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