Piedmont is nestled in the foothills between the Alps and Apennines at the top of the boot in Northern Italy. The area is enchanted with castles, vineyards, truffles and chocolate, but most notably, the region is famous for the Nebbiolo grape. Barolo and Barbaresco are the most legendary Piedmontese reds, created from 100% Nebbiolo grapes in the Langhe hills of southeastern Piedmont. Gattinara, Ghemme, Nebbiolo d'Alba, and Spanna are Piedmont's other Nebbiolo wines, somewhat "step-children" to the majestic Barolo and Barbaresco.

Referred to as "the wine of kings, and the king of wines", Barolo is a rich and powerful. It can be incredibly tannic in its youth, and therefore, is traditionally aged at least 10 years to shed its tannins and excessive acidity. It is characterized as earthy with flavors of truffles, violets, fruit, licorice, and at times, oaky. Barolo must be aged a total of three years between barrel and bottle before release. Today, however, young winemakers reduce fermentation, shorten maceration time, and age in barriques to obtain wines that can be enjoyed early, but also tend not to age well.

Barbaresco, is grown in the same area as Barolo, but on less steep and cool sites. It tends to be better balanced and slightly more graceful than Barolo, with a bit less tannin and fruiter taste. It is dry with an aroma of spice, pepper, and black cherry. By law, Barbaresco must be aged one year in barrel and one year in bottle prior to release. Less than half as much Barbaresco is produced each year as compared to Barolo.

Barbera is the opposite end of the spectrum from Barbaresco and Barolo with deep color and acidity, but light tannins. The Barbera grape is the mostly widely planted variety in Piedmont and is found on most dinner tables in the region. Dolcetto, made from grapes of the same name, has a bitter-chocolate background, relatively little acid, not much tannin, and is lighter in body than Barbera making it very easy to drink. It is a great first-course, or every-night wine.

“Common flavor profiles for Piedmont wines include licorice, mint, chocolate, mocha, coffee, vanillin, tar, smoked meats, barbecue spice, minerals, blackberry, cherry, strawberry jam, raspberries, plum, raisins, toasted oak, cedar and rose petals.”

The Wine Advocate recommends these value Piedmont red wines:

1. 2005 Giorgio Pelissero Long Now scored 92 and suggested retail is $24
2. 2004 Cogno Barbera d'Alba Bricco dei Merli scored 91 and suggested retail is $27
3. 2004 Giorgio Pelissero Barbaresco Nubiola scored 91 and suggested retail is $30
4. 2004 La Spinetta Barbera d'Asti Superiore scored 91 and suggested retail is $40
5. 2004 Luciano Sandrone Nebbiolo Valmaggiore scored 91 and suggested retail is $37

WineBlueBook.com recommends these value Piedmont red wines:

1. 2006 Vietti, Barbera Barbera d'Alba Tre Vigne scored 90 and suggested retail is $18
2. 2005 Vietti, Nebbiolo Langhe Perbacco scored 90 and suggested retail is $25
3. 2006 Michele Chiarlo, Barbera d'Asti Superiore le Orme scored 89 and suggested retail is $14
4. 2005 Vietti, Barbera Barbera d'Alba Tre Vigne scored 89 and suggested retail is $18
5. 2006 Elio Altare, Dolcetto d'Alba scored 89 and suggested retail is $20

The Wine Spectator recommends these value Piedmont red wines:

1. 2006 Fratelli Oddero Barbera d'Asti Vinchio scored 90 and release price was $19
2. 2006 Stefano Farina Barbera d'Alba Terre di San Quirico Silenzio scored 90 and release price was $22
3. 2006 Massolino Barbera d'Alba scored 90 and release price was $22
4. 2006 Molino Barbera d'Alba Ausario scored 90 and release price was $22
5. 2007 Bruno Porro Dolcetto di Dogliani Ribote scored 90 and release price was $24