Piemonte / Monferrato Flashcards

1
Q

Where is Monferrato located?

A
  • hilly area in SE Piemonte

- included in Asti and Alessandri provinces

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2
Q

What are the 3 main areas Monferrato is divided into?

A
  • Basso Monferrato (Low Monferrato)
  • Monferrato Astigiano
  • Alto Monferrato (High Monferrato)
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3
Q

Where is Basso Monferrato located?

A

NE part of Monferrato

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4
Q

What does Basso Monferrato consist of?

A

low hills that slope down to Po plain to the north

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5
Q

What is Basso Monferrato also known as?

A

Monferrato Casalese

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6
Q

Where is Monferrato Astigiano located?

A

western part of Monferrato to the north and south of Asti

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7
Q

What does Monferrato Astigiano consist of?

A

gently rolling hills; bisected by Tanaro River

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8
Q

Where is Alto Monferrato located?

A

SE part of Monferrato

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9
Q

What does Alto Monferrato consist of?

A

hills increasing in elevation as they merge into southern Ligurian Apennines

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10
Q

Monferrato is considered the traditional home to which 3 varieties?

A

Barbera, Grignolino and Cortese

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11
Q

What is the climate of Monferrato?

A

continental with hot, dry summers and cold winters

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12
Q

What is the main threat in Monferrato?

A

drought during summer due to low rainfall

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13
Q

How old are the Monferrato hills?

A

date back to the retreat of the Padano Sea; 15-16 million years ago

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14
Q

What are the 3 soils types in Monferrato?

A
  • Terre Bianche (white lands)
  • Sabbie Astiane (Asti sands)
  • Terre Rosso (red lands)
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15
Q

What is terre bianche composed of?

A
  • alternating layers of sand, sandstone and whitish calcareous marls
  • shallow, rich in marine fossils and high in calcium carbonate
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16
Q

Where can you find the terre bianche?

A

south of Asti (Monferrato Astigiano) and in Alto and Basso Monferrato

17
Q

Where can you find the Sabbie Astiane?

A

along both banks of Tanaro in central part of Monferrato Astigiano

18
Q

Why are vines affected by water stress in sabbie astiane?

A

high sand content results in poor water retention

19
Q

Where can you find the terre rosse?

A

specific areas of Alto Monferrato

20
Q

What do the terre rosse consist of?

A

high in clay content and rich in iron and magnesium

21
Q

What are infernotti?

A

underground cellars dug in marly-sandstone soils in Monferrato

22
Q

What are infernotti used for cellaring?

A

high humidity levels and special niches in walls where temperatures remain cool and constant