World famous for the red wines from Barolo and Barbaresco, the north-western Italian region of Piemonte (Piedmont) makes Pinot-like wines from the Nebbiolo grape. The wines often have a "tar & roses" aroma with red fruit flavours of cherries with notes of roses, leather and anise spice. High tannins and acidity in the wines allow for great ageing potential and younger wines need plenty of air in a decanter to show at their best.
Less well known are the Barbera and Dolcetto reds. White wines include the increasingly popular Gavi from the Cortese variety and, of course, the sparkling wines from Asti (Moscato).
Other north-western regions of Italy include the Mediterranean coastal area of Liguria (Vermentino), Emilia-Romagna (Lambrusco) and Lombardy (Sparkling "Metodo Classico" Franciacorta wines and the Nebbiolo reds from Valtellina). The tiny Alpine area, Valle d'Aosta, bordering Switzerland, is known for its whites produced from a plethora of local varieties including Petite Arvine.
