Piemonte Flashcards
What are the most important geographical key points in Piedmont?
- Appenine Mountains
- Po River
- Tanaro River
- Langhe Hills
White Varieties in Piedmont
Moscato
Arneis
Cortese
Red Varieties in Piedmont
Nebbiolo
Barbera
Dolcetto
Brachetto
Spanna (local name for Nebbiolo in Gattinara and Ghemme)
What are the different soil types in Barolo?
- Tortonian Soils: high in calcerous marl - softer wines like La Morra, Barolo
- Serravallian Sandstone provides more structure (Monforte, Serralunga, Castiglione)
What are the aging requirements for Barolo?
38 months with minimum of 18 months in oak
Riserva: requires 62 months
What are the aginig requirements for Barbaresco?
26 months with minimum aging of 9 months in oak
Riserva: 52 Months
What are the top Barolo Vineyards?
- Cannubi
- Brunate
- Monprivato
Top Barbaresco Villages
- Ovello
- Montestefano
- Pora
- Asili
- Freisa
- Nieve
Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG
Off Dry, semi sparkling red wine from Brachetto
Alta Langa DOCG
Metodo Classico with 90% Pinot Nero and/or Chardonnay
Roero DOCG
Dry red from Nebbiolo
Roero Arneis DOCG
Dry whites from Arneis
Ghemme DOCG
Dry reds from Nebiollo - locally known as Spanna
Gattinara DOCG
Dry reds from Nebbiolo / Spanna
Sorì
best, privileged site
Vietti
- located in Castiglione Falletto
- Pioneering the single-vineyard botteling in Barolo (since 1950s)
- Alfredo Currardo (Luciana Viettis husband) = Father of Arneis
- Artist label since 1974
Giacomo Conterno
- Grandfather of the traditional Winemaking
- prolonging maceration, aging in large wooden botti
- also own Nervi Gattinara
Bruno Giacosa
- considered a traditionalist
- Comes up in the 60s
- Proves that Barbaresco can have the same intensity as Barolo
Ceretto
- Terroir Focused
- Sustainable Practices since early
- Modern Winemaking Techniques, while respecting tradition
- Diverse Portfolio
- Winery “Cascina di Castiglione” is known for its architecture
Luciano Sandrone
- aim of winemaking is to respect the traditions of Barolo while employing modern techniques
Elio Altare
- Founding Pioneer in the Modernist Movement
- shorter macerations, rotary fermenters, new french oak aging, organic methods
- Started changing everything when he came back from Burgundy and got disinherited from his father
- spent his life buying back the vineyards from his siblings
- now everything together again and his daughter Silvia leads the estate
Giuseppe Mascarello
- family winery was founded in 1881
- traditional approach but with new techniques, are experimenting with a prototype fermenter that reproduces long fermentation in a controlled manner
Gaja
- Iconic - innovative thinking
- responsible for Barrique aging practice in the 70s
- planted the regions first CS, Chardonnay and SB in 2000s
- Pioneer for single vineyard wines
La Spinetta
- Spinetta means Top of the Hill
- Made Italy’s first single vineyard Moscato
- No chemicals in the vineyard
Produttori del Barbaresco
- Co-Op founded by the towns priest to help small producers
- greatest coop in the world
- currently 50 members
- In the best vintages they produce single cru wines from their nine holdings
Best Vintages for Barolo
2016
2013
2010
2008
2006
2004
2001
1999
1997
Best Vintages for Barbaresco
2019
2016
2015
2013
2010
2008
2007
2004
2001
1999
1996
1990
Traditionalist vs Modernist Styles
Traditionals: long maceration (30 to 40 days on the skins), skins fully submerged
Modernists: less extraction, steel fermentations, shorter aging and french barrique
In general, return to the traditional style
What was the last admitted DOCG?
Canelli in 2023
Why does Nebbiolo excel in Gattinara and Ghemme DOCG?
- subalpine climate
- southern exposure
- fast-draining glacial and porphyry soils
- soil of volcanic origin, with more acid than in the Langhe
Elevation of Barbaresco Vineyards?
150 to 350 müM
500 müM official maximum
What does Bric or Bricco mean?
Term used for specific and distinguished sites
What are five key villages in Barolo?
- Serralunga d’Alba
- La Morra
- Castiglione
- Barolo
- Monforte d’Alba
List all DOCG’s of Piemonte
- Barolo DOCG – Famous for powerful red wines made from the Nebbiolo grape.
- Barbaresco DOCG – Also based on Nebbiolo, producing slightly more elegant red wines compared to Barolo.
- Gattinara DOCG – A Nebbiolo-based red wine from northern Piedmont.
- Ghemme DOCG – Another Nebbiolo-based red wine from northern Piedmont.
- Roero DOCG – Known for red wines from Nebbiolo and white wines from Arneis.
- Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba (Diano d’Alba) DOCG – Focuses on red wines from the Dolcetto grape.
- Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore (Ovada) DOCG – Produces Dolcetto-based red wines.
- Dogliani DOCG – A region known for rich red wines made from Dolcetto.
- Barbera d’Asti DOCG – Produces red wines primarily from the Barbera grape.
- Barbera del Monferrato Superiore DOCG – Another Barbera-based red wine, from the Monferrato area.
- Nizza DOCG – A subregion of Barbera d’Asti, producing premium Barbera wines.
- Brachetto d’Acqui (Acqui) DOCG – Known for sweet and sparkling red wines made from the Brachetto grape.
- Gavi (Cortese di Gavi) DOCG – Focuses on white wines made from the Cortese grape.
- Asti DOCG – Produces sweet and sparkling white wines made from the Moscato grape, including Asti Spumante and Moscato d’Asti.
- Alta Langa DOCG – Produces traditional method sparkling wines from Pinot Nero and Chardonnay.
- Ruche di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG – Known for aromatic red wines from the Ruche grape.
- Erbaluce di Caluso (Caluso) DOCG Produces white wines from the Erbaluce grape, including still, sparkling, and passito styles.
Current Vintage of Brunello
2019
Prices vary from 120 to 200$
