Barbaresco

Question 1

What is the climate of Piedmont?

Answer 1

Continental

Question 2

What two mountain ranges surround Piedmont on three sides?

Answer 2

Alps and Apennines

Question 3

What is the name of the major river that runs through Piedmont?

Answer 3

Po River

Question 4

What Piemontese-born man was responsible for the unification of Italy in the 19th century and became its first king?

Answer 4

Vittorio Emanuele II

Question 5

True or false: 94% of Piedmont’s wine is DOC or higher

Answer 5

True (national average: 45%)

Question 6

Barbaresco is in what province of Italy?

Answer 6

Cuneo

Question 7

What are the denominations of Barbaresco?

Answer 7

Barbaresco
Barbaresco Riserva
Barbaresco “menzioni geografiche aggiuntive” (cru)
Barbaresco “menzioni geografiche aggiuntive” and “vigna” (single vineyard)

Question 8

What is the minimum alcohol required for Barbaresco?

Answer 8

12.5%

Question 9

What are the aging requirements for Barbaresco?

Answer 9

Minimum 26 months beginning November 1st of harvest year
Minimum 9 months in wood
Cannot be released before January 1st three years following harvest

Question 10

What are the aging requirements for Barbaresco Reserve?

Answer 10

Minimum 50 months beginning November 1st of harvest year
Minimum 9 months in wood
Cannot be released before January 1st five years following harvest

Question 11

Vineyards in Barbaresco are prohibited to face completely in which direction?

Answer 11

North

Question 12

What is the minimum planting density in Barbaresco?

Answer 12

3,500 vines per hectare

Question 13

What are the maximum yields in Barbaresco?

Answer 13

8 tons/ha
56 hl/ha

For “vigna” wines: 7.2 tons/ha; vineyard must be minimum 7 years old or maximum yields decrease

Question 14

What is the principal soil type in Barbaresco?

Answer 14

Tortonian calcareous marl

Question 15

When was the DOCG established in Barbaresco?

Answer 15

1980 (DOC in 1966)

Question 16

Which river is the most significant tributary of the Po and runs through Barolo and Barbaresco?

Answer 16

Tanaro River

Question 17

True or false: historically most landowners in the Langhe made wine themselves

Answer 17

False (most sold to Négociants in Alba)

Question 18

Who are two famous young grape growers who traveled to Burgundy in the 1970s in search of solutions to cellar hygiene, vineyard management, and production of fine wines?

Answer 18

Elio Altare
Enrico Scavino

Question 19

What are some approaches to winemaking characteristic of the “traditionalists”?

Answer 19

Long macerations
Large old barrels of chestnut or acacia passed down for generations
Stem inclusion
Open vat fermentation
Foot trodding
No temperature control

Question 20

What are some approaches to winemaking characteristic of the “modernists”?

Answer 20

New French barriques
Rotary fermenters
Lower yields to increase concentration
Focus on physiological ripeness
Tannin management

Question 21

What is the maximum altitude for Barbaresco vineyards?

Answer 21

550 meters (1,800ft)

Question 22

What is the minimum altitude for Barbaresco vineyards?

Answer 22

None

Question 23

What are the ten regions of the Langhe?

Answer 23

Barolo
Barbaresco
Roero
Dogliani
Diano d’Alba
Barbera d’Alba
Dolcetto d’Alba
Verduno Pelaverga
Nebbiolo d’Alba
Langhe

Question 24

What four countries border Italy to the north?

Answer 24

France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia