Nascetta is a white grape variety native to the Langhe, historically associated above all with the municipality of Novello and the surrounding hilly areas. The earliest records date back to the second half of the nineteenth century, when it was prized for the finesse of its grapes and the quality of the wine; after a long period of decline, it was rediscovered thanks to collaboration between winegrowers and ampelographic research, once again becoming one of the most distinctive white wines of the Langa del Barolo. The bunch is medium-sized, cylindrical, compact and generally has one or two ‘wings’. The berry, of medium size, is spheroidal or broadly ellipsoidal, with a green-yellow skin and unpigmented flesh. The mature leaf is pentagonal or orbicular, often with five or seven lobes, with a flat margin, regular teeth and an open petiole sinus. Cultivation is concentrated in the Langhe, particularly in Novello, Barolo, La Morra, Monforte d’Alba, Serralunga d’Alba, Castiglione Falletto, Verduno and the neighbouring municipalities. The wine has a straw-yellow colour, sometimes intense, with greenish highlights; on the nose, it reveals floral, citrus and fruity aromas, accompanied by hints of honey and, as it matures, more complex notes. On the palate, it is fresh, savoury, harmonious and well-structured, with a characteristic slightly bitter finish. Its good acidity promotes ageing and considerable longevity; it can also be aged in wood or produced as a passito, which is intense, sweet and enveloping.
