WINES OF THE WORLD 🇮🇹 Italy - Northwest Flashcards
Climate of Piedmont
Moderate continental. Protection from cold N winds and excessive rainfalls by the Alps to the N and from the Mediterranean by the Appennines to the S. Low rainfall in June-September and more in late September-October.
Hazards in Piedmont
Thunderstorms, hail, and fog. Possibility of a late frost.
Main grape varieties of Piedmont
Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, Cortese, Arneis, Muscat, Brachetto.
Main appellations for Nebbiolo within Piedmont
- Barolo DOCG, Barbaresco DOCG, and Roero DOCG
- Gattinara DOCG and Ghemme DOCG
- Langhe Nebbiolo DOC or Nebbiolo d’Alba DOC
Main appellations for Barbera within Piedmont
- Barbera d’Asti DOCG
- Nizza DOCG
Main appellations for Dolcetto within Piedmont
- Dolcetto d’Alba DOC
- Dolcetto di Ovada DOC
- Dogliani DOCG
Main appellations for Cortese within Piedmont
- Gavi DOCG or Cortese di Gavi DOCG
Main appellations for Arneis within Piedmont
- Roero Arneis DOCG
Types of businesses that operate in Piedmont
Mainly small family-owned farms. Also small estates bottle their own wines (before sell the grapes to large producers).
Key winemaking operations for Dolcetto wines
Dolcetto needs frequent pump overs or rack-and-return (reductive variety), mid-range fermentation temperatures, short skin maceration, soft extraction methods.
Key maturation practices for Dolcetto wines
Dolcetto is typically aged in stainless steel or cement.
Key winemaking operations for Cortese wines
Cortese requires mid-range temperatures for fermentation.
Key maturation practices for Cortese wines
Cortese is usually aged in stainless steel, some can age in bottles to develop tertiary notes.
Type of soils in Barolo DOCG
Blue-grey marl in the NW and less fertile soils with yellow-grey compacted sand and clay in the SE.
Where the Nebbiolo vineyards are located within Barolo DOCG
Includes Barolo itself and several villages to the SW of Alba. Vineyards on S- and SW-facing slopes, 200-400 m.
Key winemaking operations for Barolo DOCG
Some producers blend wines from different vineyards to search more complexity (Bartolo Mascarello), others prefer single-vineyard approach (Bruno Giacosa) due to the high-quality reputation of those vineyards (Cannubi or Vigna Rionda).
Maturation regulations for Barolo DOCG
38+ months (18+ months in oak) from 1 November of the harvest year.
Maturation regulations for Barolo Riserva DOCG
62+ months (18+ months in oak) from 1 November of the harvest year.
MGA
Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive, introduced in Barbaresco (2007) and Barolo (2010), official system of sub-zones:
- entire villages (La Morra);
- specified single vineyards (Bussia or Cannubi);
- a number of specified vineyards now mad into a single (Via Nuova in the Terlo MGA).
‘Vigna’ can be added if the name of MGA is also stated.
Barolo Chinato
Barolo wine, sweetened and infused with herbs and spices.
Where the Nebbiolo vineyards are located within Barbaresco DOCG
Includes Barbaresco itself and several villages to the E of Alba. Vineyards at slightly lower altitude than Barolo.
Key winemaking operations for Barbaresco DOCG
Traditionally, very long maceration and long ageing to soften tannins. Then, in 1970-1980, wines with deeper colour, softer tannins and less ageing, new oak flavours. Now, less extreme techniques.
Picking only fully ripe grapes, maceration for 3-4 weeks.
Maturation regulations for Barbaresco DOCG
26+ months (9+ months in oak) from 1 November of the harvest year.
Maturation regulations for Barbaresco Riserva DOCG
50+ months (9+ months in oak) from 1 November of the harvest year.
Differences in terms of harvest between Barolo and Barbaresco
Barbaresco is a week earlier than Barolo.
Langhe Nebbiolo DOC or Nebbiolo d’Alba DOC
From young vines, early drinking style, short maceration, inert vessels, short ageing. Some producers use grapes for Barolo or Barbaresco that don’t meet their standard for top wines.
