Italy - Piedmont

Question 1

What is the general climate of Piedmont?

Answer 1

Moderate continental
Cold winters with heavy snowfall
Warm & dry summers
Autumn fog (from the warm ligurian sea air mixing with the cool mountain air)

Question 2

What is the approximate latitude of Turin?

Answer 2

45 degrees North

Question 3

What are the moderating influences on the climate?

Answer 3

The french, swiss, & maritime alps creating the piedmont bowl
which block wind and provide cooling effects; blocks wind and provides altitude

Lake Maggiore to the north & po river moderates

Question 4

What are the soils of Piedmont?

Answer 4

flatlands too fertile for quality grapes
Rolling hills of barolo & barbaresco limestone-rich
Diverse topography & soils due to mountains

Question 5

What are the weather hazzards of piedmont?

Answer 5

Spring frosts, Summer hail, thunderstorms, & fog
Fog from the ligurian sea warmth & the cool mountain air mixing

Question 6

Where does Piedmont stand in IT wine production?

Answer 6

2nd largest producer of quality wine after veneto
Highest proportion of quality wines in all of Italy
No PDO tier!

Question 7

What are the leading grapes of Piedmont?

Answer 7

Red 2/3 : Barbera, Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, Brachetto, Grignolino, Bonarda, Vespolina, Freisa, Ruchè

White 1/3 : Moscato Bianco, Arneis, Cortese, Erbaluce

Question 8

What are the wine styles of Piemont?

Answer 8

Reds run the gamut from big, prestigious, & complex to fresh youthful & fruity, but they’ve all got lively acid.

Fun fruity youthful sparkling wine also has a range from frizzante and dolce to secco and spumante.

Still whites are medium bodied, aromatic, & dry

Question 9

How many DOCGs of Piedmont are there? How many can you name!

Answer 9

18 DOCGs

Alta Langa
Asti + Moscato d’Asti
Barbera d’Asti
Barbera del Monferrato Superiore
Barbaresco
Barolo
Brachetto d’Acqui
Diano d’Alba
Dogliani
Erbaluce de Caluso
Gattinara
Gavi
Ghemme
Nizza
Ovada
Roero
Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato
Terre Alfieri

Question 10

What DOCGs in Piedmont make 100% varietal wine of nebbiolo?

Answer 10

Barolo DOCG
Barolo Serralunga d’Alba DOCG (regarded subregion)
Barolo Cannubi DOCG (famous single vineyard)
Barbaresco
(Stay Tuned)

Question 11

Compare & contrast Barolo & Barbaresco

Answer 11

Barolo has higher average altitude from its proximity to the Maritime alps, while Barbaresco is uniquely influenced by its proximity to the Tanero river.

Barbaresco will ripen quicker and will be harvested earlier due to the river warmth; there’s less time to ripen phenolics, and acidities may be lighter due to lower altitude (less diurnal). Meant to drink a bit younger - they tend to have a lower complexity ceiling

They both have wonderful limestone soil, promoting high acidity in the grapes

Question 12

What are the minimum aging requirements for Barolo & Barbaresco?

Answer 12

Barolo must be aged 36 mo before release
18 mo in oak, either Batti or Barrique.
62 mo total aging for riserva

Barbaresco must be aged 24 mo before release
9 mo in oak, either Batti or Barrique
50 months total aging for riserva

Question 13

What does Piedmont roughly mean in Italian?

Answer 13

The foot of the mountain! A reference to its many mountainous influences

Question 14

What kind of grape is nebbiolo, and what does it need to thrive?

Answer 14

It’s early budding (spring frosts), late ripening.

And it’s very site-sensitive! Thrives on well-draining, south facing slopes.

Thick skins with low pigmentation “foggy”

High tannin, high acid; lots of tannins in pips & seeds
High catechin in heart
Ages beautifully and well due to high acid & tannin (decades!)
Low in anthocyanin (pale color), aged to pale garnet.

Question 15

What wines are made in the Caluso DOCG?

Answer 15

Erbaluce di Caluso - dry, crisp, light bodied, apply white
Caluso Passito - rich, sweet, white full of peach & almond
Caluso Spumante - traditional sparkler that’s fruity and leesy

Question 16

What can you tell me about Terre Alfieri?

Answer 16

It was recently promoted to DOCG in 2020 after heavy advocation, and I think of it as poor man’s barolo/barbaresco & arneis, given its proximity to both regions. It makes still reds & whites that must be at least 85% arneis or nebbiolo.

Question 17

What can you tell me about Ruchè?

Answer 17

Another new DOCG in the rolling Monferrato hills North-East of the city of Asti.
Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato must be 90% Ruchè, with the rest allowing brachetto and/or barbera. It’s an interesting fruity, floral, light bodied red with high tannin but low pigment and excellent acid similar to nebbiolo. Grown in Piedmont for hundreds of years, but may have come from france.

Question 18

Where can I find DOCG Dolcetto & what’s it like?

Answer 18

in Dogliani (which covers most of Cuneo province), Diano d’Alba, & Ovada. Dolcetto means “little sweet one” in Italian but that’s bullshit because it makes mid to full bodied wines full of black fruit, cocoa, violet. It is usually lower acid & tannin however, but sometimes the tannins present can get aggressive. Pairs well with dark roasted meats and veg, tomato, eggplant, garlic.