Roero Rosso DOCG Wine Guide

Everyone knows Barolo and Barbaresco, the two greatest incarnations of Nebbiolo, however, the rising star that is conquering land year after year is Roero Rosso, the name of the Nebbiolo-based DOCG that dominates all the lands on the left bank of the Tanaro river. How once the Roero family dominated, which remained in possession of these lands so much that they later left the name of these hills as a legacy.

Do we want to call it the golden triangle of Nebbiolo? Why not! Of course, the soils are completely different, the “base” is always clayey limestone, but much more sandy and light and this gives rise to wines that are much less structured, easier to approach and above all that need much fewer years of refinement.

What does Roero Rosso wine taste like?

This is generally true, but this does not mean that the Roero is less noble. It is simply different: different wines, but the results are always extraordinary. The aromas are always the splendid suggestions that have made Nebbiolo immortal, that is an austere fruitiness, roots, earth, mushrooms, leaves, violets and those enchanting ethereal notes that are unparalleled.

On the palate it is elegant, not very acid, characterized by austere fruit. What is significantly different is the intensity of the tannins, much less powerful, brusque and overbearing, so much so that the minimum refinement of Roero Rosso is 20 months and 32 for the Riserva, with an obligation to rest in wood for 6 months.

Disciplinary of the Roero Rosso DOCG

We talked about sand, but the soils must be of clayey-limestone and sandy origin, a mixture, so certainly don’t think about the wines of the sands: it is a bit looser. The areas dedicated to vine growing are the hills, with a maximum permitted altitude of 400 meters, also to shelter the Nebbiolo from the wind, it is not grown very often on the most exposed peaks. And finally, the last interesting fact is the composition of the blend: 95% Nebbiolo and a possible 5% of other red grape varieties grown in the region, even if we tend to vinify the Nebbiolo in purity, to preserve its elegance.

Roero Rosso DOCG food pairings

The textbook pairing of Nebbiolo is truffle, but also try it with grilled meat, pulled pork, brisket, ribs with BBQ sauce, burgers with melted Brie, baked lasagna, truffle risotto, Argentine meat empanadas.