Piedmont Flashcards
Goria’s Law
Introduced in 1992, this law established the category of Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT), a more relaxed regulation, offering winemakers wider freedoms.
How many DOCGs are there?
- The last, Terre Tollesi/Tullum was approved in 2019
What mountains surround Piedmont?
The Apennines and the Alps
What are some synonyms for Nebbiolo?
Chiavannesaca
Nebbia
Picotendro
Spanna
What are the white grapes of Piedmont?
Moscato Bianco (Muscat à Petits Grains) Cortese Arneis Erbaluce Favorita (Vermentino)
What are the red grapes of Piedmont?
Nebbiolo Dolcetto Barbera Brachetto Grignolino Ruchè Croatina Vespolina Freisa
Who are the “modernists” of Barolo?
Paolo Scavino
Luciano Sandrone
Elio Atare
Embraced barriques, shorter macerations, and rounder style of winemaking
Name one modernist and traditionalist of Barbaresco
Modern: Angelo Gaja
Released under Langhe DOC
Traditional: Bruno Giacosa
What are the communes of production for Barbaresco?
Barbaresco
Neive
Treiso
San Rocco Senodelvio (Alba)
Which Barolo communes have Serravallian soils? (Helvetian sandstone)
Monforte d’Alba
Serralunga d’Alba
A higher proportion of red sandstone and quartziferous sand. This promotes the development of wines with firmer structure, tannins and age-ability.
Which DOCGs utilize Dolcetto?
Dogliani
Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore
Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba
What are the aging requirements for Barbaresco?
26 months total
9 months in oak
From Nov. 1st following the harvest
Which Barolo communes have Tortonian soils?
La Morra
Barolo
Higher proportion of calcareous marl
Of the 11 communes permitted for Barolo, which 5 account for 90% of the DOCGs demarcated land?
Barolo La Morra Serralunga d'Alba Monforte d'Alba Castiglione Falletto
Who are the “traditionalists” of Barolo?
Giacomo Conterno
Bartolo Mascarello
Giuseppe Rinaldi
What are the rivers in Piemonte?
Po
Tanaro
Stura de Demonte
What are the aging requirements for Barolo?
38 months total
18 months in oak
Barolo Riserva requires 62 months
sorì
single-vineyard crus
What are the 16 DOCG’s of Piemonte?
Alta Langa Asti Barbaresco Barbera d'Asti Barbera del Monferrato Superiore Barolo Brachetto d'Acqui Dolcetto di Diano d'Alba Dogliani Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore Erbaluce di Caluso Gattinara Gavi Ghemme Nizza Roero Ruche di Castagnole Monferrato
What city seperates Barolo and Barbaresco?
Alba
Barolo is Southwest, Barbaresco is Northeast and East
What river runs north-south along the western edge of Barolo, also runs just south of Roero, and just northwest of Barbaresco?
The Tanaro River, which is further south than the Po River
Where is the Valmaggiore site located and what is it growing in fame for?
A growing site for Nebbiolo located in the Vezza d’Alba township of Roero DOCG.
Bruno Giacosa and Luciano Sandrone make Nebbiolo d’Alba Valmaggiores that are floral, bright, and elegant.
What Piemontese mountain is said to be the inspiration for the Paramount logo?
Monviso, one of the highest peaks in Italy. Also the source of the Po River.
Approximately how many growers in Barolo and Barbaresco? How many producers?
More than 1,000 growers
More than 500 producers
What is the soil type of Roero?
Sandy
Which village in Barolo is proven to have the highest amount of calcium carbonate (limestone) in its soils? What does this mean for the style of Nebbiolo produced there?
Serralunga d’Alba has the highest amounts of limestone in its soils and is known for producing the most structured and longest-lived Nebbiolos
What village in the Barolo is proven to have the least amount of calcium carbonate (limestone) in its soils? What does this mean for the style of Nebbiolo produced there?
La Morra, known for producing some of the most “elegant” Barolos.
Does Barolo or Barbaresco have a longer growing season? Why?
Barolo because it is farther away from the Tanaro River which brings in breezes and autumn mists that help to cool down the vineyards.
Does Barolo or Barbaresco have a more even growing season?
Barbaresco, because of its proximity to the Tanaro River which brings in breezes during the summer and cooling autumn mists allowing the grapes to become more uniformly ripe.
Where does the name “Barbaresco” derive from?
From the Latin “Barbarica Silva” which means “woods of the barbarians,” referring to the barbarians who took over the woods after the fall of Rome.
What grape is first to bud and last to ripen in the Piedmont?
Nebbiolo, the demanding bastard.
What exposure is preferred for Nebbiolo sites in the Piedmont?
South, southwestern, and southeastern to guarantee more sunshine to help with ripening (although global warming is putting this to the test)
What are the ideal altitude ranges for Nebbiolo in the Langhe? Why?
Between 250 and 450 meters, lower and there is a risk of Spring frosts, higher and it may be too cold to ripen fully
What producer was famously disinherited from his family in 1983 because he cut up all his father’s old botti with a chainsaw?
Elio Atare
What is streccatura?
Submerged cap method of skin-maceration that is the norm for Traditionalists in Barolo/Barbaresco
Which is larger: Barolo or Barbaresco?
Barolo (1,984 hectares / 4,902 acres under production)
Barbaresco (684 hectares / 1,690 acres)
What strict rules were implied by the Conzorzio for Barbaresco in 2007 regarding where Nebbiolo could/could not be planted?
- vineyards must be exclusively on hillsides
- NO planting on valley floors, in humid or damp terrain, on flatlands, or in areas without sufficient sunlight
- NO planting on Northern exposures
- vineyards cannot be over 550 meters above sea level
Barolo shares most of these, except for the altitude
What is the range of altitude for Barolo vineyards?
170 meters - 540 meters
What 3 provinces for are authorized to make Moscato d’Asti DOCG?
Asti (principally)
Cuneo
Alessandria
What is the difference between Moscato d’Asti DOCG and Asti DOCG?
Moscato d’Asti - no secondary fermentation required and max bar is 2
Asti must undergo Charmat method secondary fermentation
What important crus are in the commune of Barbaresco?
Ovello - largest Montefico Cavanna Cole Montestefano Secondine Paje Rabaja-Bas - smallest Muncagota Ronchi Faset Pora Asili Martinenga Rabaja Roncagliette Rio Sordo
What are notable crus of Neive?
Albesani Gallina San Cristoforo Basarin Serraboella
What are notable crus of Treiso?
Pajore Valeirano Giacosa Bricco di Treiso Meruzzano
Recommended producers of Moscato d’Asti
Palo Saracco
Michele Chiarlo “Nivole”
Vietti
What low altitude cru in La Morra is highly regarded for the quality of its soil?
Bricco Rocca
What cru in La Morra and Barolo has a huge reputation for high quality, and is famed for its soil, altitude and excellent exposures.
Cerequio
Which cru is shared between Barolo and La Morra,
hint:
Albeit small in size, it has a highly regarded reputation with southern exposures and excellent soils.
Brunate
producers:
Ceretto
Marcarini
Francesco Rinaldi
What is the highest cru in La Morra?
Clue: it supplied grapes for Bruno Giacosa’s Barolo Croera (only produced in 2004).
Serradenari
What are the 5 DOCG’s for Nebbiolo in the Piedmont?
Barolo Barbaresco Gattinara Ghemme Roero
What 3 subzones of Asti produce Moscato d’Asti DOCG?
Canelli
Strevi
Santa Vittoria d’Alba
What are the 11 Communes of Barolo
Barolo Castiglione Falletto Serralunga d'Alba Monforte d'Alba La Morra Diano d'Alba Novello Verduno Grinzane Cavour Cherasco Roddi
How many DOCGs and DOCs in Piedmont?
16 DOCGs and over 40 DOCs, more DOC than any other Italian region. Over half of the region’s production is at least at that quality.
Important DOC’s of Piemonte
Alba Barbera d'Alba Barbera del Monferrato Carema: Nebbiolo Dolcetto 'd Alba, Acqui, Asti, Ovada Langhe Monferrato Piemonte
What is Darmagi and why is it important to Barbaresco?
Darmagi is a Cabernet made by Angelo Gaja. It is important for Barbaresco because Gaja pulled up his Nebbiolo roots to plant Cab. This brought attention to the entire region because uprooting nebbiolo was unheard of.
Top vintages of Barolo and Barbaresco
82, 85, 88, 89, 90, 96, 98, 99, 00, 01, 04, 06, 2010. 2013
Name a flagship producer of Barolo Chinato.
Cappellano
What is Tonneaux and Botti?
Tonneaux is a small barrique and Botti is large cask that’s 1,000 liters or more.
Top Crus of Barolo commune
- Cannubi - controversially big one that is divided into further sub-crus (Marchesi di Barolo, Brezza)
- Sarmassa (Marchesi di Barolo, Brezza )
- Coste le Rose (Marchesi di Barolo, Bric Cenciurio)
- San Lorenzo
- Ravera
- Le Coste
- Castellero (Brezza)
- Cannubi Boschis (Luciano Sandrone)
