28. NW Italy Flashcards
Of the three soil types in Italy (marine, volcanic and alluvial) what type does Nebbiolo favor?
marine: clay over limestone
Name the five principle Barolo communes and their soil type.
(biege) Helvetian soil: Monforte and Serralunga
(blue) Tortonian soil: La Morra, Barolo
mixture: Castiglione
[mneumonic: Castiglione ate a blue BLT on the HMS Barolo; don’t confuse La Morra and Monforte]
What is the aromatic profile for Nebbiolo?
red fruit, rose, liquorice and hay
What is the profile of acid, tannin and alcohol for Nebbiolo?
hi across the board
Name the four main DOC’s for Nebbiolo?
Barolo DOCG, Barbaresco DOCG, Langhe DOC, Roero DOCG
What is often the best value in Piemonte?
Nebbiolo from Langhe DOC, which overlaps Barolo and Barbaresco and often uses declassified grapes from those areas
Name two key DOCG’s for white wines in Piemonte?
Gavi DOCG, Roero Arneis DOCG (sparkling Asti and frizzante Moscato d’Asti are also DOCG)
What is the main grape for Gavi DOCG?
Cortese
What is the role of sparkling wine from Piemonte?
significant amount made from Moscato, fizzy Moscato d’Asti
What is the main grape for Dogliani DOCG?
Dolcetto
Name the three main red grapes of Piemonte.
Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto
Which red grape of Piemonte is low in acid?
Dolcetto
Which red grape of Piemonte is high in tannin?
all, Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto
Which red grape of Piemonte has an affinity for new oak?
Barbera
What is the unique characteristic of Moscato d’Alba?
lower in alcohol, 5%, than virtually any wine
