Piedmont Flashcards
Piedmont is cradled on three sides by the:
Apennines and the Alps
Which river cuts through the heart of Piedmont?
the Po River
Most of Piedmont’s grape growing occurs in the foothills south of the Po Valley, in the provinces of:
Asti, Allesandria, and Cuneo
Which hills in Piedmont are peppered with vineyards?
Monferrato and Langhe hill
What are the soils of Piedmont?
Thinner, calcareous marl and sandstone soils with varying percentages of clay and sand
In Piedmont what creates a rain shadow effect?
The Alps
What are the three main red grapes of Piedmont?
Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, Barbera
Major white grapes of Piedmont:
Moscato Bianco (Muscat à Petits Grains), Cortese, Arnes, Erbaluce and Favorita (Vermentino)
Piedmont is home to more DOC zones than any other region in Italy. As of 2023, how many?
19 DOCGs and 41 DOCs
Why are Barbarescos slightly softer than Barolos?
Due to its warmer climate and less time in oak
Barolos may be produced in 11 communes, but what are the five major communes?
La Morra, Barolo, Serralunga d’Alba, Monforte d’Alba, Castiglione Falletto
La Morra and Barolo provide a softer style of wine due to the soil:
Tortonian soils, which contain a higher proportion of calcareous marl
Monforte d’Alba, Serranlunga d’Alba, and Castiglione Falletto have more structure in their wine due to this soil:
Serravallian sandstone soils
Aging requirement for Barolo:
Atleast 38 months from November 1 of the harvest year, but only 18 months need to be in wood.
Barolo Riserva requires how long for aging:
Total 62 months prior to release. Historically, longer periods of aging in large neutral cakes after extended macerations doe 30-50 days.
Modernization in Barolo techniques entered the region by:
1980s
Who are some traditional Barolo producers?
Giacomo Conterno, Bartolo Mascarello, Giuseppe Rinaldi
Who are some modernists in Barolo?
Paolo Scanvino, Luciano Sandrone, Elio Altare, Vietti
Barbaresco DOCGs are concentrated in the three towns:
Barbaresco, Neive, and Treiso
Barbaresco aging requirement:
26 months and atleast 9 months in cask. Minimum 50 months if labeled Reserva.
In Piedmont, Roero DOCG, opposite of Barolo and Barbaresco makes:
Red wines are based on a minimum of 95% Nebbiolo, Roero also produces Arneis. The sandy soils north of the commune of Alba produced a lighter Nebbiolo than Barolo.
Which other DOCGs in Piedmont produces Nebbiolo reds?
North of the Po River, Gattinara DOCG and Ghemme DOCG
In 2008, Barbera grape came in the DOCG fold. DOCGs include:
Barbera d’Asti, Barbera del Monserrat Superiore, Nizza
What are the three 100% Dolcetto DOCG wines?
Dogliani, Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore, and Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba
What is the first still white wine in Piedmont to be promoted to the DOCG level?
Gavi from the Cortese grape
What is the largest producer of DOCG wine in Italy?
Asti
Asti/Moscato d’Asti are made from:
Moscato Bianco
What is the difference between Asti and Moscato d’Asti?
Asti is fully sparkling (Spumante) and Moscato d’Asti is slightly sparkling (frizzante) made with riper grapes and the fragrance of the grape is preserved more effectively.
Who first began experimenting with French winemaking techniques in Piedmont?
Angelo Gaja in 1961
In Piedmont what does “vigna” mean?
Single vineyard
In Piedmont, what does “Sori” mean?
A term for top, south-facing site
Barolo major vineyards:
Roche dell’Annunziata, Arborina, La Serra, Sarmassa, Brunate, Cannubi, Bussola, Castelletto, Ginestra, Monprivato, Villero, Fiasco, Falletto
Barbaresco major vineyards:
Ovello, Montefico, Montestefano, Secondine, Pajè, Ronchi, Faset, Martinega, Rabajà, Roncagliette, Gallina, Serraboella
