Piedmont. Flashcards
What year was the Italian DOC system introduced?
1963
What year was the Italian DOCG title introduced? What year was the first DOCG awarded and what were the firsts?
1963 - introduced the same year as the DOC system in general. However, a DOCG was not awarded until 1980 with the elevation of Brunello di Montalcino, Barolo, and Vino Nobile di Montalcino.
What is Goria’s Law? When was it introduced and what was its purpose?
1992 attempt at reform for the italian DOC system by introducing the IGT category which would give Italian producers more freedom and flexibility to create outside of the DOC/DOCG.
Barolo DOCG includes 11 communes. Name the 5 ‘main’ communes that make up 90% of production and then the additional 6.
Barolo Serralunga d'Alba La Morra Monforte d'Alba Castiglione Falletto
The rest - Verduno, Grinzane Cavour, Diano d’Alba, Novelo, Cherasco, Roddi
Which 3 of Barolo’s communes lie entirely within the confines of the DOCG?
Barolo
Castiglione Falletto
Serralunga d’Alba
What is the aging requirement for Barolo normale?
38 months from November 1 of harvest year; including 18 months in wood
What is the aging requirement for Barolo Reserve?
62 months from November 1 of harvest year; including 18 months in wood
What is the elevation range in which vineyards are permitted to be planted for Barolo DOCG wine?
170 to 540 ft (and no northern exposures)
Barolo’s principal geological formations were formed in what 3 eras?
Tortonian: 12 - 7 million years ago
Serravallian: 14 - 11 million years ago
Langhien: 16 - 14 million years ago
The Helvetian geological formation is actually a grouping of what two other formations?
Serravallian
Langhien
Describe Tortonian era soil’s characteristics and what areas this soil is common to?
Tortonian soils tend to have more cancerous marl and supply softer styles of wine. La Morra and Barolo itself sit upon Tortonian formation soils.
Describe Serravalian soils’ characteristics and what communes this type is common to?
Serravallian (Helvetian) soils typically contain more sandstone and make for more structured wines. These soils are more common in Monforte d’Alba and Serralunga d’Alba.
What 3 communes make up the Barbaresco DOCG?
Barbaresco
Neive
Treiso
Barbaresco DOCG wines are required to be aged for what amount of time? For Riserva?
26 months from November 1 of the harvest year, including 9 months in cask. It is a minimum of 50 months for riserva.
What are the 3 DOCGs for 100% Dolcetto?
Dogliani
Dolcetto di Ovada Supierore
Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba
What is the maximum allowed pressure for Moscato d’Asti DOCG? What is the permitted alcohol range?
2 atmospheres
4.5% to 6.5%
Alta Langa DOCG: what style of wine(s) and what are the requirements?
Spumante - normale and riserva. Ditto for rose.
Min. 90% Pinot Noir and/or Chardonnay + ma 10% others. Traditional method wines. All are vintage dated Elevage must be 30 months for normale and 36 months for riserva.
What regions/countries does Piedmont border?
- Liguria to the south
- Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna to the east
- Aosta Valley and Switzerland to the N/NW/NE
- France to the west
What is the capital city of Piedmont?
Turin
What are Piedmont’s main agricultural products besides grapes for winemaking?
Cereals - including rice (+10% of natl production)
Maize
Fruit
Milk - 800k+ of cattle; cows are half of the final ag product production
There are 14 DOCs/DOCGs that are primarily or solely for Nebbiolo. Name as many as possible
Barolo, Barbaresco Ghemme, Gattinara Boca, Bramaterra Carema Sizzano Lessona Nebbiolo d'Alba Roero Terre Alfieri Fara Albaugnano
Who is Aldo Vaca?
General manager of the ever important Produttori del Barbaresco.
What 9 crus does the Produttori del Barbaresco bottle?
Rio Sordo, Pora, Asili - the 3 most approachable on release
Paje, Ovello, Muncogato - a bit more acidity, freshness, and floral notes
Rabaja, Montestefano, Montefico - the most powerful and longest lived
*categories per Vaca
What are Gaja’s top 2 vineyard bottlings? Why are they not labelled Barbaresco?
Sori San Lorenzo
Sori Tilden
otherwise contain 5% barbera so are thus labelled as Langhe Nebbiolo
*the choice to use barbera is a response to climate change and ripening conditions. Barbera adds acidity and freshness
What soil type is dominant in Barbaresco?
Tortonian soils - hence the softer, gentler wines
Describe the general soils in Roero and how they differ from Barolo and Barbaresco.
The terroir is soft and permeable, made from sandstone, sedimentary rocks of marine origin comprised of limestone, sand, and clay. There is much more sand here and the soils are younger and less compact than the hills of the Langhe.
What are the aging requirements for Roero and Roero Riserva?
20 months from Nov. 1 of harvest year, including 6 months in wood. Not to be released before July 1 of 2nd year following harvest.
Riserva: min. 32 months aging, including 6 in wood. Not to be released before July 1 of the 3rd year after harvest.
What are the varietal requirements for Boca DOC?
70 - 90% Nebbiolo
10 - 30% Uva Rara and/or Vespolina
Uva Rara is also known as _________ in Alto Piemonte?
Bonarda Novarese
What are the aging requirements for Boca DOC?
34 months total including 18 months in wood; not to be released before September 1 of 3rd year after harvest.
Riserva: 46 months total with at least 24 months in wood
There are only a handful of producers left for the Boca DOC. Name any of them.
Le Piane Vallana Sergio Barbaglia Guidetti Davide Carlone Podere ai Valloni Cantine del Castello di Conti
Who is the largest producer of Gattinara DOCG?
Travaglini - the family owns 60ha of the area’s total 100
What are the varietal requirements for Gattinara DOCG?
Min. 90% Spanna + max. 10% Bonarda di Gattinara and Vespolina
What are the aging requirements for Gattinara DOCG? For Riserva?
min. 35 months from November 1 of harvest year, with 24 months in wood
Riserva: 47 months with 36 months in wood
Name any producers of Gattinara DOCG?
Travaglini
Vallana
Nervi
Antoniolo
What are the varietal requirements for Ghemme DOCG?
Min. 85% spanna + max. 15% combined Vespolina and Uva Rara
What are the aging requirements for Ghemme DOCG?
min. 34 months with 18 in wood and 6 in bottle from November 1 of harvest year
Riserva: min. 46 months with 24 in wood and 6 in bottle
Name some producers of Ghemme DOCG?
Ioppa Monsecco Rovellotti Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Il Chiosso
What DOC territory is Carema located entirely within?
Canavese DOC
Describe the Carema’s location and general lay of the land.
Located in NW Piedmont near the Valle d’Aosta border. The elevation is high and the terraces steep - this is a notoriously difficult place to make wine. The soils consist of glacial deposits.
Name 2 major producers of Carema.
Ferrando
Cantina Produttori di Carema
What is Prunent and where might one find it?
A mutation of Nebbiolo found in the Ossola Valley.. it shows typical Nebbiolo color but with less concentration and more pronounced acidity.
Valli Ossolane DOC: where is it? Describe the general wine style and lay of the land.
The Ossola Valley is in the far reaches of northern Piedmont near the Swiss border; this is true Alpine, cool-climate wine. An ancient glacier once stood where the vines grow now - soils are full of sand and pebbles with bits of clay.
Name a producer of Valli Ossolane DOC?
Cantine Garrone
What styles of wine are permitted under the Valli Ossolane DOC?
- Chardonnay-based whites
- Rosso: Nebbiolo, Croatina, or Merlot-based whites (alone of combined)
- Nebbiolo/Nebbiolo Superiore
Who is Giacoma Bologna and what were his contributions to the wine world?
Giacomo was at the forefront of the movement to elevate Barbera d’Asti. His estate was Braida, which is run by his son and daughter since his death in 1990.
What estate is famous for its Bricco dell’Uccellone bottling and what grape is it?
Braida
Barbera
Where is the Scarrone vineyard located and what is it known for?
Scarrone is located in Castiglione Falletto - it is an important source of old vine barbera.
Name all of the DOCs/DOCGs solely for the production of Barbera (there are 5)
Barbera d'Alba DOC Barbera d'Asti DOCG Barbera del Monferrato DOC Barbera del Monferrato Superiore DOCG Nizza DOCG
