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IWS North / Piemonte > Piemonte / Northern Piemonte > Flashcards

Piemonte / Northern Piemonte Flashcards

1
Q

What is another name for Northern Piemonte?

A

Alto Piemonte (upper Piemonte)

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2
Q

What variety is mostly grown in Northern Piemonte?

A

Nebbiolo?

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3
Q

What is Nebbiolo called in Northern Piemonte?

A

Spanna

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4
Q

What are the 2 wine districts in Northern Piemonte?

A

Novara and Vercelli Hills

Canavese

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5
Q

Where are the Novara and Vercelli Hills located?

A

NE part of Piemonte bordering Lombardia; north of cities Novara and Vercelli

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6
Q

What are the main soils in Novara and Vercelli Hills?

A

sand, clay and gravel

sub-soils: volcanic with igneous porphyry rocks and granite

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7
Q

What is the geological history of Novara and Vercelli Hills?

A

series of moraines left after glaciers retreated

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8
Q

What divides the two halves of the district?

A

Sesia River separates Vercelli province in west from Novara province in east

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9
Q

How many main appellations in Novara and Vercelli?

A

7

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10
Q

Which appellations are on the west bank?

A

Gattinara, Bramaterra and Lessona (in Vercelli and Biella province)

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11
Q

Which appellations are on the east bank?

A

Theme, Boca, Sizzano and Fara (in Novara province)

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12
Q

What are the 2 sub-regional appellations?

A

Colline Novaresi covers east bank of Sesia;

Coste della Sesia covers west bank

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13
Q

Why do Nebbiolo wines have higher acidity that those from southern Piemonte?

A
  1. Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta moderate climate
  2. hills get cool air descending from Alps
  3. diurnal temperature swings
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14
Q

Why is Nebbiolo blended in Novara and Vercelli Hills during cooler vintages?

A

Northern location and elevation makes it difficult to achieve full ripeness; Nebbiolo softened through blending during cooler vintages

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15
Q

Which varieties are typically blended with Nebbiolo in Novara and Vercelli Hills?

A

Vespolina, Croatian and Uva Rara (Bonarda Novarese)

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16
Q

What is the local name for Uva Rara in Novara and Vercelli Hills?

A

Bonarda Novarese

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17
Q

What is the traditional training method?

A

pergola

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18
Q

How are most vines trained nowadays?

A

Guyot

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19
Q

When did the wines of northern Piemonte have the best reputation?

A

up until the end of 19th century

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20
Q

What are the two most important appellations in Novara and Vercelli Hills?

A 
Gattinara DOCG (west bank)
Ghemme DOCG (east bank)
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21
Q

Which appellation requires a higher percentage of Nebbiolo in final blend: Gattinara or Ghemme?

A

Gattinara DOCG: 90%

Ghemme DOCG: 85%

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22
Q

What are the authorized blending partners for Gattinara and Ghemme DOCGs?

A

Vespolina and/ Uva Rara

Gattinara DOCG limits Vespolina to 4%

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23
Q

What are the ageing requirements for Gattinara and Ghemme DOCGs?

A

Gattinara: 35 months (min. 24 months in oak)
Ghemme: 34 months (min. 18 months in oak)

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24
Q

What are the ageing requirements for Gattinara and Ghemme Reservas?

A

Gattinara: 47 months (min. 36 months in oak)
Ghemme: 46 months (min. 24 months in oak)

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25
Q

Which appellation in northern Piemonte has the longest-lived expressions of Nebbiolo?

A

Gattinara DOCG

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26
Q

Who introduced the wines of Gattinara to the Imperial Court of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, in 16th century?

A

Cardinal Mercurino Arborio (native to Gattinara); wines famous until end of 19th century

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27
Q

Where are the Gattinara DOCG vineyards planted?

A

planted on steep hillsides behind town of Gattinara to north of city of Vercelli on west bank of Sesia River

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28
Q

Why is the required minimum percentage of Nebbiolo in Gattinara wines higher than in other northern appellations?

A

grapes can ripen easier because of better natural conditions (exposure, altitude and soil)

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29
Q

Who are the top 5 producers in Gattinara DOCG?

A 
Osso San Grato
San Francesco
Castelle
Molsino
Valferana
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30
Q

Which northern Piemonte appellation wines benefits from longer bottle ageing?

A

Gattinara DOCG

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31
Q

How do Gattinara DOCG wines differ from those of Langhe?

A

higher acidity with lighter color and lower alcohol levels

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32
Q

Which DOCG appellation is older: Gattinara or Ghemme?

A

Gattinara: DOCG status in 1990

Ghemme DOCG status in 1997

33
Q

Where is Ghemme DOCG located?

A

around towns of Ghemme and Romagnolo Sesia both within Novara province on east bank of Sesia River

34
Q

How do the soils differ between Gattinara DOCG and Ghemme DOCG?

A

Gattinara: volcanic porphyritic subsoil
Ghemme: alluvial and glacial deposits

35
Q

How are the wines of Gattinara and Ghemme similar and different?

A

similar acid and tannic structure, but Ghemme wines are more austere

36
Q

What are the five other Nebbiolo-based appellations in the hills of Vercelli and Novara?

A 
Lessona DOC
Bramaterra DOC
Boca DOC
Fara DOC
Sizzana DOC
37
Q

Which of the minor Nebbiolo-based DOCs can incorporate up to 100% Nebbiolo in bottlings?

A

Lessona DOC

38
Q

What is the minimum requirement of Nebbiolo in Lessona DOC, Bramaterra DOC and Boca DOC?

A

Lessona DOC: 85% (up to 100% allowed)
Bramaterra DOC: 50-85%
Boca DOC: min. 70% (up to 90% allowed)

39
Q

Which of the 7 northern Piemonte appellations allows up to 30% Croatina in bottlings?

A

Bramaterra DOC

40
Q

Which of the 7 northern Piemonte appellations allows up to 30% Vespolina/Uva Rara in bottlings?

41
Q

Which of the minor Nebbiolo-based DOCs are on the west bank of the Sesia River?

A

Lessona DOC and Bramaterra DOC

42
Q

Which of the minor Nebbiolo-based DOCs are on the east bank of the Sesia River?

A

Boca DOC
Fara DOC
Sizanno DOC

43
Q

Which DOCs have blending formulas with lower minimum proportions of Nebbiolo?

A

the three east bank DOCs ( Boca, Fara, Sizanno)

44
Q

Which Nebbiolo-based wines are lighter and more approachable?

A

east bank DOCs; lower proportion of Nebbiolo in bottlings

45
Q

Which east bank DOC is the most prestigious? Why?

A

Boca DOC; wines more structured and longer-lived due to higher proportion of Nebbiolo in bottlings

46
Q

Which appellation is the northernmost of the 7 Nebbiolo-based appellations?

47
Q

Where is Bramaterra DOC located?

A

located between Lessona and Gattinara

48
Q

Where is the Canavese wine district located in northern Piemonte?

A

located to the west of Vercelli and Novara Hills at the foothills of the Alps just south of Valle d’Aosta

49
Q

Which river bisects the Canavese district?

A

Dora Baltea River (starts from Valle d’Aosta and joins the Po River)

50
Q

What topographical feature is the center of the Canavese district?

A

Ivrea glacial moraine basic (named after the city Ivrea within it)

51
Q

What role do the Alps play in the Canavese district?

A
  1. protect against north winds

2. provide cool air masses that circulate air and create diurnal temperature swings

52
Q

What are the 3 main DOC/Gs in the Canavese district?

A

Carema DOC
Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG
Canavese DOC

53
Q

What is Carema DOC renowned for?

A

Nebbiolo-based vino di montagna (mountain wine)

54
Q

Where is Carema DOC located?

A

located within Dora Baltea Valley around town of Carema; northernmost part of Canavese district on the border with Valle d’Aosta

55
Q

How is Carema DOC similar to Valle d’Aosta?

A

cool climate, Alpine landscape, terraced vineyards

56
Q

Where are the Carema DOC vineyards planted?

A

terraces carved out of rocky slopes of the foothills of Mount Maletto

57
Q

How were the vineyard created in Carema DOC?

A

terraces built and sustained by dry stone retaining walls; filled with soil from valley floor

58
Q

What is the traditional training system in Carema DOC?

A

pergola system (topia)

59
Q

What are the pergola structures made from in Carema DOC?

A

canopy grows along horizontal chestnut arms sustained by pillars (pillun) made of stones and mortar

60
Q

How does the pergola system help the vines in Carema DOC?

A

protects vines against strong winds

61
Q

How do terraces help the vines in Carema DOC?

A

stony terraces absorb heat during day and radiate warmth back to vines at night

62
Q

What is the minimum requirement of Nebbiolo in Carema DOC wines?

63
Q

What is the minimum ageing requirement for Carema DOC wines?

A

2 years (min. 12 months in wood)

64
Q

What is the minimum ageing requirement for Carema Reserva wines?

A

3 years (min. 12 months in wood)

65
Q

What plays a critical role in the success of Carema wines?

A

vintage variation and weather conditions

66
Q

What challenges does Carema DOC face during cooler vintages?

A
  1. Nebbiolo struggles to ripen; high acidity and lean structure become problematic
  2. production levels decrease from small to tiny
67
Q

Which wines were historically renowned for from Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG?

A

sweet passito wines

68
Q

Where is Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG located?

A

east central part of Canavese district; entirely within banks of Ivrea glacial moraine between city of Ivrea and Caluso

69
Q

What are the two lakes found in Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG?

A

Candia and Viverone

70
Q

Which variety is used to make Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG wines?

71
Q

Which training system is used in Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG?

72
Q

What are the 3 types of wine produced in Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG?

A

white wine: dry, sparkling (traditional method spumante) and passito

73
Q

Why is Erbaluce suitable for sweet wine production?

A

high acidity levels; balances with sweetness in wine

74
Q

What are passito wines made from in Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG?

A

air-dried grapes

75
Q

What are the two styles of passito wines in Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG?

A
  1. traditional style: amber color, slightly oxidized, complex
  2. modern style: gold color, fruitier, new oak
76
Q

What is the minimum ageing requirements for Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG passito wines?

77
Q

What is the minimum ageing requirements for Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG Reserva passito wines?

78
Q

What is the profile of dry white wines from Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG?

A

acacia, citrus, green apple, herbaceous and mineral with high acidity

IWS North / Piemonte (16 decks)

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