Vineria Nebbiolo

Of all the villages of Gooi and Eemland, the sleepy town of Baarn has possible the most sincerity when it comes to good food and wine. With a prober bakery, traiteur, one of the first artisanal coffee roasters and a few wine shops, the citizens of Baarn are certainly privileged compared to the neighbouring towns.

One of those wine shops, Nebbiolo, also has a wine bar and restaurant attached to it: Vineria Nebbiolo. It’s worth stopping by, even if you’re not in the region (trains to Utrecht, Amersfoort and Amsterdam run until late). You can stop by for nice Italian snacks from 3pm, or a more extensive meal later in the evening.

As the name suggests, Nebbiolo focuses on Italian wine. Over the years, the wine selection has grown from one importer to many, and so you’ll find all the Italian styles and regions you would want – from fancy, expensive Bolgheri blockbusters to unknown Apulia treasures. The list is extensive, if not to say huge, and if you’re not so Italo-minded then, with the help of the staff, you’ll surely find something up your street.

Pricing is ridiculously cheap for Dutch standards, with only small margins and corkage on top of the store prices. It’s owner Jouke de Bruin’s love of wine (and extensive restaurant experience) that explains this sympathetic policy, not to mention the good service, temperatures and stemware. Italian wine fan or not, Vineria Nebbiolo is a gem worth seeking out.