Piemonte Flashcards
Study
Piemonte Major White Grapes
Moscato Bianco
(Muscat Blanc á Petit Grains), Arneis
Piemonte Major Red Grapes
Nebbiolo, Barbera,
Dolcetto
Piemonte Minor White Grapes
: Cortese, Erbaluce,
Vermentino (Favorita), many
international varieties
Piemonte Minor Red Grapes
Brachetto, Grignolino,
Ruchè, Croatia, Vespolina, Fresia,
international varieties
Geology of Piemonte
Surrounded by the Alps and the
Apennine mountains on three sides
that provide a rain shadow effect.
Major Bodies of Water
Po river,
Tanaro river, some influence from
the Ligurian sea.
Location of Piemonte
Piemonte is located in the
northwestern part of Italy, to the
North is the border of Switzerland, to
the west is the border of France.
Soil of Piemonte
alluvial in the plains, calcareous marl, sandstone, clay, and sand in various
vineyards. Barolo has Tortonian (calcareous marl) and Helvetian (sandstone) soils.
Terroir of Piemonte
Most high-quality vineyards are planted foothills of the mountains and have
varying aspects but the best usually face south (sori).
Climate of Piemonte
Cold continental with influences by the mountains, warmish summers, and
cold winters. The southern portion of the region has influences from the Ligurian
Sea and a more temperate climate. Hail is a worry in the fall.
Regional History 1
Originally planted with vines by the Romans.
17th Century: First note of Chiaretto, a wine made entirely from Nebbiolo.
1830: Barolo is created as a style of Nebbiolo.
Regional History 2
Late 1800s: Phylloxera hist Piemonte, causes higher quality vines to be replanted
(Nebbiolo instead of Barbera).
1894: Barbaresco is created.
Angelo Gaja
Angelo Gaja begins experimenting with French winemaking techniques,
starting the modernization of Barbaresco and Piemonte in general.
Lange Consorzio 2007
The Langhe Consorzio makes the crus of Barbaresco officially Menzioni
geografiche aggiuntive, or official designations. Barolo follows in 2010.
Oak in Red Wine
Red wines are usually in some style of oak, either large neutral foudre, or in new French barriques.
Barolo and Barbaresco Traditionalists vs Modernists
Traditionalists, who favor longer macerations and large old oak aging (Giacomo Conterno, Bartolo Mascarello, Giuseppe Rinaldi, Bruno Giacosa) and the modernists, who prefer shorter macerations, and new oak aging (Paolo
Scavino, Luciano Sandrone, Elio Altare, Angelo Gaja).
How many DOCG’s and DOC’s in Piemonte
18 DOCGs and 41 DOCs
Vigna
indicates a single vineyard
Sori
term for a top, south-facing site
Menzioni geografiche aggiuntive
geographical designations (crus) of Barbaresco and Barolo
“Vendemmia tardiva
late harvest wines
Barolo DOCG
reds only from 100% Nebbiolo, aging: 38 months total, 18 months in wood;
Riserva: 62 months total, 18 months in wood.
Barbaresco DOCG
reds only from 100% Nebbiolo, aging: 26 months total, 9 months in wood;
Riserva: 50 months total, 9 months in wood.
Roero DOCG
reds from Nebbiolo, whites and sparkling from Arneis. Can be Riserva.
Gattinara DOCG
reds from Nebbiolo, can be Riserva
Ghemme DOCG
reds from Nebbiolo, can be Riserva
Barbera d’Asti DOCG
reds from Barbera, can be Superiore, and Superiore con indicazione
della sottozona (with indication of subzone).
Barbera del Monferrato Superiore DOCG
reds from Barbera, can be single vineyard “vigna.”
Nizza DOCG: reds from Barbera, can be Riserva and “vigna.”
Ruchè di Castagole Monferrato DOCG
red wines from Ruchè, can be Riserva
Dogliani, Dolcetto d’Ovada Superiore, Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba DOCGs
all for red wines
from Dolcetto.
Gavi DOCG
whites from Gavi, still dry white, frizzante, and fully sparkling. Can be Riserva
Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG
still dry, sparkling, sweet (passito), and sweet sparkling from
Erbaluce.Arnad-Montjovet, Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle, Chambave, Donnas, Enfer
d’Arvier, Nus, and Torrette
Moscato d’Asti and Asti DOCGs
dry sparkling (Asti, fermented by Charmat method), semisparkling (Moscato d’Asti), and late harvest “vendemmia tardiva.
Alta Langa DOCG
Fully sparkling white and rosé wines made in the traditional method
from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Brachetto d’Aqui DOCG
Rosato and red sweet slightly sparkling wines from Brachetto.
Major Piemonte Villages
Alba, Asti, Turin
5 main communes of Barolo
Barolo, Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga d’Alba, Monforte
d’Alba, La Morra
3 main communes of Barbaresco
Barbaresco, Neive, Treiso
Major Vineyards of Barolo
Rive, Roche dell’Annunziata, Arborina, La Serra, Sarmassa, Brunate, Cannubi, Bussia,
Castelletto, Ginestra, Monprivato, Villero, Fiasco, Falletto.
Major Vineyards of Barbaresco
Ovello, Montefico, Montestefano, Secondine (houses Gaja’s San Lorenzo), Pajè,
Ronchi, Faset, Martinega, Rabajà, Roncagliette (houses Gaja’s Sori Tildin and Costa Russi),
Gallina, Serraboella
