Piemonte Flashcards
CATA
How many hectares are cultivated in Piemonte?
45.000
Is it the first region in Italy in surface?
No, the first one is sicily
How many DOCG, DOC and IGT are in Piemonte?
17 DOCG
42 DOC
0 IGT
Were the Piemonte wines famous amongst romans?
No
How many unique varieties does the Piemonte has
20 unique varieties
Are international varieties important in Piemonte?
No
Which where the first tribes in Piemonte around 1000 BC
Taurini
Salasi
From who both Taurini and Salasi learnt about winemaking?
From Etruscans
What did happen with Taurasi ans Salesi around 400 BC?
The celitics and together they confronted Rome
Name 5 cities founded by Romans
Ivrea
Asti
Alba
Novara
Vercelli
Did the Barbarian Invasions afffected the Piemonte region?
Not so much
What kind of organization occured when the Lombards entered in the VI to Piemonte?
There is a division un duchies and counties
Marquisates (Montferrato and Saluzzo)
City states (Asti, Alessandria, Novara)
What does happen in Piemonte after the arrival of the Lombards in the VI?
In the VIII the Franks appear bringing the Holy Roman Empire
Who managed the middle age viticulture
Catholic monks
Which city was considered as the most advanced in the middle ages
Montferrato
Which were the the first varieties in appprear in Piemonte?
Nebbiolo
Moscato
What important marriage did occur in 1045?
Oddone Count of Savoy
Adelaide de Susa Marquise of Torino
What did happed in the XVIII in Piemonte?
Savoia acquired most of NW of Italy transforming the Duchy of Savoya in the KIngdom of Serdegna
After the Napoleon defeat in 1815 it takes Italy what important movement? Who was on the of the main actors?
The Risorgimiento
KIngdom of Serdegna Prime Minister CAVOUR
When is founded the Kingdom of Italy?
1861
Which cities became aroun 1872 as centers of monitoring and experimentation in the Piemonte?
Asti and Gattinara
When was founded in 1855?
Oenological schol of Alba
In which order did the pests come?
- Oidium
- Phyloxera
- Mildew
Amongst what altitudes are stiuated most of vineyards in Piemonte?
Between 150 and 400 msnm
What can you say about the other cultive in Piemonte?
RICE
Piemonte is the largest producer in Italy
The type arborio
Vercelli has several ruce fields
Which is the orographic frame that closes Piemonte?
North : Alps
South : Ligurian apenines and maritime alps
West : Alps
Which is the % of the ring of mountains, hills and flat plains in the piemonte?
Mountains 43%
Hills 30%
Flat 27% (the upper part of the Pianura Padana), Plains of Novara and Planis of Vercelli
Is there any intermediate mountains to the West?
No.
There are just clusters of mountains.
Important cities of Montferrato, Langhe and Roero, Novara and Vercelli and the Hills of Tortona
Montferrato: Asti and Alessandria
Langhe and Roero Cuneo
Novara and Vercelli Novara and Vercelli
Hills of Tortona Alessandria
Name the tributaries of the Po River to the north and to the south
North
Ticino, Sesia, Dora Baltea, Dora Riparia
South
Tanaro
Bormida
How can be defined the climate in Piemonte?
When are snow, fogs and hail common
Continental with several microclimates and macroclimates
Snow : common in winter
Fogs common in autum and winter
Hail late summer - early autum (Langhe, Montferrato)
Which is the average Temperature in
Piemonte?
12°C
(13°C to the south)
Why is the rain limited?
Where is the highest level of rain found?
Due to the shadow effect of the Alps (500-600 mm in Cuneo and Montferrato)
Highest: South piemonte (900 - 1200)
Albugnano DOC
Piemonte DOC
Barbera d’Asti DOC
Cortese dell’Alto Montferrato
Dolcetto d’Asti DOC
Freisa d’Asti DOC
Loazzolo DOC
Malvasia del Castelnuovo Don Bosco
Ruche de Castiglione Montferrato
Which are the most famous grapes of Piemonte (70% of the production)
Dolcetto
Nebbiolo
Barbera
Moscato Bianco
Namer the secondary 10 grape varieties of Piemonte
Freisa
Brachetto
Girngolino
Croatina
Malvasia di Scheriano
Malvasia di Casorzo
Ruché
Uva Rara
Vespolina
Which is the most planted grape variety and where it is more common?
BARBERA
Asti
Alessandria
Which is the most prestigiuos grape variety in the whole Piemonte?
NEBBIOLO
Barolo and Barbaresco
Langhe Nebbiolo
Nebbiolo d’Alba
Roero
Gattinara
Gheme
Carema
Which is the “nd most popular grape variety in the Piemonte?
Moscato Bianco
Popular for the Asti DOCG
Which is the very expressive grape variety in GAVI DOCG
The Cortese Grape
Where can be located the origin of the Barbera grape?
At the hills of Montferrato in XVII XVIII
Why after phyloxera the producers loved the Barbera Grape?
Because of its productivity
What did happen with the everyday barbera wine (with dolcetto) in the 80 s ?
Started to be:
. late harvested
. aging in new oak¨
. low yields
. acquired aging potential
Is the Barbera eraly or late rippener?
Late rippener
Descritpion of the Barbera grape in acidity, tannins and fruit
. High acidity
. Low tannins
. Cherry fruit
Why are the dolcetto graped called “dolcetto”?
It is the sweetness of the grape when harvested
Where is the dolcetto grape native of?
where is most commonly planted?
Dogliani
Planted in higher or cool places
How does the dolcetto grape rippen compared to barbera and nebbiolo?
It ripens earlier
Descriptors of the dolcetto grape
Deep Colour
Black fruit (ripe, plum, almonds, licquorice)
Tannins
Bitter finish
What kind of soils the Nebbiolo grape loves?
Calcareous marls
Which is the oldest reference for Nebbiolo grape and why it is called Nebbiolo
First reference XIII
Nebbiolo is because the fogs when harvesting
How is the nebbiolo grape about the budding and ripening?
Early budding
Late ripener (difficult to ripe this is why the growers look for south facing and well exposed slopes)
Name early nebbiolo descriptoirs
Ruby - garnet (orange with age)
Red cherry
Rose - violet
Tar
Licquorice
Under bush
Perfume and finesse
Name descriptors for aged nebbiolo
Dried red fruits
Whitered rose petals
Sweet spices
Leather
Truffles
Which are the caracteristics structural descriptors of the Nebbiolo in the palate?
Acid
Tannins
Alcohol
Extracts and flavour concentration
Different Nebbiolo biotypes
Lampia main biotype, highly planted , most reliable
Michet virused fro Lampia
Bolla lesser quality
Rosea distinct variety
Is theFreisa variety also and old one?
Where is it commonly planted?
Yes, it comes from the 16th but lost popularity in front of Dolcetto and Barbera
Usually found at Asti, Langhe and Torino
Which are the organoleptic descriptors of the Freisa variety?
High tannins
High acidity
Wild strawberry - raspberry
Shows bitterness but a sweet finish
It can be dry or sweet.
frizzante or spumante
Which other very old variety was popular with the freisa?
Gringolino
Where does the gringolino name come from?
From gringole which is the name for the pip of the grape
Organolpetic descriptors for the gringolino grape
. Pale red
. Flowers - Red berries
. Pepper - Herbs
. High tannins, high acidity
. Light bodied, light alcohol
Where is the brachetto variety original from?
From Acquiterme (Alessandria)
The brachetto grape is the red equivalent of what grape?
Moscato bianco (redfrizzi and sparkling)
Some notes about the pelaverga piccolo
It is from Pelaverga di Verduno (Langhe) a grape almost forgotten but recovered in the ‘80
It is fruited, spiced with refreshing acidity
Some notes about the ruchè variety
Aroun Castiglinone (Asti)
Perfumed, roses, red fruit, spices
Notes about the Moscato Biando Grape
Es la famosa muscat blanc a petit grains.
It is the most planted since used for Moscato d’Asti and Asti Spumante
Notes of orange blossom, stone fruit, citrus, honey, musk
What do you know about the Cortese grape?
Very productive. Yields must be controlled.
Famous in GAVI DOCG
Refreshing acidity, minerality, lemon Zest
Which is the grape known for having difficult personality also named *the white Nebbiolo**?
Give some characteristics
Arneis Since it is difficult to ripe and its acidity can fall suddenly.
Known since the XV and native from Roero Hills. almost lost.
Recovered by Bruno Giacosa and Vietti (gre
at Barolo and Barbaresco producer)
Medium to Full body, perfumed, complex, white flowers, stone fruit, ripe pear
Where is the Erbaluce found?
Close to Caluso from XVII.
Thick skin and high acidity. It is used for the passitos
When dry is floral, apple and citrus
Notes about the timorasso grape
It is a very ancient grape fround around the hills of Tortona
Good for aging
After the phyloxera it was replaced by more productive grapes as cortese.
In the ‘80 it had almost dissapeared when it was recovered by Walter Massa
High acid, mineral, floral, citrus , honey, creaminess
Which are the properties that a variety has to have to produce passitos
High Acidity
Thick skins
What is the % of red wines produced in Piemonte?
60%
What is the % od wines produced under DOC or DOCG in Piemonte?
90%
Which are the most important cities on wine production in Piemonte?
Alba and Asti
Talking about the high densitiy of plantations in Piemonte, how many hectares has an average familiy state producer?
1 or 2 has
Where does the word VERMOUTH come from?
Wormwood or absenta from the German Wermuth
Created in 1786 by Antonio Benedetto Carpano
Originally produced with Moscato Bianco
Which are the pimemonte subregions?
Northern Piemonte
Nebbiolo, Vercelli, Biella
Nebbiolo, Erbaluce
Western Piemonte and Torini Hills
Foothill of Alps
Alba
Hills og Langhe, Hills og Roero
Nebbiolo
Montferrato
Asti and Alessandria
Barbera, Moscato Bianco
How is it called the nebbiolo grape in Piemonte?
Spanna
Geographical description of Novara and Vercelli Hills
. Altitude
. Important topographic element
. Borders with other regions
. Soils and subsoils origin
. Soils composition
. Which river divides east and west the region
. Borders Lomnbardia
. Altitude : 200 - 500 msnm
. Moraines link between Alps and the plain
Origin of soils : glacial, marine, volcanic
Origin of subsoils volcanic and granitic
The region is divided by SEsia river between East (Novara) and West (Vercelli)
Climate in Piemonte
. Which are the climate moderators?
. More moderated than the hot Po plain
. Received cool winds from Alps
Which was the training system before and today?
Pergola before
Guyot today
What is the final result of the cool winds from Alps.
How do they deal with it?
In the north, is more difficult to acheve maturity for the Nebbiolo
The nebbiolo is softened with vespolina, croatina and uva rara
First Notes about GATTINARA DOCG
One of the most prestigious DOC of Piemonte
100 has of the best natural exposition of all Piemonte
Exports since XIV
In XVI was introduced in the Court of Charles V by Cardinal Mercurino Arborio
In 1990 passed from DOC to DOCG
Soils of Gattinara DOCG
DEscomposed volcanic porphyric subsoil
Where was the Gattinara vineyard planted?
On the Sesia river between 250 - 550 msnm between Gattinara and Vercelli
Which are the most prestigious
Which are the most prestigious Gattinara´single vineyards
. Osso san Grato
. San Francesco
. Castelle
. Molsino
. Valferana
Which are the disciplinare requeriments for Gattinara?
35 months (24 in oak) 3524
47 months (36 in oak) 4736
Descriptors for Gasttinara DOCG
Violets, redberry, tar, spices, forest floor, leather
high tannins, high acidity
Which are the differences between the Langhe and Gattinara´s nebbiolos?
Lighter color and body
More acid
Lower alcohol
Charactaristics of Ghemme DOCG
Which are the soils?
Which are the minimum nebboilo’s content in Ghemme?
Created in 1997
Alluvial and glacial soils
85% Nebbiolo
15% (vespolina, uva rara)
Aging disciplinare requeriments for Ghemme DOCG
34 months (18 in oak) 3418
46 months (24 oak) 4624
Which are the diffeences between Gattinara and Ghemme DOCG nebbiolo´s?
Ghemme ones are more austere and sturdy than Gattinara ones
Characteristics of Lessona DOC
Types of soil
Minimum 85% nebbiolo
15% (vespolina/uva rara)
Soils of marine origin (both acidic and mineral rich sands) which gives a mineral caracter to the wine
Great potential
Description of Bramaterra DOC
Difference in soils
Nebbiolo must be a maximum of 50-80% blend
Up to 30% croatina
Up to 20 % uva rara /vespolina
List the appelations on the west side of the Sesia river
Gattinara, Lessona and Bramaterra
List appelations on west bank of Sesia river
Boca, Fara, Sizzano, Vallia Ossolane, Coline Novaresi
Which is the main differnce between the Sesia river west banks and the east one?
West bank ha slower minimum % of Nebbiolo and are more affordables
Notes about Boca DOC and its difference with Fara DOC
Boca is in the north, soils of volcanic origin and it is more structured.
Name the minor appelattions of Novara and Vercelli Hills
Valli Ossolane
Coline Novaresi
Coste delle Sesia
Wines of Valli Ossolane DOC
Red of Nebbiolo, Croatina and Merlot
Whites of Chardonnay
Which are the east and west Sesia bank fall back appelations?
East :
Colline Novaresi DOC
Reds based on nebbiolo
Whites 100% Erbaluce
Single varietals of Nebbiolo, Barbera, Uva Rara
West:
Coste delle Sesia
White : *Coste delle Sesia Bianco DOC** 100% of Erbaluce
Single varietals: Nebbiolo, Croatina, VEspolina
Major features of the Canavese region
It is at the foothills of the Alps, just following the Valle d’Aosta along the Ivrea Glacial Basin.
It is disected in two by the Dora Baltea river :
. Canavese: Carema DOC (Nebbiolo)
Erbaluce di Caluso (Passito)
Notes on Carema DOC
Simmilar to what other italian region is Carema?
Based on which grape?
Which is the dominant geographich element?
And the soils?
Simmilar to Valle d’Aosta
Nebbiolo (vino de montagna)
Monte Maletto (300-700 msnm) with **glacial deposits of metamorphic schists
Which is the traditional training system in the Carema DOC?
A pergola called TOPIA made with two pillars (or pillum) and a chestnut horizontal trunk.
Which are the minumum varietal and aging requieriments in Carema DOC?
Minimum 85% Nebbiolo
24 months (12 oak) 2412
Riserva
36 months (12 oak) 3612
Descriptors for the nebbiolo Carema DOC
Fragant, violets, high acidity, mineral, lightbody
Notes of Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG
Adapted to what type of soils?
Famous for its passito white
Adapted to sandy, gravely and acidic soils.
In which styles the Erbaluce di Caluso is produced?
Dry : acidic and mineral. Floral aromas.
Sparkling
Sweet : passito: air dried. slightly oixidized