Piedmont Flashcards
Piedmont map
Piedmont geography
Apennine montains provide rain shadow
Foothills of Alps
Po & Tanaro River flows through
Tanaro - flows through the heart of Barolo country and tempers the heat in the summer until Oct/Nov harvest.
Langhe hills - Barolo & Barbaresco made here! Hilly area in the southeast where the best vineyards are. south facing hillsides home to the towns of Alba, Asti, and Alessandria.
Barolo & Barbaresco aging requirements
Barolo: 38 months total aging with a min of 18 in oak
Barbaresco: 26 months total agiging with a min of 9 months in oak
Barolo & Barbaresco DOCGs (wine and locate on map)
Dry red wine from Nebbiolo
***Know location of Tanaro River and Langhe Hills
Top Barolo vineyards
Cannubi
Brunate
Monprivato
Top Barbaresco vineyards
Ovello
Montestefano
Pora
Asili
Asti DOCG
Fully sparkling/spumante Moscato
Uses Charmat method for sparkling - large pressurized tanks, wine fermented in batches as needed which preserves fruitiness of grapes.
Moscato d’Asti DOCG
More prestigious than Asti sparkling wine
Off-dry frizzante/semi sparkling white wine from Moscato
Uses Charmat method for sparkling - large pressurized tanks, made in small quantities.
Always vintage dated and served well chilled.
Drank on Christmas morning
Gavi DOCG
Dry white wines made from Cortese grape variety
Barbera d’Asti
Dry red wines made from Barbera grape variety
Labelled by variety not place!
Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG
Off dry semi sparkling red wine from Brachetto
Alta Langha DOCG
Metodo Classico sparkling wines, min combined 90% Pinot Noir & Chardonnay
Roero DOCG
Dry red wines from Nebbiolo grape variety
Roero Arneis DOCG
Dry white wines from Arneis
Ghemme DOCG
Dry red wines from Nebbiolo, locally known as Spanna (sometimes will say Spanna on bottle)
Produced further norther in colder climate - more rustic and leaner than Barolo and Barbaresco. Simpler flavors and always drank with food - tannins too harsh if not.
Gattinara DOCG
Dry red wines from Nebbiolo, locally known as Spanna (sometimes will say Spanna on bottle)
Produced further norther in colder climate - more rustic and leaner than Barolo and Barbaresco. Simpler flavors and always drank with food - tannins too harsh if not.
Normale vs Riserva
Riserva wines are aged for a longer period of time than wines that are not labeled riserva. Riserva wines also tend to use higher quality grapes.
Nebbia
Local name of fog rolloing off foothills of Alps
Sori
Best site, privileged sit
Top Barolo producers
Vietti
Giacomo Conterno
Bruno Giacosa
Ceretto
Sandrone
Elio Altare
Giuseppe Mascarello
Top Barbaresco producers:
Gaja
La Spinetta
Produttori del Barbaresco
Vietti
Bruno Gioacosa
Ceretto
Barolo & Barbaresco best vintages
2008
2010
2015
2016
2018
Traditionalist vs. Modernist Barolo & Barbaresco styles
Traditionalist-
* Wines needed to be aged 15-25yrs because tannins were so harshed, excacerbrated by agin in large Slavonian casks “botti” which dessicated fruitiness and oxidized wine.
Modernist -
* Goal was to radically change how these wines were made so they wouldnt go “extinct”.
* Temp controlled tanks to ferment Nebbiolo at warmer temps thereby minimizing tannins.
* Pumped juice over skins to impart color and shorten fermentation time to soften tannins.
* Divided aging of Nebbiolo between small French oak barrels so fruit quality and suppleness of wine would not be sacrificed.
Barolo & Barbaresco food pairing
Big tannins require meat and/or fat!
Filet mingon with white truffle potatoes (truffles are local to Piedmont)
Noodles with butter, sage, cream, and white truffle shaved on top
