The Colline Novaresi - "the hills of Novara" - appellation is in northeast Piedmont, just north of the city of Novara. Soils are a mix of sand, clay and silt; most vineyards are found above 1000 feet. The leading white variety is Erbaluce, a grape with high acidity that works equally well made as a sparking wine or dry white; there are even some passito versions. The leading red varieties are Nebbiolo, the best-known red Piemontese variety for powerful, long-lived wines, and Vespolina, a variety with slightly higher acidity and more spice. Many producers make both mono varietal wines, especially from Vespolina or Uva Rara, while most reds with an abundance of Nebbiolo are blended with one or two other local varieties. While these reds are not as powerful as many from the Langhe in southern Piedmont, they are well structured and can drink well for a decade or more. (Wine/Appellations)