Northwest Italy Flashcards
What is the only Northwestern Italian state you need to concern yourself with in the WSET Diploma?
Piemonte
What are the most planted varieties of Piemonte (in order)? Which is the most prized?
Barbera Moscato Bianco Dolcetto Nebbiolo (most desirable) Cortese Brachetto
What is the climate in Piemonte? What climatic influences are there in the region?
Moderate continental with cold winters and hot summers
The Alps in the north protect from cold winds and excessive rain. The Apennines to the southeast protect from Mediterranean storms. Nonetheless, hailstorms, thunderstorms, fog, and late frost can be an issue.
True or False
Vines in Piemonte are at significant risk of fungal disease
True AND False.
There is low rainfall from June to September in Piemonte which is beneficial to ripening and reduces disease pressure.
Rainfall increases in September and October, a threat to late harvested varieties such as Nebbiolo.
What are the viticultural characteristics of Nebbiolo? How does this affect its cultivation?
Early budding and late ripening, putting it at risk for spring frosts and autumn rains.
It is also vigorous and thus requires canopy management.
Where in Italy is Nebbiolo primarily grown?
In the province of Cuneo (Southwestern Piemonte), expecially in the Langhe.
It also has plantings in Northern Piemonte and in Lombardia
What is the typical color of Nebbiolo wine? Why?
Pale ruby when young, turning to pale garnet in 3-5 years.
The anthocyanins in Nebbiolo are unstable and fall out quickly.
What is the typical character of Nebbiolo wine?
High acid
High tannins
Medium to high alcohol
Full body
Pronounced intensity violet, rose, red cherry, red plum aromas
What soils & aspects are Nebbiolo typically grown on in Piemonte? Why?
Calcareous marls with south or southwest facing aspects.
Nebbiolo is said to give its finest, most perfumed wines on calcareous marls. Because of the value of Nebbiolo grapes in Piemonte, it is planted on south and southwest aspects to ensure the grape ripens fully.
What are the typical vine training techniques of Nebbiolo in Piemonte? Why?
Single Guyot trained high off of the ground.
Nebbiolo does not fruit on the first buds and therefore requires a long fruiting zone. It is also vigorous and Single Guyot lends itself to mechanical leaf trimming. Quality minded producers may also thin bunches more easily with Single Guyot.
True or False
Excessive sun exposure can be a problem for Nebbiolo in Piemonte.
True. The grapes can be easily sunburned. Careful canopy management is required to control vigor and protect the berries from excessive sunlight.
What has been the direction of clonal research into Nebbiolo in Piemonte? What has been the effect on the wines produced there?
Research has sought to deepen the color of the wines, which has traditionally been very light and often with hints of orange.
Some producers feel these experimental varieties have lost a bit of their aromatic intensity.
What methods of propagation for Nebbiolo do quality minded producers use in Piemonte? What attributes are they seeking?
Quality minded producers use mass selection in an effort to obtain
- low vigor (for increased concentration),
- open bunches (to reduce fungal disease), and
- small berries (for depth of color).
What are the important Piemontese denominations for Nebbiolo?
Barolo DOCG & Barolo Riseva DOCG Barbaresco DOCG & Barbaresco Riserva DOCG Roero DOCG Gattinara DOCG Ghemme DOCG Langhe Nebbiolo DOC and Nebbiolo d'Alba DOC
Where is Barolo DOCG located?
What villages does it include?
Around the town of Barolo, Southwest of Alba.
It includes the villages of Barolo, La Morra, & Serralunga d’Alba.
When did the style of Barolo as a dry, tannic wine begin?
In the mid nineteenth century when it was enjoyed by the royal House of Savoy and gained its European popularity.
What is the typical situation of Barolo DOCG vineyards? How does this affect the berries?
South and southwest facing, generally between 200-400 m ASL. In these conditions, Nebbiolo receives good sunlight interception and cooling influences to ensure ripe fruit over a long growing season.
Are Barolo DOCG wines pronounced in intensity?
Yep! High in acid, too!
What is the maximum yield permitted in Barolo DOCG?
56 hL/ha
What has been the trend in plantings of Nebbiolo in Barolo DOCG from 1983 to 2013?
Plantings doubled and are now just short of 2,000 hectares under vine.
Keep in mind these are vineyards that qualify for Barolo DOCG production. Nebbiolo may be planted on sites that don’t qualify for Barolo DOCG inclusion. Barbera and Dolcetto might also be found in the Barolo zone.
What are the maturation requirements for Barolo DOCG?
Barolo DOCG: 3 yrs + 2 mos, including 18 months in oak
Barolo Riserva DOCG: 5 ys + 2 mos, including 18 months in oak
How does the maturation of Barolo DOCG wines affect production?
The long minimum requirements increase the cost of production.
What is the typical quality and pricing of Barolo DOCG wines?
Very good to outstanding
Premium to super-premium
What does the WSET believe we need to know about the soil types of Barolo DOCG? How do these soil types affect the character of Barolo DOCG wines?
Blue-grey marls in the Northwest that produce lighter, more aromatic wines that are more drinkable early. La Morra is in this region (Morra & marl)
The Southeast contains yellow-grey compacted sands that are less fertile and produce closed, tannic wines that need 10-15 years of aging. Serralunga d’Alba is in this area. (Serralunga = serrenghetti = sand)
Everyone should own Alessandro Masnaghetti’s ‘Barolo MGA Vol. 1’, the most important Barolo text you can find.
What is the trend in the production of single vineyard wines in Barolo? What are single vineyards called there?
The majority of Barolo wines are a blend, though some producers are advocating for the increased production of single vineyard wines.
The crus of Barolo are referred to as Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive (Menzione Geografica Aggiuntiva if singular).
What is a MGA?
Does it have a significance in wine quality from Barolo or Barbaresco?
The Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive are an establishment of crus according to the traditional ownership of vineyard plots in the Barolo zone.
They are not delimited by quality, and there may be very prestigious wines originating from small plots within larger MGAs that produce less stellar examples.
How may MGAs be identified on Barolo and Barbaresco wine labels?
If the grapes for the wine come entirely from that MGA, the name of the MGA may be listed. ‘Vigna’ (a term for a specific vineyard plot) cannot appear on the label unless that parcel is entirely within an MGA.
What is the primary difference in how the MGA and Vigne were established?
Both were created in 2010. The MGA follow historic records of vineyard ownership. The Vigne, or vineyards, were specified according to quality.
