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Identifying the grape Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc Chardonnay Chenin Blanc Gamay Gewurztraminer Merlot Muscat Nebbiolo Pinot Noir Resling Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Syrah Tempranillo Zinfandel Other Major Varieties

Italy's main contribution to the ranks of classic vine varieties, Nebbiolo, is at home in the valleys of Piedmont, where it makes Barolo and Bar-baresco. However, the vine is hardly grown outside Italy, with only a few vines in North and South America. Nebbiolo's Piedmont home vineyards are hilly, and misty in autumn and cold in winter. The grapes ripen late in the season, sometimes as late as November, and need the warmth that south-facing slopes can offer. They are dark, tough-skinned and high in acidity, meaning that wood-ageing is almost essential to tame the resulting wine.

Nebbiolo wines are famously long-lived, and need time in bottle, and in the decanter, to soften their tannins and bring out their bouquets. The inherent bitterness in the Nebbiolo grape can become astringent if the wine is not well made.