Ioppa Nebbiolo Colline Novaresi 2023
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The Land
Most wine drinkers who know Nebbiolo know it as Barolo or Barbaresco. Far fewer know that it has been grown for centuries in the hills of northeastern Piedmont, around Ghemme and Romagnano Sesia in the province of Novara, where the soils are not the calcareous clay-limestone of the Langhe but volcanic porphyry and glacial deposits left by the retreating Alpine glaciers. Ioppa's vineyards sit on southwest-facing slopes above Romagnano Sesia, at the southern edge of the Colline Novaresi DOC, looking toward Monte Rosa, the second-highest peak in the Alps. The Sesia River runs below, moderating temperatures through the growing season. The geology and the latitude produce a Nebbiolo of different character than the Langhe: more aromatic, lighter in body, with freshness that no amount of oak treatment would improve.
The Wine
100% Nebbiolo from vines 20 to 40 years old, harvested at the end of September. Fermented 7-10 days with native yeasts in temperature-controlled stainless steel. Aged 8-12 months in stainless; no oak at any stage. This is deliberate: the stainless-only approach keeps the wine's lifted, aromatic character intact rather than pushing it toward the brooding structure of the Ghemme DOCG wines the estate also makes. The profile is all freshness and fragrance: dried violet, cherry, iron, and wild herbs, with supple tannins and enough acidity to carry through a full meal.
The People
Ioppa is a seventh-generation family winery founded in 1852 when Michelangelo Ioppa acquired the best vineyard land in the hills around Romagnano Sesia, including the Balsina vineyards still farmed today. Pietro Ioppa was one of the principal promoters of the Ghemme DOC designation in 1968. The family moved its winery to its current location among the vineyards in Frazione Mauletta in 2003. Brothers Gianpiero and Giorgio Ioppa run the estate today, with the next generation, Andrea, Luca, and Marco, now working alongside them. The estate practices sustainable viticulture under the PSR 10.1 framework, using only organic fertilizers and certified organic treatments for fungal disease. The naturally breezy microclimate of the hills means no anti-botrytis sprays are needed. Imported by The Source Imports.
Food Pairing
The stainless aging and lighter body make this one of the most versatile Nebbiolos available at any price. Pasta al ragu with a hand-cut noodle, braised chicken thighs with porcini and white wine, Italian sausage with polenta, or a charcuterie spread with cured meats and young Grana Padano. Serve slightly cool, around 62 degrees.
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Weather shipping advisory: Orders placed during times of extreme heat or extreme cold will be held for no charge until more favorable weather returns.
Piedmont, framed by the Alps in northwestern Italy, is a land of rolling hills and carefully cultivated vineyards. The continental climate, with its cold winters and warm summers, creates prime conditions for the Nebbiolo grape, which dominates much of the region's red wine production. The Langhe area is home to Barolo and Barbaresco, structured red wines known for their complex aromas, firm tannins, and aging potential. While Nebbiolo is the dominant grape of Piedmont, the region also makes interesting white wines like those from Arneis and Timorasso. Alto Piemonte is a separate region in the north with its own distinctive expressions of Nebbiolo, alongside other red grape varietals.
Italy - Piedmont
Nebbiolo, a prestigious grape from Italy's Piedmont region, is celebrated for its profound truffle and rose aromas, complex flavors, and ability to age gracefully thanks to strong acidity and tannins, producing the renowned Barolo and Barbaresco wines.
