Piemonte Flashcards

1
Q

What 2 countries border the northwestern region of Piemonte, Italy?

A
  1. France
  2. Switzerland
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2
Q

What is the climate of Piemonte, Italy?

A

Continental

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3
Q

The name Piemonte (or Piedmont), refers to the foothills of which mountain range in Italy?

A

The Alps

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4
Q

Which 2 mountain ranges can be found in Piemonte, Italy?

A
  1. Apennine Mountains
  2. The Alps

The Alps provide a rain shadow for Piemonte.

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5
Q

What are the 2 rivers that flow through Piemonte, Italy?

A
  1. Pò River
  2. Tanaro River
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6
Q

Fill in the blank.

The wine growing areas of Barolo and Barbaresco are located in the _______ Hills.

A

Langhe Hills

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7
Q

What are the 3 main white grape varieties grown in Piemonte, Italy?

A
  1. Moscato
  2. Arneis
  3. Cortese
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8
Q

What are the 4 main red grape varieties grown in Piemonte, Italy?

A
  1. Nebbiolo
  2. Barbera
  3. Dolcetto
  4. Brachetto
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9
Q

What are the 2 Nebbiolo-based DOCGs that are produced in the hills north of the Pò River?

A
  1. Gattinara
  2. Ghemme
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10
Q

What is the local name for Nebbiolo in Gattinara and
Ghemme?

A

Spanna

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11
Q

What are the names of the 2 main soil types found in Barolo?

A
  1. Tortonian
  2. Serravallian (Helvetian)
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12
Q

Describe Tortonian soils and in which 2 communes you typically find them.

A

Tortonian soils contain a higher proportion of calcareous marl which characterize the vineyards of La Morra and Barolo, and provide a softer style of wine.

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13
Q

Describe Serravallian soils and in which 3 communes you’re more likely to find them.

A

Serravallian soils are sandstone soils that are more common in Monforte d’Alba, Serralunga d’Alba, and Castiglione Falletto, and they supply more structure in the wine.

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14
Q

Select the correct answer.

All Barolo and Barbaresco must be aged in:

a. only stainless steel for a short time
b. only oak for longer aging

A

b. only oak for longer aging

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15
Q

What are the aging requirements for Barolo DOCG?

A
  • 38 months total aging
  • at least 18 of those 38 months must be in oak, whether it’s new barriques or large, neutral barrels
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16
Q

What are the aging requirements of Barbaresco DOCG?

A
  • 26 months total aging
  • at least 9 of those 26 months must be in oak, whether it’s new barriques or large, neutral barrels
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17
Q

In Piemonte, Italy, what are the 3 wine classifications from highest to lowest?

A
  1. DOCG
  2. DOC
  3. IGP
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18
Q

Besides Barolo and Barbaresco, name 3 other DOCGs for still wine found in Piemonte, Italy.

A
  1. Moscato d’Asti DOCG
  2. Gavi DOCG
  3. Barbera d’Asti DOCG
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19
Q

TRUE or FALSE:

Barolo and Barbaresco must be a minimum 85% Nebbiolo and blended with a maximum 15% Corvina.

A

False

Barolo and Barbaresco are always 100% Nebbiolo.

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20
Q

Describe the style of Moscato d’Asti DOCG and name the grape used to make it.

A

Off-dry, semi-sparkling white wine made from the Moscato grape variety.

21
Q

Describe the style of Gavi DOCG and the grape used to make it.

A

Dry white wines made from the Cortese grape variety.

22
Q

Describe the style of Barbera d’Asti DOCG and the grape used to make it.

A

Dry red wines made from the Barbera grape variety.

23
Q

Which Piemonte DOCG is situated south/east of the Tanaro River?

A

Barbaresco

24
Q

Identify where Barolo and Barbaresco are on the map.

(Which colors are they?)

A
  • Barolo is red
  • Barbaresco is grey
25
Q

Name 3 top Barolo vineyards.

A
  1. Cannubi
  2. Brunate
  3. Monprivato
26
Q

In which Barolo commune are Brunate and Cannubi?

A

Barolo

27
Q

In which Barolo commune is Monprivato?

A

Castiglione Falletto

28
Q

Name 4 top Barbaresco vineyards.

A
  1. Ovello
  2. Montestefano
  3. Pora
  4. Asili
29
Q

Stylistically, what are the similarities and differences between Moscato d’Asti and Asti?

A

Similarity:

  • same grape: Moscato

Differences:

  • Moscato d’Asti = sweeter than Asti, frizzante
  • Asti = off-dry, spumante, can also be made metodo classico
30
Q

What style of wine is made in Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG?

A

Off-dry, semi-sparkling red wine from the grape Brachetto.

31
Q
  • What style of wine is made in Alta Langa DOCG?
  • What are the grapes used?
A
  • Metodo Classico sparkling wines.
  • Min. combined 90% Pinot Noir and/or Chardonnay.
32
Q
  • What style of wines are made in Roero DOCG?
  • From what grape variety?
A

Dry red wines from the Nebbiolo grape variety.

33
Q
  • What is the style of wine made in Roero Arneis DOCG?
  • What is the grape used?
A

Dry white wines from the grape variety Arneis.

34
Q

When people speak about Barolo or Barbaresco, sometime you’ll hear the words “Normale,” or “Riserva.”

What does ‘Normale’ mean?

A

‘Normale’ (pronounced nor-MAH-lay) is a term used for any non-Riserva bottlings; it translates to a house’s “entry level” Barolo or Barbaresco.

Think of ‘Normale’ as village level Burgundy.

35
Q

What is local name of fog rolling off the foothills of the Alps?

A

Nebbia

36
Q

In Barbarescso, what is a Sorì?

A

Best site

(or a privileged site)

37
Q

Give 7 examples of top Barolo producers.

A
  1. Vietti
  2. Giacomo Conterno
  3. Bruno Giacosa
  4. Ceretto
  5. Sandrone
  6. Elio Altare
  7. Giuseppe Mascarello

Note the repeat of Vietti, Giacosa, and Ceretto in Barbaresco.

38
Q

Give 6 examples of top Barbaresco producers.

A
  1. Gaja
  2. La Spinetta
  3. Produttori del Barbaresco
  4. Vietti
  5. Bruno Giacosa
  6. Ceretto

Note the repeat of Vietti, Giacosa, and Ceretto in Barolo.

39
Q

Describe briefly the vintages of Barolo from 2009-2014.

A
  • 2009 - irregular quality; wet July, hot and dry August, though none show prune-like flavors
  • 2010 - classic/legendary vintage showing great balance
  • 2011 - hot year but the wines don’t show overripe thanks to the cool nights, drink on the sooner side
  • 2012 - overall a light vintage but with several excellent wines at the top level
  • 2013 - not quite as good as the 2010s but close, they are maturing slowly
  • 2014 - cool vintage with hail which decreased crop size
40
Q

Describe briefly the vintages of Barolo from 2015-2019.

A
  • 2015 - hottest vintage on record to date, though grapes were healthy
  • 2016 - excellent vintage with firmer tannins than 2015, yields higher than average
  • 2017 - not widely seen as a great vintage, it’s good for short-term drinking (heatwave vintage)
  • 2018 - cooler growing season yielded fresh, open wines
  • 2019 -considered a very good year with several peaks of excellence, it’s a vintage for long-term aging
41
Q

Describe briefly the vintages of Barbarbesco from 2009-2014.

A
  • Very much the same as Barolo with the exceptions of 2011 and 2014.
  • Barolo fared better in 2011 (Barolo was warmer) but Barbaresco fared better in 2014 (Barbaresco was warmer due to its lower elevation).
42
Q

Describe briefly the vintages of Barbarbesco from 2015-2019.

A

Very much the same as Barolo.

43
Q

When people talk about “Traditional vs. Modernist” Barolo and Barbaresco styles, what are they talking about?

A

Generally, it’s new oak that’s the sticking point.

  • Traditional producers use large, neutral barrels which don’t impart any new oak flavors.
  • Modernist producers use some smaller oak barrels, a percentage of which are new, which impart oak flavors on the wine.
44
Q

Tannins on Barolo and Barbaresco are almost always high.

What kind of foods do you pair with high tannin wines?

A

High tannins require meat or fat.

45
Q

Are Barolo and Barbaresco meant for short-term or long-term aging?

A

Long-term aging

Tannins, acidity, and concentration allow these wines to age for decades.

46
Q

Name 2 producers who bottle Cannubi.

A
  • Burlotto
  • Giacomo Fenocchio
47
Q

Which producer is most famous for bottling Monprivato?

A

Giuseppe Mascarello

48
Q

Name 2 producers who bottle Brunate.

A
  1. Oddero
  2. Francesco Rinaldi