When young, Fontanafredda Langhe Nebbiolo features a fragrance which is wonderfully spontaneous and full of surprise. In its bouquet, colour, and generous, velvety body this wine brings out all the typical qualities of the grape it is made from. Later in life, its colour becomes garnet-red with strong orange shades, and its nose deepens, with traces of withered flowers, such as rose and above-all geraniums. It's warm, soft, well-bodied flavour is velvety and well-balanced, lingering in the mouth.

Cantina Vallebelbo is located in Piemonte, in the small village of Santo Stefano Belbo, between the provinces of Cuneo and Asti. The name of the winery is inspired by the river Belbo that runs through the valley. Over the centuries, the river has shaped the surrounding hills, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014. Very bright crimson red color, with intense aromas of redcurrants and complex notes of dusty baked earth. Very juicy berries on the palate with sweet, plump red fruits on the mid-palate in particular, supported by floral notes and prominent but refined Nebbiolo tannins. An excellent, well-priced introduction to this classic Italian variety.

Roero has long been a source of Nebbiolo for Barolo producers, who prize the perfumed notes from the region’s sandy soils. Correggia’s Roero has always been a benchmark for this style, with silky tannins that make the wine approachable and enjoyable on release. The wine presents floral aromatics, ripe red fruit and brisk acidity without the iron-clad tannins of its more famous neighbors. • Finalist

Discover the refined elegance of Heathcote Estate Single Vineyard Nebbiolo 2021, a 750mL gem from Victoria’s Heathcote region, crafted by acclaimed winemaker Tom Carson. Sourced from a new vineyard block established in 2017 and certified organic in September 2021, this inaugural Nebbiolo release was hand-picked in mid-April, seven weeks after the Shiraz, allowing extended ripening into autumn. Whole berries underwent natural fermentation in oak vats, followed by maturation in older French oak 500L barrels until bottling in February 2022, yielding a mid-crimson red hue at 14% ABV. The nose is pure Nebbiolo, with uncluttered aromas of pure red fruits, rose petals, cranberry, pomegranate, Campari, and a lick of wet stone. The palate is super fine and detailed, offering pure red fruits, firm tannins, and a fine acid line, finishing long and savoury with notes of undergrowth, cherries, tobacco, and decayed roses. Described as “most impressive” by Campbell Mattinson of The Wine Front, this Nebbiolo pairs beautifully with heavy sauces or flavourful meat dishes like braised lamb, with 10 plus years of cellaring potential. A collector’s treasure showcasing Heathcote’s terroir and organic winemaking.

Built by Alfredo and Katrina based on their passions and commitment to family and the Pizzinis Italian heritage. The Pizzini La Volpe Nebbiolo is a fruit driven savoury wine with soft tannins. Ideal food match with Italian inspired dishes.

Architects of Wine is a small batch winery that was founded in 2013 by an architect turned project manager turned winemaker. What started as a simple backyard hobby quickly turned into an obsession, and the team at Architects of Wine has been creating minimal intervention, handcrafted wines ever since. The philosophy at Architects of Wine is simple: create interesting and textural wines with restraint, while maintaining transparent expressions of the vineyard, vintage and terroir. To achieve this ideal, each wine is carefully crafted and considered with a 'less is more' mantra and a hands-off style of winemaking. The winery has a strong focus on Italian varieties and primarily sources fruit from the Adelaide Hills, although they occasionally venture out to other wine regions in South Australia depending on where the vintage takes them. The team at Architects of Wine is committed to sourcing fruit only from sustainably farmed vineyards, and all their wines are fermented with native yeasts from their respective vineyards. Their wines are unfined, unfiltered and contain no additions with the exception of a small dose of SO2 prior to bottling in some wines. This dedication to minimal intervention winemaking allows the true character of the grapes to shine through in each bottle. Architects of Wine is a winery that is passionate about creating small batch, handcrafted wines that showcase the unique terroir of each vineyard. With a focus on Italian varieties and a commitment to minimal intervention winemaking, their wines are sure to impress any wine lover looking for something unique and interesting. Australian Nebbiolo is a relatively new addition to the Australian wine scene, but it is quickly gaining popularity. This grape variety is most famously known for its production regions of Barolo and Barbaresco in Piedmont, Italy. However, Australian winemakers are now producing their own unique take on Nebbiolo, showcasing the grape's versatility and ability to express different terroirs. With a focus on minimal intervention winemaking and careful consideration of each vineyard's unique characteristics, Australian Nebbiolo is becoming increasingly distinctive and sought after. The Architects of Wine Nebbiolo Normale 2021 is a lacey and fragrant wine that showcases a floral and elegant nose with pronounced notes of rose, mint and vibrant red berries. On the palate, fine, cool red fruit is matched with hints of spice and a good lick of tannin. This Nebbiolo is a standout from the Hills, with each vintage becoming more distinctive than the last. Due to its clone, this wine is on the lighter side, but it still packs a punch in terms of flavor and complexity. The winemaking process involved wild fermentation, with 100% destemmed grapes and a 36-day maceration. The wine was then aged for 13 months in neutral French oak, allowing it to develop its full flavor profile and complexity. The Architects of Wine Nebbiolo Normale 2021 is a delightful wine that is sure to impress any Nebbiolo lover. Its floral and elegant nose, combined with fine, cool red fruit on the palate, make it a great choice for pairing with a variety of dishes.

Unico Zelo is the project of winemaking couple Brendan and Laura Carter. In their words, their aim is to create “Italian-inspired, textural and site-expressive wines” and “Australian examples of Mediterranean varieties in an approachable and jovial fashion.” There is a bit of a shift this year for Pastafarian, with the inclusion of Sangiovese! The ultimate pasta variety, it must be said. Ask Brendan, Unico Zelo has long been critical of Sangiovese’s future in Australia, but after some recent encounters with other producers' expressions of the variety, they’ve jumped on the bandwagon. Lucky for the winery, it wasn’t far from home, as the fruit is from the lovely Polish Hill River Vineyard. Still, this wine is Nebbiolo through and through, and it’s the perfect marriage with Slovenian Oak for a perfumed, blue fruited and savoury structured Langhe-style Nebb. A touch of Merlot and Nero to add somebody (and a nice little spice too!). Top shelf here, finding an identity all of its own. Great wine.

A wine that pours into the glass with a garnet red colour with orange highlights. The bouquet is typical of the vine, and is in fact characterized by hints of licorice, amalgamated with aromas of red fruits, spicy hints and notes of toasted caramel. In the mouth it has a good structure, a balanced full-bodied wine with an irobust texture to be savoured. A seductive and elegant red which, thanks to well-orchestrated tannins, becomes an excellent wine to pair with red meat dishes and well-aged cheese platters.