Piemonte / Monferrato Astigniano Appellations Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 7 main appellations of Monferrato Astigiano?

A
1 Barbera d'Asti DOCG
2 Nizza DOCG
3 Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG
4 Brachetto d'Acqui DOCG
5 Freisa d'Asti DOC
6 Grignolino d'Asti DOC
7 Asti DOCG
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2
Q

Which is the largest red producing DOC/G in Piemonte?

A

Barbera d’Asti DOCG; more than 20 million bottles/year

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3
Q

What is the largest producing Piemontese appellation?

A

Asti DOCG

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4
Q

What is the second largest producing Piemontese appellation?

A

Barbera D’Asti DOCG

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5
Q

Which city is in the center of Monferrato?

A

Asti

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6
Q

What soils are in Barbera d’Asti?

A

calcareous marls and sabbie astiane - north of Asti

terre bianche - south of Asti

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7
Q

What training system is used for Barbera in Barbera d’Asti?

A

Guyot or cordon

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8
Q

Where are Barbera d’Asti vineyards?

A

planted on hillsides at maximum 650m

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9
Q

What is Barbera d’Asti DOCG made from?

A

minimum 90% Barbera

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10
Q

What is the ageing requirement for Barbera d’Asti DOCG?

A

minimum 4 months

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11
Q

What are the requirements for Superiore Barbera d’Asti DOCG?

A
  • special grape selection

- 14 months ageing (including minimum 6 months in oak)

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12
Q

Why are there several different styles of Barbera d’Asti?

A

large production area and large number of producers

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13
Q

What are the 2 main styles of Barbera d’Asti DOCG?

A
  • early consumption; stainless steel fermentation (keep acidity and primary grape aromas)
  • more complex wines; matured in large, neutral oak casks
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14
Q

How is the most modern style of Barbera d’Asti DOCG made?

A
  • new, small oak barrels that add tannin, texture and integrated oak flavors
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15
Q

What is a typical Barbera d’Asti DOCG profile?

A
  • deep ruby-purple color
  • sour red berry fruit
  • high acidity and medium tannins
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16
Q

What is the profile of Superiore Barbera d’Asti DOCG?

A
  • ripe red fruit with oak
  • full-bodied
  • structured and complex
  • richer version
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17
Q

How does Barbera d’Asti differ from Barbera d’Alba?

A
  • fruitier, more mineral

- more refreshing due to slightly higher acidity

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18
Q

Who helped transform the image of Barbera d’Asti in the early 1980s?

A

Braida, Bersano, Scarpa, Coppo and Chiarlo

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19
Q

What new practices were used in the 1980s to transform Barbera in Barbera d’Asti?

A

riper fruit, lower yields and oak vessels

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20
Q

What are the 2 sub zones Barbera d’Asti Superiore DOCG?

A

Tinella and Colli Astiani (or Astiano)

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21
Q

Nizza DOCG used to be a sub zone of which DOCG?

A

Barbera d’Asti Superiore DOCG

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22
Q

What is the zone of production for Nizza DOCG?

A

18 villages around town of Nizza Monferrato

23
Q

What is Nizza DOCG made from?

A

100% Barbera (Barbera d’Asti DOCG = 90%)

24
Q

What is the ageing requirement for Nizza DOCG?

A

18 months (including 6 months in oak)

25
Q

What is the ageing requirement for Riserva Nizza DOCG?

A

30 months (including 12 months in oak)

26
Q

Why does Nizza DOCG have the ripest Barbera fruit?

A

warm meso-climate

27
Q

Which DOCG centers around Castagnole Monferrato town?

A

Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG

28
Q

Which variety is Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG based on?

A

native red variety Ruchè

29
Q

Where is Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG located?

A

NE of Asti on left bank of Tanaro

30
Q

What are Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG wines made from?

A

90% Ruchè; maximum 10% Barbera or Brachetto

31
Q

What is the profile of Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG?

A
  • rose, red berry fruit and spice

- noticeable tannins with bitter finish

32
Q

What soils are found in Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG?

A

transition from calcareous marls of Monferrato to lighter and looser sabbie astiane

33
Q

What wine styles are made in Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG?

A
  • three main sweet styles: still or lightly fizzy, sparkling and passito
  • dry style
34
Q

What variety is Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG based on?

A

red Brachetto grape

35
Q

When did the variety gain popularity? How?

A
  • 1950s
  • Arturo Bersano produced sweet red sparkling wine via Martinotti method (tank method)
  • gained popularity as a dessert wine
36
Q

Where is Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG located?

A
  • located in hills NW of Acqui Terre between Belbo and Bormida rivers
  • centers around ancient Roman town of Acqui Terre
37
Q

What is Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG made from?

A

minimum 97% Brachetto

38
Q

Which Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG version accounts for the majority of production?

A

sparkling version

39
Q

Which style is the least common in Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG?

A

passito

40
Q

What is the profile of Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG?

A
  • ruby color
  • rose, strawberry, raspberry with spice
  • low alcohol (up to 5.7% abv)
  • light-bodied
41
Q

Which variety is Freisa d’Asti DOCG based on?

A

local red variety Freisa

42
Q

Where is Freisa d’Asti DOCG located?

A

cover entire province of Asti (occupies all of Monferrato Astigiano)

43
Q

How many versions are there of Freisa?

A

4

44
Q

What are the 4 versions of Freisa d’Asti DOCG?

A

still, still superiore, frizzante and spumante

45
Q

What is the most common Freisa d’Asti DOCG version?

A

off-dry frizzante

46
Q

What sweetness levels can Freisa d’Asti DOCG have?

A

all versions can be dry or off-dry to medium-sweet

47
Q

What is the profile of Freisa d’Asti DOCG?

A
  • pale ruby color
  • rose, violet, strawberry and raspberry
  • high acidity and tannin
  • some bitterness on palate
48
Q

Which variety is Grignolino d’Asti DOC based on?

A

local red variety Grignolino

49
Q

Where is Grignolino d’Asti DOC located?

A

centered around Asti, especially in hills north and south of Asti

50
Q

What type of wine does Grignolino make in Monferrato?

A
  • light, easy-drinking wine for everyday consumption

- like Dolcetto in Langhe

51
Q

What is Grignolino d’Asti DOC made from?

A

minimum 90% Grignolino

maximum 10% Freisa

52
Q

What is the profile of Grignolino d’Asti DOC?

A
  • pale pink-ruby
  • floral, strawberry and raspberry with spice/forest floor
  • refreshing acidity, tannic bite, medium alcohol
  • light-bodied
53
Q

How should Grignolino d’Asti DOC be consumed?

A

young and slightly chilled