Piemonte: Sub-Regions and Appellations Flashcards
What are the four major sub-regions of Piemonte?
1) Northern Piemonte (Alto Piemonte=upper Piemonte)
2) Western Piemonte and Torino Hills
3) Alba
4) Monferrato
Where is the Northern Piemonte sub-region located?
This sub-region includes the northernmost appellations of Piemonte. Most are situated in the provinces of Novara, Vercelli and Biella.
The wines are largely based on Nebbiolo and Erbaluce.
Where is the Western Piemonte and Torino Hills sub-region located?
It covers the western and mountainous part of Piemonte at the very foothills of the Alps, as well as the hills to the east of Torino. It includes minor appellations of local importance.
This is the smallest and least productive sub-region.
Where is the Alba sub-region located?
This sub-region surrounds the city of Alba in the eastern section of the province of Cuneo. It includes the hills of Langhe and Roero which flank the banks of the Tanaro River.
This is the traditional home of Nebbiolo, and it is where some of Italy’s greatest red wines are produced.
Where is the Monferrato sub-region located?
Monferrato is a large, hilly area in the province of Asti and Alessandria. It is situated to the south of the Po River and stretches down to the Ligurian Apennines.
This is the largest of the sub-regions and is considered the traditional home of Barbera and sparkling Moscato Bianco.
Which of Piemonte’s sub-regions is the smallest and least productive?
Western Piemonte and Torino Hills
Which of Piemonte’s sub-regions is the largest?
Monferrato
Which of Piemonte’s sub-regions is the traditional home of Nebbiolo?
Alba
Which of Piemonte’s sub-regions is the traditional home of Barbera and sparkling Bianco?
Monferrato
What is the Nebbiolo grape called in Northern Piemonte?
Spanna
What are the two wine districts in the sub-region Northern Piemonte?
-Novara and Vercelli Hills
-Canavese
How much of Piemonte’s total wine production does Northern Piemonte account for?
5%
Where is the Novara and Vercelli Hills wine district located?
These hills are in the very northeastern portion of Piemonte, bordering Lombardia. They are situated to the north of the cities of Novarra and Vercelli and are home to the prestigious Nebbiolo-based DOCG appellations of Gattinara and Ghemme.
They lie at altitudes between 650-1,600ft/200-500m.
Where is the Canavese wine district located?
This wine district surrounds the city of Ivrea, north of Torino. The Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG and the Carema DOC are located here.
What soils are found in the Novara and Vercelli Hills wine district?
Soils of glacial, marine, volcanic origin. These soils tend to be acidic and are composed of different proportions of sand, clay and gravel. Often, a layer of red, iron-rich clay is also present. The sub-soils are largely volcanic, containing igneous porphyry rocks and granite.
During the last ice age, the entire area was covered in glaciers. When these glaciers retreated, they left a series of moraines, which now form a topographical link between the Alps and the plains.
What topographical feature divides the Novara and Vercelli Hills wine district into two halves?
The Sesia river which flows from the Alps southward into the Po river. It separates the Vercelli province in the west from the Novara province in the east.
Name the 7 prominent appellations within the Novara and Vercelli Hills wine district.
On the west bank of the Sesia River, in the province of Vercelli and Biella:
-Gattinara DOCG
-Bramaterra DOC
-Lessona DOC
On the east bank of the Sesia River, in the province of Novara:
-Ghemme DOCG
-Boca DOC
-Sizzano DOC
-Fara DOC
There are also 2 large catch-all appellations:
-Colline Novaresi DOC (covering the entire east bank of the Sesia)
-Coste della Sesia DOC (encompassing the entire west bank)
What grapes are found in the Novara and Vercelli Hills wine district?
All seven appellations focus on Nebbiolo.
What is the climate in the Novara and Vercelli Hills wine district?
The climate is milder than the hot and humid Po plain to the south.
The proximity to Lake Maggiore and the smaller Lake Orta (to the north) help to moderate the climate as well.
The hills benefit from the cool air descending from the Alps and from the diurnal temperature swings.
For these reasons, Nebbiolo wines from this area have more acidity than their southern counterparts.
What are the challenges of growing Nebbiolo in the Novara and Vercelli Hills wine district?
Proximity to the Alps creates significant vintage variation. Growing the late-ripening Nebbiolo this far north and at such elevation is challenging. It is difficult to achieve full ripeness.
What winemaking technique has been incorporated in the Novara and Vercelli Hills wine district as a solution for cooler vintages?
Nebbiolo has been traditionally softened by blending it with a small proportion of other red grapes such as:
-Vespolina
-Croatina
-Uva Rara (locally called Bonarda Novarese)
What vine-training system is used in the Novara and Vercelli Hills wine district?
Traditionally, vines were trained using different types of pergola systems; today the great majority of vineyards are trained to Guyot.
The wines produced in Novara and Vercelli Hills had the best reputation in all of Piemonte until the end of the 19th century. How did they lose favour?
They were eclipsed by the Nebbiolo-based appellations to the south. Following the industrial boom during the 1950s-1960s and the declining demand for the wines of Northern Piemonte, vineyards were abandoned, but this is turning around. Thanks to a group of inspired producers. the area has been experiencing a 21st century renaissance.
Which DOCG from Northern Piemonte represents the best and longest-lived expression of Nebbiolo?
Gattinara DOCG
For a very long time, Gattinara was considered the most prestigious wine of Piemonte. The appellation suffered a long period of decline, but today, the best examples deserve the fine reputation they enjoyed in the past.