Nazionale
This is a Piedmont fortress, built on Nebbiolo: of 717 wines, the deepest sections are Barolo with 138 selections and Barbaresco with 69, backed by broad Piemontese and Italian red coverage. The benchmark producers are all here in depth, Giacomo Conterno with 31 listings, plus Roagna, Bartolo Mascarello, Cascina delle Rose, and Gaja, so if a guest wants serious aged Barolo you have real range to work with. There is a substantial large format section and a respectable spread of French reds and whites, but make no mistake, the heart of this book is local. Whites and rosé are thin by comparison, and the by the glass program is short at 15 pours, so steer glass drinkers carefully and push bottles for anyone chasing the strengths. It rewards the Nebbiolo lover and the collector more than the casual sipper.