Lombardy sits in northern Italy, between the Alps and the Po Valley, and produces some distinctive wines. The best known come from the Valtellina Valley, where Nebbiolo is grown on steep mountain terraces.
Here the grape is often known locally as Chiavennasca and tends to show a fresher, more lifted style than its Piedmont neighbours. The altitude and cooler climate give wines with firm structure but plenty of aromatic detail.
The Valtellina valley runs east to west along the southern side of the Alps. Its terraced vineyards produce a distinctive expression of Nebbiolo, shaped by altitude, sunshine and mountain air.
Compared with Nebbiolo from Piedmont, Valtellina wines tend to be slightly lighter in body but remain structured and ageworthy. The cooler conditions keep acidity high and the aromatics lifted.
The region’s best wines come from steep vineyards supported by dry stone terraces. Working these sites is demanding, but the result is a style of Nebbiolo that is distinctive within Italian wine.
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