# San Rocco Nebbiolo d'Alba

- **Producer:** De Forville
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Nebbiolo
- **Region:** Piemonte, Italy
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.0%
- **Average price:** €22
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** rose, violet, cherry, plum, redcurrant, liquorice, cedar, vanilla, cloves, leather, forest floor, tobacco, dried fig

## About this wine

Maison De Forville is a historic estate located in the Langhe region of Piedmont, Italy. Founded in 1860 by Gioachino De Forville, the family-owned winery has passed down artisanal viticultural techniques through five generations. The San Rocco vineyard, situated in the village of Alba, benefits from ideal limestone and clay soils alongside favorable south-facing sun exposure, producing high-quality expressions of Nebbiolo that reflect classic Piedmont terroir.

## Interesting facts

- The De Forville family originally emigrated from Belgium to Piedmont in the mid-19th century.
- San Rocco is one of the premier single-vineyard sites in the Nebbiolo d'Alba DOC appellation.
- Large traditional Slavonian oak casks are used to age the wine without imparting heavy oak flavors.

## Food pairing

The elevated acidity and firm structural tannins of Nebbiolo require rich, fatty proteins and savory, umami-driven dishes. Rich meats soften the tannin profile, while earthy earth elements like truffles complement the complex aromatic backdrop of the wine.

## Wine making process

Grapes from the San Rocco vineyard are hand-harvested at optimal ripeness. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks with traditional skin maceration to gently extract color, tannins, and structural complexity. The wine is aged in large neutral oak casks (botti) for approximately 12 to 18 months, allowing the wine to mature while preserving its vibrant grape characteristics and terroir expression.