Italy - Piedmont

Question 1

Where is Piedmont located in Italy and what are the geographical influences on the Piedmont region?

Answer 1

Piedmont is located in Northwestern Italy, bordering both France and Switzerland. Piedmont is actually a French word meaning “foot of the mountain”; the region is cradled by the Alps to the north and west and the Apennines to the south and east. The verdant Po River, Italy’s most important, begins in Piedmont.

Question 2

What is the most planted grape varietal in Piedmont?

Answer 2

Barbera

Question 3

What is the climate in Piedmont?

Answer 3

Continental

Question 4

Name the 2 mountain regions that border Piedmont. Which sides of the region do they border?

Answer 4

Alps to the north and west

Apennines to the south and east.

Question 5

Which provinces (towns) do most of the grape production occur?

Answer 5

The provinces of Asti, Alessandria, and Cuneo. In the foothills south of the Po Valley.

Question 6

Where are the best vineyards located in Piedmont?

Answer 6

In the southern-facing slopes in the Monferrato and Langhe hills, known as sorì in the Piedmontese dialect

Question 7

Where are the villages of Barolo and Barbaresco located?

Answer 7

On opposite ends of Alba. Barolo southwest and Barbaresco northeast

Question 8

What was the Nebbiolo grape named after?

Answer 8

The thin-skinned Nebbiolo, purportedly named for the morning fog (la nebbia) that prolongs the grape’s ripening process in the fall, produces wines of high acid, alcohol and extreme tannin, yet the best examples offer haunting aromatic complexity and great longevity.

Question 9

What are the aging requirements for Barolo?

Answer 9

38 months - 18 of these months MUST be in oak

Question 10

What are the aging requirements for Barbaresco?

Answer 10

26 months - 9 of these months MUST be in oak

Question 11

What are the aging requirements for Barolo Reserva?

Answer 11

62 months - 18 of these months MUST be in oak

Question 12

What are the aging requirements for Barbaresco Reserva?

Answer 12

50 months - 9 of these months MUST be in oak

Question 13

What is Piedmont’s most planted white grape?

Answer 13

Moscato Bianco (Muscat à Petits Grains) is Piedmont’s most planted white grape

Question 14

What are the 3 major grapes of Piedmonte?

Answer 14

The late-ripening Nebbiolo, Dolcetto and Barbera form the trio of major Piedmontese red grapes.

Dolcetto, the “little sweet one,” is the earliest to ripen

Question 15

Describe the tasting notes of Nebbiolo including the structure.

How is Barolo different from Barbaresco?

Answer 15

The aromas of tar, truffle, rose petals, and dried fruits are classically attributed to both wines, and their color is characteristically moderate in concentration and orange-tinged even in youth.

Bone-dry
Medium-full Body
High Tannins
Medium-high Acidity
13.5–15% ABV

Barolo wines are typically more powerful and long-lived, whereas Barbaresco is slightly softer and regarded as Barolo’s more feminine counterpart.

Question 16

Name at least 3 top Barolo/Barbaresco producers and top vintages

Answer 16

Ceretto
Gaja
Vietti
Elio Altare
Renato Ratti
Guiseppe Rinaldi
Romagna

Vintages: 1989, 1990, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2006, 2010, 2013, 2015 (hot), 2016 (balanced)

Question 17

La Morra, Serralunga d’Alba, and Monforte d’Alba are communes included in which of the following DOCGs?

Barolo

Gavi di Gavi

Amarone della Valpolicella

Barbaresco

Valtellina Superiore

Answer 17

Barolo

Question 18

What was the first still white wine in Piedmont to be promoted to DOCG?

Answer 18

Gavi (Cortese di Gavi) was the first still white wine in Piedmont to be promoted to the DOCG level.

Gavi’s dry, mineral-tinged whites are produced from the Cortese grape

The appellation is located in the extreme southern portion of Alessandria province and shares its western border with Ovada. Gavi’s dry, mineral-tinged whites are produced from the Cortese grape

Question 19

Modern Barolo and Barbaresco producers commonly use new oak barriques and shortened macerations.
A.False
B.True

Answer 19

B. True

Question 20

The Dogliani DOCG produces varietal wines from which of the following grapes
Dolcetto
Muscat Blanc á Petit Grains
Nebbiolo
Barbera
Corvina

Answer 20

Dolcetto

Question 21

Which DOCG province is the largest producer of DOCG wine in Italy?

Answer 21

Asti the largest producer of DOCG wine in Italy. Asti shed the pejorative “Asti Spumante” label with its move from DOC to DOCG, but the wines are always fully sparkling (spumante).

Question 22

Moscato d'Asti DOCG wines are most commonly produced in which of the following styles?
 A.Spumante
 B.Dry
 C.Still
 D.Rosé
 E.Frizzante

Answer 22

E. Frizzante

Question 23

Asti DOCG wines are most commonly produced in which of the following styles?
 A.Spumante
 B.Dry
 C.Still
 D.Rosé
 E.Frizzante

Answer 23

A. Spumante

Question 24

What are the vinification differences between Moscato d’Asti and Asti? What level of carbonation applies to each?

Answer 24

– Moscato d’Asti: Off-dry, frizzante sparkling wines

– Asti DOCG: White, spumante, or metodo classico sparkling wines

Question 25

What grape are Moscato d’Asti and Asti wines made from?

Answer 25

The wines are comprised solely of Moscato Bianco and blended from vast vineyards across the southern provinces of Piedmont before undergoing secondary fermentation, usually via the Charmat Method.

Question 26

What style of wines are produced in the Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG?

Answer 26

Sweet, sparkling red wines

Question 27

Which grapes are used to make wines from Gavi DOCG?

Answer 27

Gavi’s dry, mineral-tinged whites are produced from the Cortese grape

Question 28

``` The Gattinara DOCG and Ghemme DOCGs produce wines based on which following grapes? Dolcetto Barbera Nebbiolo Corvina ```

Answer 28

These appellations offer Nebbiolo-based reds exclusively.

Question 29

What is the name of the river that runs through Barolo and Barbaresco?

Answer 29

Tanaro River

Question 30

Explain the stylistic differences between Moscato d’Asti and Asti DOCG wines

Answer 30

Asti is less sweet, higher in alcohol and more carbonated. – Moscato d’Asti: Off-dry, frizzante sparkling wines – Asti DOCG: White, spumante, or metodo classico sparkling wines

Question 31

What is the grape varietal that comprises Moscato d’Asti and Asti DOCG wines?

Answer 31

Moscato

Question 32

Besides Barolo & Barbaresco, which other 3 DOCG regions in Piedmont produce Nebbiolo?

Answer 32

Gattinara DOCG Ghemme DOCG Roero DOCG

Question 33

What grape varietals are produced in the Roero DOCG? What is the style of wine?

Answer 33

Nebbiolo - Minimum 95% Nebbiolo | Arneis - Fresh and floral white wines. Wines are still and dry (secco)

Question 34

What grape varietals are produced in the Gavi DOCG? What is the style of wine?

Answer 34

Cortese - Dry (secco) mineral-tinged whites

Question 35

What is Italy’s most important river in Piedmont?

Answer 35

Po River

Question 36

Modern Barbera often sees new wood. True or false?

Answer 36

True

Question 37

What are the 2 Barbera grape-based appellations that were granted DOCG status in 2008?

Answer 37

Barbera d’Asti and Barbera del Monferrato Superiore. Located in the Monferrato hills east of the Langhe

Question 38

What are the aging requirements for Barolo and Barbaresco? Reserva for each?

Answer 38

Barolo - 38 months - 18 of these months MUST be in oak Barolo Reserva - 62 months - 18 of these months MUST be in oak Barbaresco - 26 months - 9 of these months MUST be in oak Barbaresco Riserva - 50 months - 9 of these months MUST be in oak

Question 39

Legal aging requirements for Barolo prior to 2010? After 2010?

Answer 39

Barolo is a massively tannic wine by nature, and prior to 2010, regulations called for a minimum three years of aging before release, two of which were in oak—or, rarely, chestnut—casks. Today, Barolo must be aged at least 38 months from November 1 of the harvest year, but only 18 months need be in oak.

Question 40

Match the soil to the communes: La Morra Serralunga Barolo Tortonian Soil Serravallian (Helvetian)

Answer 40

Tortonian Soil Barolo La Morra Serravallian (Helvetian) Serralunga

Question 41

Legal aging requirements for Barolo prior to 2010? After 2010?

Answer 41

Prior to 2010, regulations called for a minimum three years of aging before release, two of which were in oak—or, rarely, chestnut—casks. Today, Barolo must be aged at least 38 months from November 1 of the harvest year, but only 18 months need be in oak.

Question 42

What are the 2 main soil types in Barolo?

Answer 42

Tortonian soils - The lighter-tasting wine communes include La Morra and Barolo, with limestone-based soils. Serravallian (Helvetian) - The bolder-tasting wine communes include Serralunga d’Alba, Monforte d’Alba, and Castiglione Falletto, with more weathered sandstone-clay soils.

Question 43

``` Barolo producers - Modern vs. Traditional (M or T) Giacomo Conterno Bartolo Mascarello Giuseppe Rinaldi Paolo Scavino Luciano Sandrone Elio Altare ```

Answer 43

TRADITIONAL Giacomo Conterno Bartolo Mascarello Giuseppe Rinaldi MODERN Paolo Scavino Luciano Sandrone Elio Altare Barolo was divided between the "traditionalists” who retained faith in older winemaking techniques—Giacomo Conterno, Bartolo Mascarello, Giuseppe Rinaldi—and the “modernists” who embraced barriques, shorter macerations, and a rounder style of wine—Paolo Scavino, Luciano Sandrone, Elio Altare.

Question 44

What is the largest DOCG in Italy?

Answer 44

Asti is the largest DOCG in Italy.

Question 45

What is the smallest DOCG in Italy?

Answer 45

Valle d'Aosta

Question 46

What is the Nebbiolo grape called in Gattinara DOCG and Ghemme DOCG? Is there another synonym from another region you can name?

Answer 46

Spanna - Gattinara DOCG and Ghemme DOCG. | Chiavennasca - Valtellina (Lombardy)