Piemonte / Grape Varieties Flashcards

1
Q

Which 3 grapes has Piemonte built its reputation on?

A

Nebbiolo, Barbera and Moscato Bianco

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2
Q

Do red or white grapes dominate Piemonte’s vineyard?

A

red varieties (2/3 of all plantings)

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3
Q

What is the most widely planted grape?

A

Barbera (30%)

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4
Q

Where is Barbera planted?

A

throughout entire region; stronghold in Asti and Alessandria provinces

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5
Q

What is the 3rd most planted variety?

A

Dolcetto

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6
Q

Where is Dolcetto mostly planted?

A

Langhe and southern hills of Monferrato

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7
Q

How many DOC/Gs are dedicated to Dolcetto?

A

7

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8
Q

What are the Dolcetto DOCGs?

A

Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore DOCG / Ovada DOCG
Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba DOCG
Dogliani DOCG

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9
Q

What are the Dolcetto DOCs?

A

Dolcetto d’Alba DO
Dolcetto d’Asti DOC
Dolcetto d’Acqui DOC
Dolcetto di Ovada DOC

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10
Q

Which variety has the greatest reputation?

A

Nebbiolo

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11
Q

What are the 2 most prestigious Nebbiolo appellations?

A

Barolo and Barbaresco

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12
Q

Which 8 appellations have Nebbiolo as their primary variety?

A

Barolo, Barbaresco, Carema, Gattinara, Ghemme, Langhe Nebbiolo, Nebbiolo d’Alba, and Roero

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13
Q

What is the second most planted variety in Piemonte?

A

Moscato Bianco

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14
Q

Which variety is planted in Gavi DOCG?

A

Cortese (white)

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15
Q

Which 4 varieties represent 70% of all plantings in Piemonte?

A

Barbera, Moscato Bianco, Dolcetto and Nebbiolo

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16
Q

Which varieties were mostly replanted after phylloxera hit Piemonte: local or international?

A

local varieties

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17
Q

What percentage of vineyards makes up international varieties?

A

less than 4%

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18
Q

Which international varieties are the most planted in Piemonte?

A

Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Nero

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19
Q

Where is the native home of Barbera?

A

Monferrato

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20
Q

Is Barbera late- or early-ripening?

A

late-ripening

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21
Q

What is Barbera’s key attributes?

A

productive and keeps acidity when fully ripe

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22
Q

What is Barbera’s profile?

A

deep color, red cherry fruit, high acidity, low tannins

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23
Q

What can be done to add to Barbera’s structure

A

oak maturation (new barriques); adds tannins and toast/vanilla aromas/flavors

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24
Q

What is the traditional way of making Barbera?

A

large neutral oak casks

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25
Q

Which grape was the most planted in Piemonte before phylloxera?

A

Dolcetto

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26
Q

What does Dolcetto mean?

A

little sweet one - refers to sweetness of grape at harvest

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27
Q

Why is Dolcetto highly valued by growers?

A

ripens earlier and ripens on cooler and higher sites than Barbera and Nebbiolo

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28
Q

What is Dolcetto’s profile?

A

black plum, licorice and almond, low acid, noticeable tannins give bitter finish

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29
Q

What are the 7 main red varieties in Piemonte?

A
Barbera
Brachetto
Dolcetto
Freisa
Grignolino
Nebbiolo
Ruchè
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30
Q

Where does the name Nebbiolo come from?

A

from the word nebbia (fog)

related to bloom that covers grape or fog covering hills during harvest

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31
Q

Is Nebbiolo early- or late-budding?

A

early-budding

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32
Q

Is Nebbiolo early- or late-ripening?

A

late-ripening?

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33
Q

Which soils does Nebbiolo prefer?

A

calcareous marls

34
Q

Which sites does Nebbiolo prefer?

A

well-exposed, south-facing sites

35
Q

What color is Nebbiolo wine?

A

pale ruby-garnet; turn orange with bottle age

36
Q

What are the aromas of Nebbiolo wine?

A

rose, violet, red cherry, tar, licorice, forest floor

37
Q

How do Nebbiolo aromas change with bottle age?

A

dried red fruit, dried rose petals, sweet spice, leather and truffles

38
Q

What structure do Nebbiolo wines have?

A

high acidity, high tannins, high alcohol and high concentration

39
Q

What is the main Nebbiolo biotype?

A

Lampia; most widely planted because of reliability

40
Q

What are the 2 lesser Nebbiolo biotypes?

A

Bolla, Rosé

41
Q

Which biotype is a viruses form of Lampia?

A

Michet

42
Q

What are the 4 main Nebbiolo biotypes?

A

Lampia, Michet, Bolla, Rosé

43
Q

Where is Freisa mostly planted?

A

Asti, Torino and Langhe

44
Q

What is Freisa’s profile?

A

light-colored, strawberry/raspberry aromas, high acidity

45
Q

What styles can Freisa be made into?

A

dry or sweet, still frizzante and spumante

46
Q

What is a characteristic note of Freisa?

A

bitterness balances with a little residual sugar

47
Q

What is the historic home of Grignolino?

A

Monferrato

48
Q

What does the name Grignolino mean?

A

grignole means pips in local dialect

49
Q

What aromas does Grignolino wine have

A

red berry, pepper and herbs

50
Q

What is the structure of Grignolino wine?

A

high acidity, high tannin, medium alcohol and light-bodied

51
Q

What type of grape is Brachetto?

A

aromatic red variety

52
Q

Where is Brachetto from?

A

town of Acqui Terme

53
Q

What type of wine does Brachetto usually make?

A

fizzy and sparkling wines

54
Q

Which white variety is similar to Brachetto?

A

Moscato Bianco

55
Q

What aromas does Brachetto have?

A

strawberry and raspberry

56
Q

What type of grape is Ruchè?

A

rare, aromatic red variety

57
Q

Where is Ruchè from?

A

native to town of Castagnole (Asti province)

58
Q

What aromas do Ruchè wines have?

A

rose, red fruit and spice

59
Q

What are the 5 main white varieties grown in Piemonte?

A
Moscato Bianco
Cortese
Arneis
Erbaluce
Timorasso
60
Q

What is the French name for Moscato Bianco?

A

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains

61
Q

What is Moscato Bianco mainly used for?

A

Asti Spumante - sweet sparkling wine

62
Q

Which has a higher quality level: Asti Spumante or Moscato d’Asti?

A

Moscato d’Asti

63
Q

What profile does Moscato Bianco have?

A

orange blossom, stone fruit, citrus with honey, musk and spice

64
Q

Why does Cortese need restricted yields?

A

very productive variety

65
Q

What is the profile of Cortese wines?

A

lemon zest, mineral, high acidity

66
Q

Where does Cortese perform well?

A

around town of Gavi

67
Q

What is the historic home of Arneis?

A

Roero hills

68
Q

Who saved Arneis from extinction in the 1960s?

A

Bruno Giacosa and Vietti (Barolo and Barbaresco producers)

69
Q

What does the name Arneis mean?

A

Arneis means difficult personality in local dialect

70
Q

Why is Arneis difficult to grow?

A

prone to poor and irregular yields

drops acidity quickly when approaching ripeness

71
Q

what is another name for Arneis?

A

Nebbiolo Bianco

72
Q

What profile does Arneis have?

A

white flowers, stone fruit, pear with medium to full body

73
Q

Where is Erbaluce native to?

A

town of Caluso (Canavese district in northern Piemonte)

74
Q

What can Erbaluce be used for passito wines?

A

thick skin and high acidity

75
Q

What profile do dry Erbaluce wines have?

A

floral, citrus and apple aromas with high acidity

76
Q

Where is Timorasso native to?

A

Tortona hills (SE corner of Piemonte)

77
Q

What type of grape is Timorasso?

A

ancient, rare, high-quality white variety

78
Q

Why did plantings decline after phylloxera?

A

Cortese replaced it; easier to grow and more productive

79
Q

Who save Timorasso from extinction in the 1980s?

A

Walter Massa

80
Q

What is Timorasso’s profile?

A

floral, citrus and honey aromas with high acidity and intense minerality