34 11 APRIL 2024 Food&Drink Wine list PIERPAOLO PETRASSI Partner & Master of Wine S CAN T HI S CODE TO S HOP T HE WI NE S PIERPAOLO’S EXCLUSIVE RECOMMENDATIONS For an even wider choice of wines and spirits than you’ll nd in store, order from waitrosecellar.com. You can buy single bottles, compile your own case of wine or choose from cases put together by our experts, including monthly o ers. Collect your order from your local Waitrose store, have it delivered to you, or simply scan the QR code to shop the wines Pierpaolo recommends each week. TROPHY International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) Wine Supermarket of the Year 2023 OFFER The Cantina del Nebbiolo cooperative was founded in 1959, but its roots go back to 1901, when the local church created a cellar to process communion wine. Nebbiolo d’Alba is an excellent, more a ordable introduction to the grape used to make the great red wines of the Piedmont region, with the red fruit characters to match with roast pork and casseroles. GET TO KNOW NEBBIOLO Cantina del Nebbiolo d’Alba SAVE £3 £10.99/75cl (was £13.99, o er ends 7 May) Barbaresco Meruzzano £19.99/75cl (Waitrose Cellar) WHAT I’M DRINKING… Barolo DOCG Terre da Vino £19.99/75cl Bersano Barolo Riserva DOCG £36.99/75cl (Waitrose Cellar) Nebbiolo is an ancient grape variety that’s not only native to Italy, but is only grown in the Piedmont region, on the Italian side of the Alps bordering France. This tells you a lot about Nebbiolo. The region is heavily influenced by France, and I see a lot of similarities between Nebbiolo and Pinot Noir. Both are thin-skinned, low-yielding and tricky to grow, and capable of producing wine of an extremely high quality. In Italy, it’s quite unusual to see a Designation of Origin (DOC) wine that carries the name of the grape variety rather than the area where it’s made, but you do see Nebbiolo on labels. It’s better known, though, for being the grape behind two of the country’s most iconic wines – Barolo and Barbaresco. The former comes from the village of the same name, south-west of tru e town Alba in Cuneo province, and is aged in oak casks, giving rise to the signature Barolo character of tar and roses. It’s big, tannic and begs to be matched with food – a perfect pairing for the local tru es, and generally for the richer end of Italian cuisine. Barbaresco hails from the east of Alba, is released a little earlier and is fruitier and more approachable, but is still very much a food wine. The wines of Barbaresco are often overlooked in favour of Barolo, but Nebbiolo’s tar and rose aromas, that lead to tobacco leaf and red fruit avours, are given full expression here. This wine shows a savoury complexity and its rm but ripe tannins make it a good pairing with rich stews or roast duck. It’s also brilliant with aged sheep’s milk cheeses. With a classic pale colour and rmly tannic, Barolo is noted for its ability to age, bringing out the powerful black cherry and plum fruit avours that abound in this wine, supported by ne, nutty oak notes and some delicate oral and savoury aromatics. This would make a fantastic pairing with mushroom risotto, slow-cooked beef dishes or ne Italian cheeses. Bersano is one of the most renowned Barolo producers, with more than 50 years’ experience working with prized vineyards. This full-bodied red has great potential for long ageing. Violets on the nose give way to a complex mid-palate, with hints of redcurrants, tru es, chocolate and leather. Brilliant with lamb shanks or mushroom Wellington. Our expert picks some stunning examples made using the grape in some of Italy’s most iconic wines ‘M de Minuty Côtes de Provence Rosé, (£19.99/75cl), is a fantastic rosé, full of character. With red fruits and soft peach, it’s great for spring and would go beautifully with seafood, salads and home-cooked fries’ ESME WISBEACH Partner & drinks specialist, Waitrose Newmarket Drink responsibly: waitrose.com/alcohol
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