Italy - Piemonte Flashcards
Where is Piemonte?
In the northwestern corner of Italy
What is the meaning of ‘Piemonte’?
“At the foot of the mountains”
What is the general nature of Piemonte’s topography?
It is almost entirely hilly
Which mountain range surrounds Piemonte?
The Alps
What are the features of Piemonte’s region-specific climate?
A hot growing season, a misty autumn and a cold, foggy winter
Name Piemonte’s fifteen DOCGs
- Barbaresco
- Barbera d’Asti
- Barolo
- Barolo Chinato
- Brachetto d’Acqui
- Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba
- Dogliani
- Gattinaro
- Gavi/Cortese di Gavi
- Ghemme
- **Asti **
- Moscato d’Asti
- Roero
- Sforzato di Valtellina/Sfursat di Valtellina
- Ruche di Castagnole Monferrato
Name some of Piemonte’s DOCs
- Barbera d’Alba
- Dolcetto d’Alba
- Dolcetto d’Asti
- Grignolino d’Asti
- Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese
- Langhe
- Nebbiolo d’Alba
Where is Nebbiolo at its best?
The Langhe Hills The Barbaresco zone (northeast of Alba) The village of Barolo (southwest of Alba)
Under what conditions is the best Nebbiolo grown?
On southern facing slopes at altitudes between 490 and 1,150 feet
What are some flavours/features associated with younger Barolo and Barbaresco?
Smoke Raspberries Leather Spice Violet Jammyness
What can the flavours become with greater age?
Animal Tar Wax Incense Funghi Dried cherry
Name some of the better know producers of Barbaresco
Gaja Giacosa Marchesi di Gresy Lorenzo Alutto Ceretto
What differentiates Barbaresco from Barolo?
Barbaresco is lower and warmer, resulting in an earlier harvest. They are also generally aged for less time, giving them less ageing potential.
Where in Barolo are wines more openly fragrant and less tense?
To the west of the Alba road, around La Morra.
The soil that lends to this flavour characteristic are calcareous marls
Where in Barolo is the wine toucher and more concentrated?
To the east and the south
The soil here is helvetian, with more sandstone
Name three Barolo vineyard areas which produce tougher, more powerful wines
- Castiglione Falletto
- Serralunga d’Alba
and in the south of Barolo, to the north of…
- Monforte d’Alba
Which river cuts through the heart of Piemonte?
The Po River
In what three provinces does most of the winemaking in Piemonte happen?
Asti, Alessandria and Cuneo
What is the climate of Piemonte?
The climate is continental
Autumn hail can be a worry in the Langhe hills
What are Sori?
Prized, southern facing hill sites
What are the main red grapes of Piemonte?
Nebbiolo, Dolcetto and Barbera, Brachetto, Grignolino, Ruchè, Croatina, Vespolina, and Freisa
What are the main white grapes of Piemonte?
Moscato Bianco (Muscat à Petits Grains), Cortese, Arneis, Erbaluce, and Favorita (Vermentino)
Barolo and Barbaresco are located along which river?
The Tanaro River
In what province are Barolo and Barbaresco located?
Cuneo
Which five communes represent almost 90% of Barolo’s demarcated land?
Barolo, La Morra, Serralunga d’Alba, Castiglione Falletto and Monforte d’Alba
What are Tortonian soils?
Soils that contain a higher proportion of calcareous marl, characterize the vineyards of La Morra and Barolo and provide a softer style of wine
What are Helvetian soils?
Sandstone soils are more common in Monforte d’Alba and Serralunga d’Alba, and supply more structure in the wine
What are the three main communes of Barbaresco?
Barbaresco, Neive and Treiso
Who first brought major international attention to Barbaresco?
Angelo Gaja
How does Angelo Gaja often release the wines?
Langhe DOC
What are the most important Crus of the Barolo commune?
Cannubi, Brunate (shared), Sarmassa
What are the most important crus of the La Morra commune?
Brunate (shared), Cerequio, Le Rocche
What are the most important crus of the Serralunga commune?
Lazzarito, Cerretta
What are the most important crus of the Castiglione commune?
Rocche, Monprivato, Villero, Bricco Fiasco
What are the important crus of the Monforte d’Alba commune?
Bussia, Ginestra, Santo Stefano
What are the main crus of the Barbaresco commune?
Asili, Roncagliette, Martinenga, Rabajà
What are the main crus of the Neive commune?
Serraboella, Gallina, Basarin
What are the main crus of the Treiso commune?
Pajorè, Bricco di Treiso
What is Nebbiolo called in Ghemme and Gattinara?
Spanna
What are the two DOCGs for Barbera in Piemonte?
Barbera d’Asti and Barbera del Monferrato Superiore
What is the DOCG for Ruche in Piemonte?
Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato
What are the three DOCGs for Dolcetto in Piemonte?
** Dogliani, Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore (Ovada) and Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba (Diano d’Alba)**
Who first brought fame to Dogliani?
Luigi Einaudi
What region is the largest producer of DOCG wine in Italy?
Asti
What is the traditional method sparkling wine DOCG for wines made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Piemonte?
Alta Langa DOCG
In what provinces is Alta Langa DOCG produced?
Asti, Alessandria and Cuneo
What are the varietal requirements for Alta Langa DOCG?
Min. 90% combined Pinot Noir and/or Chardonnay
Max. 10% other non-aromatic varieties suitable for cultivation in Piemonte
In what provinces is Asti DOCG produced?
Asti (principally), Cuneo, Alessandria
What styles of wines are permitted for Asti DOCG?
Asti/Asti Spumante
Asti/Asti Spumante “Metodo Classico”
Moscato d’Asti
Moscato d’Asti “Vendemmia Tardiva”
What is the Martinotti Method?
Charmat method
What are the three subzones of Asti DOCG?
Canelli, Strevi and Santa Vittoria d’Alba
What are the four communes of production for Barbaresco?
Barbaresco, Neive, Treiso (a frazione of Barbaresco), San Rocco Senodelvio (part of Alba)
What are the three subzones of Barbera d’Asti DOCG?
Tinella, Colli Astiani (Astiano), Nizza
What are the varietal requirements of Barbera d’Asti DOCG?
Barbera d’Asti: 85-100% Barbera, combined maximum 15% of Freisa, Grignolino and Dolcetto
What are the primary soils of Barbera d’Asti DOCG?
Clay, silt, sand and limestone
In what provinces is Barbera del Monferrato Superiore DOCG produced?
Asti and Alessandria
What is the minimum alcohol required for Barolo DOCG?
13%
The Barolo cru Arborina is famous for the wines of which producer?
Elio Altare
Name three producers who make wines from the Cerequio cru
Michele Chiarlo, Batasiolo, Boroli
What crus can be labeled “Cannubi”?
Cannubi San Lorenzo
Cannubi Valletta
Cannubi Muscatel
Cannubi Boschis
What two producers brought fame to Ginestra?
Domenico Clerico and Elio Grasso
What three Barolo crus used to be individual crus but are now just referred to as “Ceretta”?
Bricco Cerretta, Cerretta Piani and Cerretta
Which Barolo cru used to be owned by Opera Pia Barolo?
Lazzarito
Who owns the Barolo monopole cru Francia?
Giacomo Conterno
Who owns the Barolo monopole cru Falletto?
Bruno Giacosa
Who owns the vineyard “Campè”?
La Spinetta
Who owns the Barolo monopole cru Monprivato?
Giuseppe Mascarello
What’s the largest cru in Barbaresco?
Ovello
Who owns the Barbaresco monopole cru Cole?
Moccagatta
Who owns the Barbaresco monopole cru Martinenga?
Marchesi di Gresy
In which Barbaresco cru are Sori Tildin and Costa Russi located?
Roncagliette