Piedmont sits in Italy's northwest, where autumn fog rolls through the Langhe hills — possibly the source of Nebbiolo's name ("nebbia" means fog). Nebbiolo is the grape that built the region's reputation, producing Barolo and Barbaresco: pale in colour but powerfully tannic and long-lived, grown on calcareous marl soils that vary from village to village much like Burgundy's. Alongside Nebbiolo, Barbera offers brighter, more approachable everyday reds, and Dolcetto softer, fruitier ones. Piedmont is also home to Moscato d'Asti, a lightly sparkling, low-alcohol sweet wine, and to Gavi's crisp Cortese whites.

Key grapes: Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, Moscato, Cortese