North West Italy Flashcards
How would you describe the climate in Piemonte?
Moderate continental climate
Cold winters and hot summers
What effect do the Alps have on the Piemonte area?
They protect the region from northern winds and excessive rainfall
What effect do the Apennine mountains have on the Piemonte area?
They protect the region from weather systems coming along the Mediterranean
What types of weather related threats can you expect in the Piemont area?
Thunderstorms
Hail
Fog
Late frost
Give the key characteristics of Nebbiolo
Black grape Pronounced intensity Violet, rose, red cherry, red plum High tannin High acidity Full body High alcohol Pale ruby in youth Fade to garnet over time Vigorous Early budding Late ripening Excessive sun exposure can be an issue Main grape in Barolo and Barbaresco
Why would growers train Nebbiolo high?
The first few buds are infertile
It needs to be pruned with more buds so that those further up will bear fruit
What training system is most common for Nebbiolo in Piemonte and why?
Single guyot
Allows mechanisation
Why is canopy management important when growing Nebbiolo?
Avoid unripe fruit due to shading
Thin clusters to ensure quality
In Piemonte, what type of soils and aspects are best suited to Nebbiolo?
Calcareous marls
South and south west facing
In Piemonte, what is the most common method for propagating Nebbiolo vines?
Mass selection
In Barolo DOCG, vineyards are typically found at what altitudes?
200 - 400m
In Barolo DOCG, the best vineyards will typically have what aspect?
South and south west facing
Barolo’s vineyards typically combine good sunlight interception from the south and south west aspects, and cooling influences from altitude (200m to 400m). What affect does this have on the grapes grown here?
Grapes can ripen fully while retaining high levels of acidity and producing intense aromatics
What is the maximum yield for Barolo DOCG?
56hl/ha
Between 1980 to 2013, have plantings in Barolo increased or decreased?
They have doubled to just short of 2,000ha, reflecting the wine’s popularity
What is the minimum ageing requirement for Barolo DOCG wines?
3 years and 2 months
18 months of this must be in oak
What is the minimum ageing requirement for Barolo Riserva DOCG wines?
5 years and 2 months
18 months of this must be in oak
What type of soils would you expect to find in the north and west of Barolo? What type of wines do these villages produce?
Blue grey marls
Lighter more aromatic wines
These become drinkable after a few years in bottle
What type of soils would you expect to find in the south and east of Barolo? What type of wines do these villages produce?
Less fertile soils
Predominantly yellow-grey compacted sand and clay
Wines are more tannic
Require 5 to 10 years ageing in bottle
What is Barolo Chinato?
Wine that is sweetened and infused with herbs
Would you expect Barolo wines to be a blend of vineyards or single vineyard only?
Both
Historically, top producers blended wines from many vineyards (e.g. Bartolo Mascarello)
Certain single vineyards have a very high reputation (e.g. Cannubi, Vigna Ronda), championed by producers like Gaja and Bruno Giacosa
What is the name of the status awarded to most of the single vineyards in Barolo?
Menzione Geografiche Aggiuntive (MGA)
This means that the name of an MGA can appear on a label as an indication of higher quality
In which village would you find the vineyards of Cannubi, Brunate and Cerrequio?
Barolo
Is Barbaresco DOCG larger or smaller in size than Barolo DOCG?
Smaller - it’s about a third of the size
Are vineyards in Barbaresco DOCG higher or lower altitude than Barolo DOCG? How does this affect the temperature in Barbaresco?
Vineyards are typically at lower altitudes in Barbaresco
The climate is therefore slightly warmer
Is harvest in Barbaresco typically before or after harvest in Barolo?
It typically begins a week earlier in Barbaresco as it is slightly warmer here
What is the minimum ageing period for Barbaresco DOCG?
2 years
What is the minimum ageing period for Barbaresco Riserva DOCG?
5 years
