Nebbiolo
Nebbiolo is one of Italy's most prized red wine grapes, famous in its Piedmont homeland for producing structured, high-tannin reds built to age.
At Soumah, our Nebbiolo wine is grown on a north-west facing slope on our Hexham Vineyard in the Yarra Valley and handled with the same patience and precision the variety demands in its homeland of Piedmont.
What is Nebbiolo wine?
Nebbiolo takes its name from nebbia, the Italian word for fog, a nod to the misty autumn mornings in Piedmont when the grape is traditionally harvested, later than almost any other red variety.
That late ripening is central to what Nebbiolo is: a thin-skinned red grape capable of retaining striking natural acidity and firm tannin, which is what gives Nebbiolo red wine its signature ability to develop complexity over years in the bottle.
How our Nebbiolo is made
Even on a warm north-west slope, our Nebbiolo is the last variety to ripen in the vineyard each vintage, as we wait for its natural acid levels to gradually reduce. Once ready, the fruit is:
- Hand-picked to preserve fruit quality
- Fermented in tank
- Left on skins for an extended maceration +100 days, gently softening the wine's structure
- Racked to large-format, seasoned puncheons (minimum 500 litres)
- Matured for at least 24 months before bottling and release
This slow, deliberate process is what shapes the wine's character. The extended skin contact and long barrel maturation are essential to bringing Nebbiolo's naturally firm tannin and acidity into balance.
What Makes Our Nebbiolo Red Wine Different
Most Nebbiolo red wine planted outside Italy may struggle to ripen in a cooler climate, or may ripen too quickly in a hot climate. It needs a particular climate that allows its long 8-month vegetative cycle to play out, slowly and methodically allowing the tannins to ripen, the acid to soften while all the time building good sugar and flavour profiles. The Yarra Valley's cool nights and long, slow ripening season solve that problem better than most of Australia, giving Soumah's Nebbiolo the pale brick colour, dried rose and tar aromatics, and firm, fine grained tannin that are the hallmarks of a great Nebbiolo.
Expect notes of wild cherry, dried herbs and a savoury, almost tobacco-like edge that builds with age. Do not confuse it with our Nebbiolo Bianco, a white wine made from Arneis. The two share a name only because Arneis was traditionally planted next to Nebbiolo vines in Piedmont to draw birds away from the more valuable red grapes, not because the two varieties are related.
Taste both side by side at our cellar door, or order the current releases online with delivery Australia-wide.
FAQs
What is Nebbiolo wine?
Nebbiolo is a red grape native to Piedmont in northern Italy, best known as the variety behind Barolo and Barbaresco. It produces pale coloured, highly aromatic wines with firm tannin, high acidity and flavours of rose, tar, cherry and dried herbs.
Where is Soumah's Nebbiolo grown?
On a north-west facing block at our Hexham vineyard in the Warramate foothills, between 110 and 150 metres above sea level on sandy clay loam soils.
How is Nebbiolo red wine made at Soumah?
Soumah's Nebbiolo is hand-picked and is the last variety harvested each vintage, fermented in tank, left on skins for an extended maceration +100 days, and then matured for at least 24 months in large-format seasoned barrels of 500 litres or more.
How long does Soumah age its Nebbiolo?
The wine spends over two years in the winery before release, across three stages.
- Primary Fermentation, usually two weeks
- Extended maceration on skins, roughly 120 days, to soften tannin
- Maturation in seasoned puncheons of at least 500 litres, never new oak, for up to 24 months
- Then a thoughtful rest in bottle before release
What food pairs with Nebbiolo red wine?
Nebbiolo's high acid and firm tannin want rich food. Think marbled meats, stews and strong cheeses, or slow-cooked rabbit, beef cheek or braised lamb shank.
- Aged, hard cheeses such as taleggio or parmesan
- Mushroom or truffle based pasta
What does Nebbiolo wine taste like?
Nebbiolo wine is prized for its firm tannin structure and bright natural acidity, shaped further by extended skin maceration and long maturation in large-format barrels, which soften and round out the wine over time.
Can I buy Nebbiolo wine online from Soumah?
Yes, the current release ships Australia-wide from our online shop, and earlier vintages are sometimes available at the cellar door, generally for members and while stocks last.