2021 Poderi Colla Nebbiolo d’Alba, Piedmont

Poderi Colla Nebbiolo d’Alba from Piedmont is a graceful, finely structured red that showcases the purity and charm of Nebbiolo without the grandeur (or the wait) of Barolo or Barbaresco. Grown in the Langhe hills surrounding Alba, this wine is crafted with the same philosophy and care as the estate’s top crus—expressing terroir, typicity, and balance through a traditional lens.

Run by Tino Colla and his niece Federica, Poderi Colla is one of Piedmont’s most respected family estates, with deep roots in the region and a commitment to hands-off, honest winemaking. Their Nebbiolo d’Alba is a testament to the estate’s belief in vineyard-driven wines, where site and variety come first. The fruit for this wine typically comes from younger vines or parcels outside the strict DOCG boundaries of Barolo and Barbaresco but still boasts the same limestone-rich soils and hilly exposures that define classic Langhe Nebbiolo.

Fermentation is slow and gentle, followed by aging in large neutral oak botti to soften tannins without masking the varietal character. The result is a wine that’s fragrant and lifted, with aromas of red cherry, rose petals, wild strawberry, and a whisper of anise and dried herbs. The palate is medium-bodied, fresh, and elegant, with fine-grained tannins, bright acidity, and a savoury finish touched by dusty earth and citrus peel.

Poderi Colla Nebbiolo d’Alba is a beautiful introduction to the estate and to the variety—ideal for those seeking Nebbiolo’s perfume and structure in a more accessible and earlier-drinking form.