Piemonte Novara & Verceli Hills and Canavese - Book Flashcards
What are the four major sub-regions of Piemonte p66
Northern Piemonte
W. Piemonte or Torino Hills
Alba
Monferrato
What is the traditional sub-region for Nebbiolo p66
Alba
What are the two main Provinces in the Northern Piemonte Sub-regions
Novara and Vercelli
What are the main grape varieties used in the Sub-region Northern Piemonte p66
Nebbiolo (red)
Erbaluce (white)
How is the Sub Region Northern Piemonte often referred to p66
Alto Piemonte
How is Nebbiolo also called in Northern Piemonte sub-region p66
Spanna
What percentage of the Piemonte total production is produced in the sub-region Northern Piemonte p66
About 5% of the total production
What are the two wine district in the Northern Piemonte sub-region p66
Novara & Vercelli Hills
Canavese
What are the main DOCGs in Novara and Vercelli Hills p66
Gattinara in Vercelli
Ghemme in Novara
How many appellations are there in Novara and Vercelli Hills wine district p67
Seven appellations being two DOCGs
Which river does divide Vercelli province and Novara province in Northern Piemonte p66
Sesia river
What are the other two DOCs besides Gattinara DOCG in Vercelli p67
Bramaterra
Lessona
What are the other 3 DOCs besides Ghemme DOCG in Novara p67
Boca
Sizzano
Fara
What is the large DOC in the west Sesia River p67
Coste de La Sesia
What is the large DOC in east Sesia River p67
Colline Novaresi
What is the main characteristic of the climate in Northern Piemonte sub-region p67
Mild and humid in the Po plain to south
What is the influence of Lake Maggiore in Northern Piemonte sub-region p67
Moderate the climate
What is the basic difference between Nebbiolo from North to south p67
More acid in the north because of the climate
What is the main challenge of growing Nebbiolo in Northern Piemonte p67
Late ripening in cool and high site is difficult to reach full ripeness
Which native grape is used to blend with Nebbiolo in Northern Piemonte p67
Vespolina
Croatina (Bonarda)
Uva Rara
What is main training system in Northern Piemonte p67
Traditionally Pergola but now majority is Guyot system
What is the best and longest-lived expression of Nebbiolo in Northern Piemonte p67
Gattinara DOCG
When was Gattinara DOC elevated to DOCG p68
1990
What is the area of vineyards in Gattinara p68
Just 100ha
What is the minimum content of Nebbiolo grapes in Gattinara p68
90%
What are the other two grapes allowed to blend with Nebbiolo in Gattinara DOCG p69
Vespolina (max 4%) and Uva Rara
What is the minimum period of ageing time in Gattinara p69
35 months being 24 months in oak.
What is the minimum period of ageing time in Gattinara RISERVA p69
47 months being 36 months in oak
What is the longest bottle ageing wine in Northern Piemonte sub-region p69
Gattinara DOCG
What does make Gattinara DOCG be a long-lived wine p69
High tannin and acid levels
What is the difference between Nebbiolo from Gattinara and Langhe area p69
Higher acidity and lighter color and body
What is the typical profile of Nebbiolo from Gattinara p69
Violet, bright red berry fruit, tar, spices, forest floor and leather
Where is Ghemme DOCG located p69
Novara Province
When did Ghemme start recovering reputation by quality p69
After DOCG status in 1997
Which side of Sesia River is Ghemme DOCG located p69
East side of Sesia River
How big is the area under vine in Ghemme DOCG p69
50ha
What is legal requirement for altitude in Ghemme DOCG p69
220-400m asl
What is minimum percentage of Nebbiolo in DOCG p69
85%
What are the partner grapes to Nebbiolo in Ghemme DOCG p69
Vespolina and/or Uva Rara
What is the ageing required time for Ghemme DOCG p69
34 months being 18 in oak
What is the ageing required time for Ghemme DOCG RISERVE
46 months being 24 in oak
What is the difference of Ghemme Nebbiolo base wine and Nebbiolo from south p69
Higher Acidity and Tannin
Lighter color and body
What is the profile of Nebbiolo base wine in Ghemme DOCG p69
Violet, bright red berry fruit, Tar, spices, Forest floor and leather
What is the profile difference between Ghemme and Gattinara DOCG p69
Ghemme is more austere and sturdy
Where is Canavese wine district located p71
Just south of Val d’Aosta and west of the Vercelli hills
What is the main town in Canavese p71
Ivrea
Which river does bisect the Canavese wine district p71
Dora Baltea River
What is the most famous white wine in Canavese p71
Erbaluce passito from Caluso
What is the famous Nebbiolo based wine in Carema DOC p71
Vino di Montagna
Where is Carema DOC located p71
Right on the border with Valle d’Aosta
How does the climate at Carema DOC look like p71
Looks like Valle d’Aosta rather than the rest of Piemonte
What do the soils consist of in Carema DOC p71
Glacial deposits over a sub-soil of metamorphic schist
What is the average altitude in Carema DOC p71
300-700m asl
Where are the vineyards normally planted in Carema DOC p71
On terraces craved out of the rocky and precipitous slopes of Mount Maletto
What is the traditional training system in Carema DOC p71
Pergola system (Topia)
What is grown along side the wine canopy in Carema DOC p71
Chestnuts
What is the minimum content of Nebbiolo in Carema DOC p72
85%
How many years must wines in Carema DOC age p72
2 years being 1 year in oak
How many years must RISERVA wines in Carema DOC age p72
Three years being one year in oak
What is the characteristic of Carema DOC Nebbiolo based wine p72
Delicate perfume of rose and violet, high acidity, light body and mineral character
Where is Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG located p72
South of Carema in Canavese district
What is the characteristic of the soil of Erbaluce di Caluso between Ivrea and village of Caluso p72
Glacial moraine
What is the most important lakes at Erbaluce di Caruso DOCG p72
Lake Candia and Lake Viverone
What is the percentage of Erbaluce in Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG p72
100% Erbaluce
What is the traditional training system for Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG p72
Pergola system
What is the acidity level of Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG p72
High level of acidity
How is Passito made from Erbaluce di Caluso p72
Air dried grapes
What is the TRADITIONAL characteristics of Passito Erbaluce di DOCG p72
Amber in color, slightly oxidized and complex
What is the MODERN characteristics of Passito Erbaluce di DOCG p72
Golden color, more delicate and fruity
How long must Passito Erbaluce di Caluso age p72
Three years (Four years for Riserva)
What are the 2 catchall appellations? p 67
Colline Novaresi - entire east bank Sesia
Colline della Sesia - entire west bank Sesia
What causes wide vintage variations here? p 67
Proximity to Alps
Why is there a need to blend Nebbiolo in Northern Piemonte?
Large vintage variations due to Alps
Small % of Vespolina, Croatina and Uva Rara soften
What is the only minor appellation in Alto Piemonte to use 100% Nebbiolo? p69
Lessona DOC
But can use Vespolina / Uva Rara
What area is considered to have the best potential in Alto Piemonte? p69
Lessona DOC
What DOC in Alto Piemonte is most approachable for Nebbiolo? p70
Bramattera DOC
Allows higher % blending grapes
Croatina / Vespolina / Uva Rara
What is the southern most appellation in Novara & Vercelli Hills (Alto Piemonte)? p70
Fara DOC
What is the northern most appellation in Novara & Vercelli Hills (Alto Piemonte)? p70
Boca DOC.
What is the most northern appellation in Piemonte? p70
Valli Ossolane DOC
Foothills of Alps
Along Ossola Valley
What DOC was carved out of cliffs and backfilled with valley floor soils? p71
Carema DOC
Why do Carema vineyards use pergolas (topia)? p71
Protect from strong winds down Dora Baltea Valley
Where would you find pergolas with white pillars carved into stony terraces?
Carema DOC
What are the pergolas made of in Carema? p71
Chestnut arms and pillars of stone and mortar