A fine red wine from the Novara-Vercelli hills in Piedmont made mainly with Nebbiolo grapes with added Vespolina and Bonarda. It is is produced in the Colli Novaresi and Vercellesi viticultural area and has ancient origins. The discovery near Ghemme of the tombstone of Vibia Earina, a freedwoman of Vibius Crispus, a Roman senator of the time of Tiberius, provides archaeological confirmation of indisputable validity that vines were cultivated in the district at least as early as the beginning of the Christian era. However, there is evidence that the local winemakers aimed for quantity rather than quality in the wine. Apparently they trained the vines to trees, which is a proven way of increasing yield but which results in a thin, acidic wine. Pliny the Elder objected to this technique. Things have now changed and the aim is for higher quality and in 1969 Ghemme received its Denominazione di Origine Controllata.
