Who makes it?

Pizzini La Volpe Nebbiolo is just one of the many Italian single varietal wines that the Pizzini family do very well.   Two of the red grapes that Pizzini are well known for are Sangiovese and Nebbiolo. The family were amongst the first vineyards, after McLaren Vale’s Coriole, to plant Sangiovese in the 1980s.  Undoubtedly though, Nebbiolo from Pizzini is an excellent Australian expression of the grape. Particularly the Pizzini Coronamento Nebbiolo which is outstanding, and again, well worth cellaring.

I can still remember visiting them for the first time well over a decade ago. I first wrote about the family in 2011 after I discovered the King Valley winery cellar door for myself on a family trip : Part 2: Where wine is King!  Wine and food are family passions and the cellar door includes Katrina Pizzini’s cooking school. For those who cannot make it to a cooking lesson, here is her excellent recipe book that you can read about here: Pizzini – A Tavola!  

How do they make it?

Pizzini La Volpe Nebbiolo is a wine receiving a great deal of care in selection of grapes. The family choose the areas of the vineyard where Nebbiolo is softer in tannins and more fragrant. To enhance the floral notes, the team use a small percentage of whole bunches in the ferment. 

To round out the wine and give some more complexity, the wine matures in old and large oak barrels. 

What does it taste like?

Unmistakably Nebbiolo. The floral perfume is distinct and it is underscored by raspberries, nutmeg and thyme. The tannin profile here is shapely and soft for the grape variety. There is plenty of cherry and earthy minerality to find in the depths of this wine. 

And it is fuller in body and those flavours wrap themselves around your palate for a long while. Like a good Barolo, the wine spends time in old large oak barrels so as not to add to the tannins, but to allow the wine to integrate and soften over time. 

What to drink it with?

This is a wine with high foodability. It is, after all, made with food in mind. I would suggest anything from pizza, grilled veggies, stews or burgers. Or pulled pork or beef would be great too. 

Cheese

A semi-hard or matured hard cheese is a natural match here. Comte, Manchego, Pecorino, Cheddar. A truffle flavoured cheese is good too. 

Quickie review « Further proof that the Pizzini family know their stuff when it comes to making Nebbiolo work in Australia. »

Country of Origin:  King Valley, Australia
Tasting Date: January 2026
Price:  UK £20 | AU$ 35
Drink: now – 5+ years 
Needs food: no
Source: tasting

If you like Australian red wines, why not check out:
Pizzini Pietra Rosso Sangiovese 
d’Arenberg The Innocent Weed
Mount Horrocks Nero d’Avola
The Hedonist Shiraz

Visit pizzini for more.