Piemonte / Monferrato Flashcards
Where is Monferrato located?
- hilly area in SE Piemonte
- included in Asti and Alessandri provinces
What are the 3 main areas Monferrato is divided into?
- Basso Monferrato (Low Monferrato)
- Monferrato Astigiano
- Alto Monferrato (High Monferrato)
Where is Basso Monferrato located?
NE part of Monferrato
What does Basso Monferrato consist of?
low hills that slope down to Po plain to the north
What is Basso Monferrato also known as?
Monferrato Casalese
Where is Monferrato Astigiano located?
western part of Monferrato to the north and south of Asti
What does Monferrato Astigiano consist of?
gently rolling hills; bisected by Tanaro River
Where is Alto Monferrato located?
SE part of Monferrato
What does Alto Monferrato consist of?
hills increasing in elevation as they merge into southern Ligurian Apennines
Monferrato is considered the traditional home to which 3 varieties?
Barbera, Grignolino and Cortese
What is the climate of Monferrato?
continental with hot, dry summers and cold winters
What is the main threat in Monferrato?
drought during summer due to low rainfall
How old are the Monferrato hills?
date back to the retreat of the Padano Sea; 15-16 million years ago
What are the 3 soils types in Monferrato?
- Terre Bianche (white lands)
- Sabbie Astiane (Asti sands)
- Terre Rosso (red lands)
What is terre bianche composed of?
- alternating layers of sand, sandstone and whitish calcareous marls
- shallow, rich in marine fossils and high in calcium carbonate
Where can you find the terre bianche?
south of Asti (Monferrato Astigiano) and in Alto and Basso Monferrato
Where can you find the Sabbie Astiane?
along both banks of Tanaro in central part of Monferrato Astigiano
Why are vines affected by water stress in sabbie astiane?
high sand content results in poor water retention
Where can you find the terre rosse?
specific areas of Alto Monferrato
What do the terre rosse consist of?
high in clay content and rich in iron and magnesium
What are infernotti?
underground cellars dug in marly-sandstone soils in Monferrato
What are infernotti used for cellaring?
high humidity levels and special niches in walls where temperatures remain cool and constant
