What Is Nascetta? A Rare White Revived by Piedmont

Nascetta is a rare, characterful white grape revived by Piedmont, in northwestern Italy. Hard to grow, it faced extinction in the mid twentieth century but has been splendidly revived in recent years. It gains depth with bottle age, a white with real dimension.

What does Nascetta taste like?

A bright straw color with aromas of herbs like sage and thyme, white flowers, and citrus. Firm acidity and minerality; fresh when young, growing more complex with age.

What food pairs with Nascetta?

It pairs well with seafood, poultry, and herb-driven dishes. Being aromatic, it also suits slightly flavorful starters.

How Nascetta changes with age

Young, it is a fresh white of citrus and herbs; with bottle age it develops complex aromas of nuts and honey. A rare grape with genuine aging potential, a white for those in the know.

The white one village saved: Nascetta

Nascetta is the only native white grape of the Langhe, and its home is a small village called Novello. As early as 1879 the local chronicler Lorenzo Fantini called it "an exquisite grape, tending toward art," yet through the twentieth century it was grafted over for higher-yielding varieties and all but disappeared. The turning point came in 1993, when grower Elvio Cogno and his son-in-law Valter Fissore tasted an old 1986 Nascetta, were moved by it, and released their first revival bottling the following year, in 1994. The village's pride eventually became law: in 2010 a dedicated name, Langhe Nascetta del Comune di Novello, was created that only 100% Nascetta from the commune of Novello may carry. You will rarely meet it in Japan, but thinking of how a single village won back the white it had once lost makes every glass feel that much more special.

SWIRL's recommended Nascetta

Rivetto's Langhe Nascetta. Do try this rare Piedmont white.

FAQ

Q. What kind of white is Nascetta?
A. A dry white with acidity and minerality that gains depth with age, a characterful grape.

Q. Does it age?
A. Yes. Bottle age adds dimension to the aromas.

Q. Serving temperature?
A. 6 to 9C; raise it slightly for aged examples.