Sizzano is one of the smallest DOCs by land area in Piedmont and, created in 1969, it is also one of the oldest. The title exclusively covers red wines made from the classic Piedmontese grape variety Nebbiolo, known here by the name Spanna.
Sizzano wines are noticeably different in style from rich, complex Nebbiolos such as Barolo and Barbaresco, the names which made the grape famous. Sizzano is located in one of Piedmont's cooler viticultural areas, meaning its wines rarely reach high levels of concentration and phenolic ripeness, and lean towards a lighter, fruitier style. A typical Sizzano wine is brilliantly ruby red, fruity, tannic (as befits any self-respecting Nebbiolo wine) and marked by refreshing acidity.
Only the eponymous commune of Sizzano is permitted to produce wines under this title. This may seem particularly restrictive, and is unusual among Italian DOCs; even famous location-specific names such as Barolo and Gavi extend beyond the boundaries of their respective villages. There is a good reason for this exclusivity in Sizzano's case – Sizzano's immediate neighbors are Fara, Ghemme and Gattinara, each of which already has its own DOC title (or DOCG, in the case of the latter two). Along with Bramaterra, Boca and Lessona, this small cluster of DOCs represents a respectable proportion of northern Piedmont's quality wine production.
