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
Besides Moscato Bianco (Muscat a Petit Grains), name four other white grapes grown in the region of Piedmont in diminishing order of importance.
Cortese
Arneis
Erbaluce
Favorita (Vermentino)
Besides the trio of major Piedmontese red grapes Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, and Barbera, what are 6 other lesser known indigenous red grapes?
Brachetto
Grignolino
Ruche
Croatina
Vespolina
Freisa
Vermentino
Synonym in Piedmont
Favorita
Barolo
Aging Requirements
- Barolo: 38 mo 18 mo oak, Nov 1
- Barolo Riserva: 62 mo total, 18 mo oak, Nov 1
Prior to 2010, what were the aging requirements for Barolo?
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
La Morra and Barolo
Main soil
Tortonian soils
- Higher proportion of calcareous marl
- Provide a softer style of wine
Nebbiolo based DOCGs of Piedmont
- Barolo
- Barbaresco
- Ghemme
- Gattinara
- Roero
Barolo and Barbaresco
Province
Cuneo
- South of the Tanaro River
Nebbiolo based DOCs of Piedmont
- Langhe - surrounds Barolo/Barbaresco
- Carema - near the border of Valle d’Aosta
- Lessona - near Ghemme/Gattinara
- Sizzano - near Ghemme/Gattinara
Largest producing DOCG in Italy
Asti
- 650,000 hl annually
Asti/Moscato d’Asti
Common method of secondary fermentation
Charmat Method
DOCG based on the high-acid, herbal scented Erbaluce grape
Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG
- Still, spumante, passito
Gattinara DOCG and Ghemme DOCG
River
Sesia River
Gattinara DOCG
Varietal Requirement
- min 90% Spanna
- max 10% comb Bonarda di Gattinara and Vespolina (Vespolina cannot exceed 4%)
Gattinara DOCG est 1990
Aging Requirement
- Gattinara: min 35 mo, including 24 mo wood, Nov 1
- Gattinara Riserva: 47 mo, including 36 mo wood, Nov 1
vs Ghemm: 34 mo, 18 mo, Riserva 46 mo, 24 mo
Ghemme
Varietal Requirement
Uva Rara (Bonarda Novarese)
- min 85% Spanna (Nebbiolo)
- max 15% Uva Rara
- Red only
Ghemme DOCG 1997
Aging Requirement
- Ghemme: min 34 mo, 18 mo wood, 6 mo btl, Nov 1
- Ghemme Rieserva: min 46 mo, 24 mo wood, 6 mo btl, Nov 1
Barbera d’Ast DOCG
vs Barberea del Monferrato Superiore DOCG
Aging Requirements
-
Barbera d’Ast DOCG: 4 mo
- Barbera d’Asti Superiore 14 mo, 6 mo wood
- Barberea del Monferrato Superiore DOCG: 14 mo, 6 mo wood
Nizza DOCG
Aging Requirement
- Nizza: min 18 mo, 6 mo oak, Jan 1
- Nizza Risevra: 30 mo, 12 mo oak, Jan 1
All 3 Dolcetto superiore DOCG Aging Requirements
all 3 superiore DOCG are min 10 mo
Dolcetto DOCG that may include menzioni geografiche aggiuntive
Diano d’Alba DOCG
- 75 sorí are classified as superior exposures
Alta Langa DOCG est 2011
Aging Requirement
- Spumante: min 9 mo lees (per EU), min 30 mo total
- Spumante Riserva: min 9 mo lees (per EU) min 36 mo total
- Must be Vintage dated
