Nebbiolo is one of the most structurally defined red grapes in the world. High acidity and firm tannins sit at the center of the wine, not as background elements, but as the main drivers. It’s not designed to be soft. It’s designed to hold tension.
From Langhe, that structure becomes more accessible. You still get the grip and the lift, but without the severity of Barolo. It’s the same grape, just at a point where it’s ready to be understood earlier.
Famiglia Rivetti works in that space. The wine stays clean and direct, without heavy oak or excess extraction. What comes through is clarity. You taste the grape, not the process.
On the glass, it opens with red cherry and dried rose, followed by a light earthy edge. The acidity keeps it lifted, while the tannins give it shape. It finishes dry, with enough grip to stay present through food.
That structure is what makes Nebbiolo functional at the table. High acidity and tannin are not just structural, they are practical. Fat softens tannin. Acidity cuts through richness. The wine doesn’t sit next to the food, it interacts with it.
At CARTA, this is where it works.
With prosciutto, the salt and fat round out the structure and bring forward the fruit. With sopressata, the spice meets the wine without overwhelming it. With truffle croquettes, the earthiness lines up directly with Nebbiolo’s natural profile.
If you usually drink Pinot Noir, this sits in a similar space but with more structure and more grip. If you know Barolo, this is the earlier, more open version of the same grape.
We keep this on the list because it holds its shape across the table. It’s not heavy, but it’s not passive either. It does its job.
Available at CARTA Wine Bar, New York.
Wine Facts
- Producer: Famiglia Rivetti
- Region: Langhe, Piedmont
- Country: Italy
- Appellation: Langhe DOC
- Grape: Nebbiolo
- Vintage: 2022
- Style: Dry red
- Structure: High acid, firm tannin, medium body
- Aging: Short-term oak or neutral vessels (typical for Langhe Nebbiolo)
