Piedmont

Question 1

Capital of Piedmont

Answer 1

Turin

Question 2

Which DOCs in Piedmont were first to be elevated to DOCG status?

Answer 2

Barolo and Barbaresco

Question 3

Arneis is a great alternative to…

Answer 3

Pinot Grigio

Question 4

Arneis translates to … in the local dialect

Answer 4

“rascal” - reflects difficult to grow nature

Question 5

Arneis vs Cortese

Answer 5

Cortese is citrus-fruit driven; Arneis is orchard fruit w/ a slightly bigger body

Question 6

What is “grignolino”

Answer 6

red Piedmont variety. High acid + tannins + fruity; low complexity. good Pizza wine

Question 7

What is “freisa”

Answer 7

Red Piemont variety. relative to Nebbiolo; high acids + tannins

Question 8

What is “vespolina”

Answer 8

Red variety; thought to be Nebbiolo’s child. Often blended with nebbiolo to soften the tannins of the wine

Question 9

Center of Piedmont is dominated by…

Answer 9

Po River and its tributaries

Question 10

Piedmont’s hillside vineyards can be grouped into these 3 sets

Answer 10

Alba (southwest) composed of Langhe and Roero
Monferrato (southeast) - surrounding city of Alba
Alto Piemonte (north)

Question 11

The ___ and ____ hills account for more than 80% of Piedmont’s production

Answer 11

Alba and Monferrato

Question 12

Biggest viticultural hazard in Piedmont

Answer 12

Hail in summer and fall

Question 13

Which hills surround the city of Alba to the north and south?

Answer 13

Langhe and Roero

Question 14

sori - define

Answer 14

prized south facing slopes

Question 15

Nebbiolo is noted for its ….. growing season

Answer 15

extremely long

Question 16

Why are vintage variations so considerable for Barolo?

Answer 16

Nebbiolo is very sensitive to fluctuations in weather

Question 17

Two clones of Nebbiolo planted in Barolo

Answer 17

Michet (small berries; concentration)
Lampia (reliable; most widely planted)

Question 18

“botti”

Answer 18

used, large oak

Question 19

What does the use of new, french oak do?

Answer 19

helps make the wine more accessible upon release

Question 20

What is Barolo Chinato?

Answer 20

Aromatized wine. Barolo + bark, herbs, and spices. Primarily quinine. Created by a pharmacist turned winemaker; originally consumed as medicine

Question 21

Barolo Chinato is a great pairing for…

Answer 21

dark chocolate

Question 22

Modernists in the 1970s and 80s looked to international wine regions for methods to make wine more ….

Answer 22

approachable in its youth

Question 23

Modernists are known for..

Answer 23

aging in French oak barriques
using temp controlled stainless steel vats
shortened macerations at higher temps
emphasizing ripeness of grapes in vineyard