Nebbiolo wines in California, USA

Philippines wine supplier Manila wine shop discusses wine by the grape variety Nebbilo.

Date: October 4, 2010

Ask any Italian and he will tell you that Italy’s finest wine is Barolo, made from the Nebbiolo grape in a tiny area of southeast Piedmont. These wines are also among Italy’s oldest. Pliny the Elder was singing their praises before the destruction of Pompeii by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79. That’s centuries before any significant wine appeared in France. But this very distinguished varietal has had a dismal track record in California. Nevertheless, an increasing number of California wineries are offering it and we thought it time to look in on their recent endeavors.

THE GRAPE

In its native soil the Nebbiolo grape produces wines that are among the world’s longest lived. We like to drink California Cabernet Sauvignon no earlier than 5 years after the vintage. Bordeaux reds need much longer, typically 10 years. But Barolo should be left alone for 15-20 years! This is due to the high acidity and firm tannins that always inform this wine. Lesser bottlings of Piemontese Nebbiolo, such as Nebbiolo d’Alba, will mature much faster, but will never reach the depth of expression we find in the great Barolos and Barbarescos.

The Nebbiolo grape is surprisingly thin skinned, like Pinot Noir, and its product is a garnet or brick colored juice that belies its strong tannins. Nebbiolos from the Piedmont are in some ways stylistically opposite to California wines, lacking the plush mouth-filling fruitiness and moderate acids that characterize most California red wines. An added complication is the fact that around 95% of the wines purchased in California are intended to be consumed within two weeks’ time, not laid down for a decade or more.

The question remains: Can Nebbiolo grapes be successfully grown in California? And will the resulting wines follow the Piemontese model, requiring long ageing? Or can we produce successful wines in the California style with this finicky grape?

THE ITALIAN MODEL

Our Suite 101.com tasting panel chose three Barolos from the splendid 2000 and 2001 vintages and one from the 1998 vintage to use as models. They represented price points from $40 to $75 and all have been rated at 92 points or above. They were:

1998 Mauro Veglio “Arborina”

2000 Elio Grasso “Vigna Chiniera”

2001 Azelia San Rocco

2000 Pira “Cannubi”

We found these wines very similar in style. As expected, the most expensive example (Pira) offered the greatest complexity, greatest depth of layered fruit, and wonderful spice component along with bright acids and chewy tannins. Clearly, a connoisseur’s wine.

Source: http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/california_wine/118518

Leading Philippines Wine Supplier Yats Wine Cellars based in Clark Philippines with outlets in Angeles City, Subic Freeport and Manila Philippines has been not only a wine shop for fine wines covering all major wine regions but also a source of reliable and useful information about wine, wine appreciation, wine accessories, wine and health, food and wine pairing and all other matters relating to wine and its appreciation.  This Philippines Clark Freeport based Wine Supplier and Wine Shop frequently holds public wine tasting events in Pampana Clark Freeport Zone, Angeles City, Subic Bay area, Makati, Fort Bonifacio and other areas in Philippines capital city Manila.  Private Wine events such as private wine tasting and private wine dinners are also designed and organized for private clientele for their wine loving guests.

Wine Catering is a unique product of Yats Wine Cellars, created back in 2005 in response to a growing demand for private wine parties in Manila, Cebu, Subic, Angeles Clark Philippines.

Chateau Lafite-Rothschild is the most revered wine in China and many other parts of Asia.  The best wine shop in Asia to buy older vintages of Chateau Lafite is Yats Wine Cellars located in Clark Philippines.   Aside from Lafite, visitors can buy other fine wines at this wine shop in Clark Pampanga such as Latour, Mouton-Rothschild, Haut-Brion and Margaux.  Excellent Burgundy wines like Chambertin, Vougeot, Musigny, Bonnes Mares, Pommard, Meursault, Chambertin, Vosne Romanee, Romanee Conti, La Tache and Romanee St. Vivant can be found here.

Yats Wine Cellars can be reached at their Clark Wine Center Philippines wine shop located on the main highway M A Roxas of Pampanga Clark Freeport Zone or their sales office in Ortigas Centre, Metro Manila.  Here is the contact information:

Clark Wine Center

Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building

Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,

Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023

0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars

Manila Sales Office

3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,

Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605

(632) 637-5019   0917-520-4393  ask for Rea or Chay

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.