Piedmont Flashcards
Piedmont
Translation
“foot of the mountain”
Piedmont
River that cuts through the heart of the region
Po River
Piedmont
most planted red grape
Barbera
Piedmont
Climate
Continental
- Alps provide “rainshadow” effect
- Autumn hail is a concern in the Langhe hills (Barbaresco producers of lore were fond of firing cannons into the skies, attempting to disperse threatening cloudbanks)
Sori
Hillsides
- In Langhe and Monferrato, prized southern exposures
Piedmont
most planted white grape
Moscato Bianco (Mucat a Petits Grains)
- Mainly used in sparkling wines of Asti
Major Piedmontese red grape earliest to ripen
Dolcetto
Piedmont
Besides Moscato Bianco (Muscat a Petit Grains), four other white grapes
- Cortese
- Arneis
- Erbaluce
- Favorita (Vermentino)
diminishing order of importance
Piedmont
six lesser known indigenous red grapes
- Brachetto
- Grignolino
- Ruche
- Croatina
- Vespolina
- Freisa
Piedmont
Vermentino synonym
Favorita
Barolo
Aging Requirements
- Barolo: 38 mo 18 mo oak, Nov 1
- Barolo Riserva: 62 mo total, 18 mo oak, Nov 1
Barolo
Aging requirements prior to 2010
3 yrs, 2 oak (rarely, chestnut)
Monforte d’Abla and Serralunga d’Alba
Main soil type
Serravallian (Helvetian)
- Sandstone, more structure
Barbaresco and Barbaresco Riserva
Aging Requirements
- Barbaresco
- min 26 mo from Nov 1
- min 9 mo wood
- released Jan 1, 3rd yr after harvest
- Barbaresco Riserva
- min 50 mo from Nov 1
- min 9 mo wood
- released Jan 1, 5th yr after harvest
Piedmont
Number of DOCGs
16 DOCGs - most in Italy
- Over 40 DOCs (close of 2010)
- Almost half is DOC quality