North-West Italy Flashcards
Which are the six most widely planted grapes in Piemonte?
Barbera
Dolcetto
Nebbiolo
Cortese
Moscato Biancol
Brachetto
What mountains protect Piemonte from weather systems coming off the Mediterranean sea?
Apennines
What mountains protect Piedmont from cool northerly winds and rain?
Alps
Explain why Single Guyot is the most common form of vine training for Nebbiolo grapes in North-West Italy.
Nebbiolo vines are particularly vigorous when it comes to growing excess foliage. Therefore, it requires significant canopy management. Single Guyot training is therefore appropriate as canopy trimming can be mechanised, making this labour intensive variety easier to manage. Canes are also vertically trained which allows good air to penetrate the canopy and important when vigour is excessive.
Nebbiolo needs a long cane each growing season, as the first few buds are sterile. Single Guyot allows for good use of trellising space.
Barolo DOCG and Barolo Riserva DOCG must both spend substantial amounts of time in oak and bottle, thereby adding to the production costs.
How long must Barolo DOCG be aged total and in oak?
three years and two months after harvest, including 18 months in oak.
How long must Barolo Riserva DOCG be aged total and in oak?
five years and two months with a minimum of 18 months in oak.
What is the name of the official geographical indication within Barolo DOCG given for single vineyard status?
Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive
What is the maximum yield for both Barolo DOCG and Barbaresco DOCG?
56 hL/ha
This Piedmont wine is typically deep ruby in colour, with medium (+) intensity red cherry fruit with floral notes, medium (-) acidity and medium (+) tannins.
Dolcetto
This Piedmont wine is medium to deep ruby colour, medium intensity red plum and red cherry fruit sometimes with black pepper aromas, high acidity, medium tannins and medium alcohol.
Barbera
This Piedmont grape is high yielding and the wines have light intensity aromas of lemon, apple/pear and white flowers with high acidity and a light or medium body.
Cortese
This Piedmont wine has light intensity but complex aromas of white flowers, chamomile, white peach and lemon. They have medium (-) acidity.
Arneis
How many PGI/IGT wines does Piedmont have?
none
What % of Barolo and Barbaresco are exported and what are the top export markets?
85% of Barolo
75% of Barbaresco
Germany, UK, USA, Scandinavia
Explain how sales of Bordeaux and Burgundy wines has had an impact on Italian, Nebbiolo-based wines.
The fame of the wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy France has caused demand to be high and supply low (particularly the supply of wines from Burgundy as many top vineyards are often less than a hectare). In Bordeaux wines sold on the en primeur system have meant that extra expenses are added to the cost of the bottle of wine, making the final purchasing price of top Grand Cru estates (Latour, Lafite, Mouton Rothschild, Margaux, Haut Brion) a luxury product. China particularly caused inflationary prices by purchasing wines through the en Primeur system at ever high prices annually even when the quality of the vintage didn’t merit this. The anti-extravagence act of China instituted by Xi Jinping has tempered this inflationary pricing. Meanwhile, top Burgundies, like Domaine de la Romanee Conti, command the highest prices in the world, often exceeding tens of thousands of dollars. Because of this consumers have begun to look elsewhere for more affordable wines that can age for decades without issue. Nebbiolo, particularly that of Barolo and Barbaresco, with its high tannin, high acid, and intensity and concentration of fruit make it a prime candidate. While prices can be premium and super premium for these outstanding quality wines, they are certainly more attainable than the cult like prices of the top French growths. Given that the prices of Barolo and Barbaresco have begun to rise with demand, many consumers are beginning to look to other DOCG’s producing Nebbiolo without the high price tag (Valtellina, Gattinara, Ghemme, Lange).
