Nizza Docg

Vintages

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2023

«Aromatic resilience in an extreme vintage»

Overall rating: 4 stelle ★★★★
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Weather overview

A mild autumn in 2022 gave way to a dry, unusually warm winter. From January through April, rainfall was virtually absent, and temperatures stayed well above seasonal averages. Rain finally arrived in May, though scattered and inconsistent across the region. Crucially, this shift came during flowering (late May–early June), a delicate phase in the vine’s cycle. The result: poor fruit set and widespread flower drop, which significantly lowered yield potential from the outset.
July brought a dramatic spike in temperatures, with highs reaching 40°C and the onset of moderate water stress. Thankfully, mid-August rainfalls helped rebalance the pulp-to-skin ratio, ensuring proper ripening. Warm conditions persisted into late September.

Growth cycle

Despite the extremes, Barbera once again proved its resilience. Growth progressed smoothly, with phenological stages unfolding slightly ahead of the average timeline. The dry conditions led to a higher skin-to-pulp ratio, enhancing the grapes' concentration and phenolic richness.

Harvest

Significantly earlier than usual, harvest began in the first days of September in some sites and concluded between the 17th and 20th. The grapes were in excellent health, showing high sugar levels and full phenolic ripeness. Acidity remained vibrant (8–10 g/l), with pH between 3.25 and 3.30.
2023 will be remembered as one of the lowest-yielding vintages since 1961. The wines are deep in color, with fragrant notes of ripe fruit, sweetness and finesse. On the palate, they are full-bodied, velvety, and long-lingering, lifted by a surprising freshness.

2022

«The vine’s remarkable stregth»

Overall rating: 4 stelle ★★★★
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Weather overview

The 2022 vintage highlighted the tangible effects of climate change, severely challenging younger vineyards and the most sun-exposed sites. Winter brought little precipitation and no significant snowfall, drastically reducing the soil’s water reserves. Spring offered only sporadic rainfall – just enough to support the vines’ growth. Summer was marked by intense heat and prolonged drought, interrupted only by a few isolated thunderstorms.

Growth cycle

Despite the extreme conditions, Barbera demonstrated an impressive capacity to adapt. The vegetative cycle progressed without major issues, with all phenological phases occurring earlier than usual. Ripening was early, and harvest began as soon as the first ten days of September.

Harvest

Grapes were harvested in excellent sanitary condition, though yields were particularly low (–30%). The musts showed intense colour and high levels of sugar and polyphenols, leading to Nizza DOCG wines with structure and savoury depth. Despite the extreme climate, acidity remained stable – a testament to Barbera’s extraordinary adaptability. 2022 stands out as a high-quality vintage, producing wines with significant ageing potential.

2021

«The great, complete vintage»

Overall rating: 5 stelle ★★★★★
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Weather overview

2021 was the 15th warmest vintage in the past 64 years, with an average temperature of around 9.9°C. Despite a fairly wet winter, spring brought late frosts in April that damaged early shoots in some areas. From the end of May onward, the weather turned warmer, alternating between rain, storms, and occasional hail. Summer drought and uneven rainfall across the denomination led to a water deficit between 50% and 80% compared to seasonal averages.

Growth cycle

Budbreak was delayed by cool temperatures in April and May, but vines quickly recovered in June. Flowering began in early June, and véraison was complete by mid-August. A heat spike in August caused mild sunburn on the most exposed bunches in some areas.

Harvest

Harvest began about a week early, with grapes in excellent sanitary condition and a strong analytical profile. The vintage yielded high-quality musts, with great potential for wines of depth, persistence, and longevity

2020

«The softness of the fruit»

Overall rating: 4 stelle ★★★★
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Weather overview

2020 began with an atypical winter, marked by mild temperatures and limited rainfall. January and February were well above average, followed by a sharp drop in temperatures in March. Rain returned in April, while May and June were wet, with occasional thunderstorms. Summer brought heat without drought, with high temperatures and above-average rainfall. September ended with a sudden cooling and scattered showers.

Growth cycle

The mild winter led to an early start to the growing season. Summer rainfall supported healthy cluster development and maintained good water availability. Favourable thermal conditions throughout the season allowed for optimal ripening of the grapes.

Harvest

Grapes were harvested at perfect ripeness, in excellent sanitary condition, with no signs of disease. Ideal weather contributed to outstanding grape quality, with musts showing deep colour and abundant fruit aromas.

2019

«The austerity of Piedmont»

Overall rating: 4 stelle ★★★★
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Weather overview

2019 was marked by highly variable conditions. Winter was unusually warm and dry, followed by a spring with wide temperature swings, culminating in very low temperatures in April. Summer was almost tropical, with intense heat at the end of June and early July, and heavy rainfall in July and August. The vines were forced to adapt to rapid shifts between heat, cold, drought, and rain, resulting in a stop-and-go vegetative cycle.

Growth cycle

Fluctuating conditions led to early budbreak, followed by slowed growth during colder phases. Despite the challenges, careful vineyard management ensured a balanced ripening of the grapes.

Harvest

Grapes were harvested in excellent sanitary condition, with musts showing intense violet-red colour and strong sugar, polyphenol, and acid content. The resulting wines are deeply coloured and well-balanced, with good acidity and structure – ideal for long-term ageing.

2018

«Elegance in the glass»

Overall rating: 3 stelle ★★★
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Weather overview

The 2018 vintage was shaped by two key factors: challenges in vineyard protection and high potential yields. Winter began with mild temperatures and abundant rainfall, but March brought a sharp cold spell with frost. Spring was rainy, with persistent precipitation and below-average temperatures in May. From June onward, the weather stabilised, with a warm summer followed by intense thunderstorms, some accompanied by hail.

Growth cycle

Vegetative growth was initially slowed by delayed budbreak, but the vines quickly caught up, with véraison occurring earlier than usual. Despite the hail events, frequent spring rainfall and a warm summer supported good cluster development and ripening.

Harvest

Harvest began between 25 and 27 September, yielding fruit of good to excellent quality. The grapes were rich in anthocyanins, with well-ripened seeds and solid polyphenolic content.

2017

«Opulence and softness»

Overall rating: 3 stelle ★★★
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Weather overview

2017 was the third hottest year in the past 60 years in Piedmont. Winter was mild, followed by a very cold March with lows reaching –16°C. A severe frost in April struck much of northern Europe, causing significant damage. Summer brought extreme heat, with temperatures peaking at 40–42°C, and virtually no rainfall. Between April and September, only 149 mm of rain fell, making it the fourth driest year in six decades.

Growth cycle

The mild winter led to early budbreak, which was then partially compromised by the April frost. Combined with intense summer heat, the early start led to a significantly advanced harvest date.

Harvest

Grapes exposed to direct sun accumulated sugar and polyphenols to an exceptional degree, producing wines with solid structure and strong dry extract. Acidity remained high, aided by slight dehydration of the grapes, which helped balance the vintage’s naturally high alcohol. While quality was high, the overall yield was the second lowest since World War II.

2016

«The greatness of a classic vintage»

Overall rating: 5 stelle ★★★★★
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Weather overview

2016 was a more balanced year compared to recent vintages. January and February saw low rainfall and above-average temperatures. Spring brought continued warmth until May, when a sharp drop in temperature occurred. Summer was marked by moderate temperatures and scattered storms, followed by an ideal late-season window for ripening, despite a 30–40% water deficit during the summer months.

Growth cycle

Budbreak came earlier than average, but cooler temperatures in May slowed vegetative development. Flowering began in early June and extended over about a week due to cooler weather and rainfall.

Harvest

Grapes showed excellent health and achieved optimal sugar and phenolic ripeness, with no signs of fungal damage. Sugar content at harvest ranged from 22 to 25 Babo, promising wines of outstanding quality.

2015

«A vintage of strong character and refined fruit»

Overall rating: 4 stelle ★★★★
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Weather overview

Winter was cold, with abundant snowfall, followed by a rainy and chilly March. Between May and June, temperatures rose above average and rainfall was scarce, prompting an early start to the ripening phase. Summer was hot, but August storms brought some relief.

Growth cycle

Budbreak began in early April, about ten days later than average. Warmer-than-usual temperatures in May accelerated flowering, and the heat in July brought forward ripening, which later stabilised after the August storms.

Harvest

Harvest began in mid-September, with healthy grapes showing good sugar levels and balance. The vintage ranked among the best of the decade, producing wines with excellent ageing potential.

2014

«Finesse and drinkability»

Overall rating: 2 stelle ★★
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Weather overview

Winter was mild, with no significant cold spells. Spring saw normal rainfall paired with above-average temperatures. The first rains arrived in mid-June, but July was marked by an unstable weather pattern: alternating spells of sunshine and rain, as the summer high-pressure system failed to take hold. Heat arrived only in the second half of the month, and the cool, wet conditions slowed ripening.

Growth cycle

Vegetation was uneven due to the unstable weather, but the vines recovered well thanks to good September sunshine.

Harvest

The best results came from vineyards with limited water availability and excellent exposures. The resulting wines showed good colour intensity, structure, aromatic expression, and excellent acidity.