Gattinara
Tasting Notes
Gattinara is one of the most distinctive expressions of the Nebbiolo grape. It is leaner, more savory, more mineral, and often more immediately approachable than its Barolo and Barbaresco cousins.
🎯 Overall Character - Elegant, mineral, herbal Nebbiolo with bright red fruit, firm acidity, and a savoury, iron‑tinged finish. Fresh acidity gives lift and precision, medium to high tannins, long subtle persistence of red fruit and floral notes, with a savoury, iron-tinged finish. Gattinara often feels like a cross between Barolo and a structured Burgundy. With age tannins soften and Gattinara develops more spice, smoke, earth, and balsamic depth.
🍒 On the Nose (Aromatics) - Red cherry, red berries, herbal notes of thyme, oregano, and other dried herbs. Also present are floral notes of violets and rose petals, spice, balsamic and iron mineral tones. Gattinara often smells more herbal and savory than Barolo or Barbaresco.
🍷 On the Palate - Medium body, high acidity (classic Nebbiolo), firm but refined tannins often softer than Barolo in youth, red cherry, berry, licorice, and mineral flavors.
🕰️ Aging Profile - Top Gattinara’s can age 10–20+ years.
Food Pairing
Gattinara is Nebbiolo from the Alpine foothills — high acidity, firm tannins, red‑fruit purity, and a distinctly earthy, truffle‑friendly profile. That structure makes it perfect for rich, savory, earthy, and game‑driven dishes.
🍝 1. Truffle & Mushroom Dishes - This is the signarture pairing for Gattinara. Nebbiolo’s earthy, herbal, and tar‑tinged notes mirror truffle and mushroom flavors beautifully. Pairs well with truffle pasta, mushroom pizza, mushroom & fontina crostini, risotto with truffle and shiitake arancini
🍖 2. Game & Wild Meats - Gattinara’s acidity and tannin structure stand up to gamey richness. Rabbit with mushrooms, roasted or smoked wild boar, venison, venison stew, deer, and game meats in general.
🍗 3. Rich, Savory Meat Dishes - Nebbiolo’s tannins soften beautifully with protein and fat. Braised brisket, beef stew , manzo stufato alla Piemontese, osso buco (veal shanks), lamb, veal, pork, duck and goose.
🍕 4. Hearty, Rustic, Comforting Dishes - Gattinara’s acidity cuts through richness while its earthy notes add depth. Rich pizza, meat pies / cornish pasty, mulligan stew, picadillo, stroganoff and shepherd’s pie.
🧀 5. Cheese Pairings - Nebbiolo’s tannins and acidity pair best with firm, aged cheeses. Parmesan, Pecorino, Manchego, Cheddar and Dry Jack.
Venison
Rich Stews
Mushroom Pizza
Parmigiano Cheese