langa winery driving innovation in the production of biodynamic sparkling wines.
- Antonella Piatti—a certified organic, female-owned winery in Alto Piemonte specialising in Erbaluce di Caluso white wine.
Piedmont Wines: Every Glass Tells a Story
Whether you’re sipping Barolo in a hilltop village or pairing Dolcetto with Sunday lunch, Piedmont’s wines reflect the land, its traditions, and the people who make them. Stay long enough, and you’ll soon discover your favourite.
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