315: Exploring Piemonte Wines Beyond Barolo and Barbaresco with David Way

Are you curious about the wines of Piemonte in northern Italy? Why are Barolo and Barbaresco often compared with Burgundy? What makes Nebbiolo unique as a grape?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with David Way, author of the new book The Wines of Piemonte.

You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks

Giveaway

Two of you will win a copy of his terrific new book, The Wines of Piemonte. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at [email protected] and let me know that you’ve posted a review of the podcast. I’ll choose two people randomly from those who contact me. Good luck!

Highlights

What makes David's book, The Wines of Piemonte, different from other Italian wine books?

How does Piemonte compare geographically to other well-known Italian wine regions?

Why does the Piemonte region have so many wine denominations and what are the challenges this presents?

What approach does David recommend for understanding Piemonte denominations?

Why is Piemonte often compared to Burgundy?

What are the unique qualities of Piemonte’s signature grape, Nebbiolo?

How has Nebbiolo evolved from the “tannic monster” of the past?

How do Nebbiolo and Barbera grapes compare?

Should you decant your wines?

Key Takeaways

Much has been written about the Barolo and Barbaresco appellations of Piemonte but very little about the rest of the region.

Barolo and Barbaresco have many small plots owned by many small growers so in that sense, it's very much like Burgundy. It’s also similar in that tiny differences of altitude, soil type, vineyard orientation, and wind direction make big differences in the final wine.

David believes that the magic of Nebbiolo is its extraordinary aromatic complexity and amazing structure. It has structure, but not too overt in that it still has a silky and textured and it can age for decades.

About David Way

David Way initially specialized in the wines of the Tuscan Maremma before broadening his interests to the rest of Italy and beyond. He works as Senior Researcher on the five textbooks for the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines. In his own name, David wrote The Wines of Piemonte (Classic Wine Library, 2023). The book gives unparalleled coverage of one of Italy’s most important regions and includes 200 producer profiles. The book was honoured by the OIV at its award ceremony in Lisbon in 2024.

Bonus Interview – Jo Penn: Highlights

What are the challenges of writing memoir compared to more journalistic writing?

How does it feel to be a supertaster?

How does the concept of "terroir" in wine compare to the development of a writer's unique voice?

About Jo Penn

Jo Penn is an award-winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of horror, thrillers, dark fantasy, crime, and travel memoirs, as well as short stories. She’s also an award-winning podcaster. She has a Master’s in Theology from the University of Oxford. Her latest novel is Blood Vintage, a folk horror story set in an English vineyard.

To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/315.