Here’s the 18th installment of The Wine Chef’s December "Advent Calendar" wine series.

Wilridge Vineyard & Winery 2018 Estate Nebbiolo

Nebbiolo is the grape behind famous wines like Barolo and Barbaresco, but it is rarely grown outside Italy's Piedmont region, where it thrives and accounts for over 90% of the world's Nebbiolo production. The remaining small percentage of this grape variety is grown in a few other Italian regions and scattered across the New World, including the U.S., Australia, Chile, and Argentina.

Growing Nebbiolo outside of its native region is a challenge for winemakers, which is why less than 30 acres are planted in Washington State. However, Wilridge Vineyard, a small certified organic and biodynamic winery in Yakima Valley, has succeeded, creating a Nebbiolo that stays true to its Italian roots while feeling right at home in the New World.

Here’s why:

The wine has a gorgeous translucent garnet color that immediately catches your eye. You get the classic Nebbiolo aromas on the nose—herbal notes, tar, rose petals, and a hint of cherry. But when you take a sip, it’s a little different from what you might expect if you’re used to drinking Barolo, especially younger ones. Thanks to that ripe Washington State fruit (blackberry, black plum, cherry pie), the tannins are much softer here, especially on the finish. Yet there’s still good acidity, some peppercorn spice, and even a touch of wet stone minerality. It’s light-bodied but has just enough textural richness to keep things interesting.

This wine is complex but easy to drink, making it a great choice for Nebbiolo fans (like me!) or anyone who loves trying something a little off the beaten path (also like me!). I enjoyed the wine with sweet Italian sausages, but it would be terrific with pizza, pasta, herb-marinated chicken, cheeses, or other meats, like pork or lamb.

The wine is $40 at wilridgewinery.com.