Piemonte Flashcards
What geographic features surround the Piemonte region?
The Apennines and the Alps.
What river flows eastward, cutting through the heart of Piemonte?
The Po River
Describe the climate of Piemonte?
Piemonte experiences a continental climate with a “rain shadow” effect provided by the Alps.
Although they can vary by specific mesoclimate, describe the soil of Piemonte.
Thinner, calcareous marl and sandstone soils with varying percentages of clay and sand.
What are the 3 major red varietals of Piemonte?
Nebbiolo
Barbera
Dolcetto
What is the most planted red grape of Piemonte?
Barbera
What is the most planted white grape of Piemonte?
Moscato Bianco
Mostly used in the production of sparkling wines of Asti.
What are the 2 most prestigious DOCGs in Piemonte?
Barolo and Barbaresco
What are the aging requirements for Barolo red wines?
38 months with 18 in oak
Barolo Riserva requires a total of 62 months
Describe the division in wine making between the “traditionalists” and the “modernists” of Barolo (and Barbaresco).
“Traditionalists” mostly age the wines in large neutral casks after extended macerations of 30-50 days requiring the consumer to cellar the wine for years before it was approachable.
“Modernists” embrace the use of barriques, shorter macerations, and a rounder style of wine.
Although Barolo is produced in 11 comunes, what 5 communes make up 90% of the DOCG’s demarcated land?
La Morra
Barolo
Serralunga d’Alba
Monforte d’Alba
Castiglione Falletto
What 3 towns produce the majority of the Nebbiolo wines in Barbaresco DOCG?
Barbaresco
Neive
Treiso
What are the aging requirements for Nebbiolo in the Barabersco DOCG?
Minimum of 2 years with 9 months in cask
Riserva requires a minimum of 4 years.
What similarities do Barolo and Barbaresco have with Burgundy?
The wines show similar aromatic richness
The Langhe has a similar climate
Emphasis on single vineyards and on domaine bottling
What is Barolo Chinato?
A DOCG aromatized wine that is flavored with quinine.
What grape is used to produce the fresh and floral white wines of Roero DOCG?
Arneis
List some other appelations of Barolo that produce Nebbiolo based red wines
Roero DOCG
Gattinara DOCG
Ghemme DOCG
Lessona DOC
Sizzano DOC
Carema DOC
What 3 DOCG’s in Barolo produce red wine from Barbera?
Barbera d’Asti
Barbera del Monferrato
Nizza
What are the aging requirements for Barbera d’Asti?
Barbera d’Asti may be released as normale after a 4 month aging period.
What are the aging requirements for Barbera del Monferrato?
Barbera del Monferrato must be superiore with 14 months of aging (6 in cask) prior to release.
Which DOCG in Barolo produces an aromatic red wine from the local Ruchè grape?
Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG
What are the 3 DOCG’s of Barolo that produce wine from 100% Dolcetto?
Dogliani DOCG
Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba DOCG
Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore DOCG
Gavi DOCG’s dry, mineral-tinged and generally still white wines are produced from what grape?
Cortese
What area is the largest producer of DOCG wines in Italy?
Asti DOCG
What grape is used to produce the frizzante/spumante wines of Asti?
Moscato Bianco
In Asti DOCG, where does secondary fermentation generally take place?
In stainless steel tanks using the Charmat Method.
What is the general alcohol level of Moscato d’Asti?
4.5% to 6.5%
Which DOCG of Barolo produces sparkling wine in the same style Champagne and Franciacorta?
Alta Langa DOCG
What grapes are used to produce the sparkling wines of Alta Langa DOCG?
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
What are the aging requirements of the sparkling wines of Alta Langa DOCG?
- Spumante* wines may not be released for 30 months after harvest
- Riserva* wines may not be released for 36 months.
What style of wine is produced from Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG?
Generally sparkling reds that are ususally sweet and suitable as a dessert accompaniment.
Among the 20 wine producing regions of Italy, which one ranks last in volume of production?
Valle d’Aosta
