Italy - Northern Italy - Piedmont

Question 1

Where’s Piedmont?

Answer 1

On the border of Switzerland and France.

Question 2

Climate of Piedmont?

Answer 2

Continental

Question 3

Physical features of Piedmont?

Answer 3

Mountains: Apennine Mountains, Alps, which provide a rain shadow. Piedmont refers to the foothills of the Alps. Langhe Hills.

Bodies of Water: Po River (Po River Valley)
Tanaro River

Question 4

White grape variety names of Piedmont?

Answer 4

Moscato, Arneis, Cortese

Question 5

Red grape variety names of Piedmont?

Answer 5

Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, Brachetto.

Spanna: Local name for Nebbiolo in Gattinara and Ghemme.

Question 6

Where’s Gattinara and Ghemme? What do they call Nebbiolo?

Answer 6

Spanna

Question 7

Soil type in Piedmont?

Answer 7

Barolo: Differences in soil types. Elaborate on other soils please.

Question 8

Tell me about the winemaking in Piedmont.

Answer 8

Traditional aging in large barrels. Aging requirements (law) exist for Barolo and Barbaresco.

Actual Requirements: Barolo: 38 months total aging with a min of 18 months in oak. Barbaresco: 26 months total aging with a min of 9 months in oak.

Question 9

What are the classifications in Piedmont?

Answer 9

IGP, DOC, DOCG

Question 10

What’s Barolo? Explain and please identify it on a map. Where’s the Tanaro River and Langhe Hills on a map?

Answer 10

Barolo DOCG: Dry red wine from the Nebbiolo grape variety.

Question 11

Please name top Barolo vineyards.

Answer 11

Top Barolo Vineyards: Cannubi, Brunate, and Monprivato

Question 12

What’s Barbaresco? Explain and please identify it on a map. Where’s the Tanaro River and Langhe Hills on a map?

Answer 12

Barbaresco DOCG: Dry red wines from the Nebbiolo grape variety.

Question 13

Please name top Barbaresco vineyards.

Answer 13

Top Barbaresco Vineyards: Ovello, Montestefano, Pora, Asili

Question 14

What’s Gavi?

Answer 14

Gavi DOCG: Dry white wines, made from the Cortese grape variety.

Question 15

What’s Barbera d’Asti DOCG?

Answer 15

Dry red wines made from the Barbera grape variety.

Question 16

What’s Asti DOCG?

Answer 16

Fully sparkling Moscato.

Question 17

What’s Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG?

Answer 17

Off-dry, semi-sparkling red wine from Brachetto.

Question 18

What’s Alta Langa DOCG?

Answer 18

Metodo Classico sparkling wines, min combined 90% Pinot Noir and/or Chardonnay.

Question 19

What’s Roero DOCG?

Answer 19

Dry red wines from Nebbiolo grape variety.

Question 20

What’s Roero Arneis DOCG?

Answer 20

Dry white wines from Arneis.

Question 21

What’s Ghemme DOCG?

Answer 21

Dry red wines from Nebbiolo, locally known as Spanna.

Question 22

What’s Gattinara DOCG?

Answer 22

Dry red wines from Nebbiolo, locally known as Spanna.

Question 23

What are some label terms of Piedmont wines?

Answer 23

Normale
Riserva

meaning……?

Question 24

What does Nebbia mean?

Answer 24

Local name of fog rolling off the foothills of the Alps.

Question 25

What does Sorì mean?

Answer 25

best site (privileged site)

Question 26

What are the Piedmont styles of wine?

Answer 26

All: Dry, sweet, sparkling, red, white

Question 27

Name some producers/ proprietary brands of Barolo and Barbaresco!

Answer 27

Barolo: Vietti, Giacomo Conterno, Bruno Giacosa, Ceretto, Sandrone, Elio Altare, Giuseppe Mascarello

Barbaresco: Gaja, La Spinetta, Produttori del Barbaresco, Vietti, Bruno Giacosa, Ceretto

Question 28

What are the best vintages for Barolo and Barbaresco over the last 10 years?

Question 29

Please tell me about the traditional vs. Modernist barolo and barbaresco styles. There seems to be some history there.

Question 30

What’s something you should consider when serving Barolo and Barbaresco?

Answer 30

Long range of ageability for Barolo and Barbaresco. Needs decanting big time. 30 mins prior to drinking.

Question 31

What to pair with?

Answer 31

Big tannins require meat or fat.