Italy - Piemonte

Question 1

Describe the basic geography of Piemonte

Answer 1

Surrounded on three sides by the Apennines and the Alps

Po river flows westward through the region - main growing areas are south of the Po Valley

Question 2

In which provinces are most of Piemonte’s grapes grown?

Answer 2

Asti
Alessandia
Cuneo

Question 3

What are the main hills of the wine growing area of Piemonte?

Answer 3

Langhe

Monferrato

Question 4

Describe the weather of Piemonte

Answer 4

Continental
Dry - in the rain shadow of the Alps
Autumn hail
Morning fog (nebbia)

Question 5

What does ‘sorí’ mean?

Answer 5

Prized vineyards with southern exposure

Question 6

Apart from the ‘big three’ name seven indigeneous red grape varieties of Piemonte

Answer 6

Brachetto
Croatina
Freisa
Grignolino
Pelaverga
Ruchè
Vespolina

Question 7

Name five indigenous white grapes of Piemonte

Answer 7

Moscato Bianco (Muscat á Petit Grains)
Arneis
Cortese
Erbaluce
Favorita (Vermentino)

Question 8

In which province are Barolo DOCG and Barbaresco DOCG located?

Answer 8

Cuneo

Question 9

In how many communes can Barolo DOCG be produced?

Answer 9

Eleven

Question 10

What are the five main communes of Barolo DOCG

Answer 10

La Morra 
Barolo
Castigione Falletto
Serralunga d'Alba
Monforte d'Alba

Question 11

How much of Barolo DOCG’s demarcated land is within the main five communes?

Answer 11

90%

Question 12

Which of the five main communes of Barolo DOCG are known for ‘softer’ styles?

Answer 12

Barolo

La Morra

Question 13

Which of the five main communes of Barolo DOCG are known for ‘firmer’ styles?

Answer 13

Serralunga d’Alba

Monforte d’Alba

Question 14

What is the soil type of the commune of Barolo?

Answer 14

Tortonian - calcareous marl

Question 15

What is the soil type of the commune of La Morra?

Answer 15

Tortonian - calcareous marl

Question 16

What is the soil type of the commune of Monforte d’Alba?

Answer 16

Serravallian sandstone
Less fertile

This used to be called Helvetican.
Helvetican is the name used to group together Serravallian and Langhien geologial formations, but these are actually from different ages

Question 17

What is the soil type of the commune of Serralunga d’Alba?

Answer 17

Serravallian sandstone
Less fertile

This used to be called Helvetican.
Helvetican is the name used to group together Serravallian and Langhien geologial formations, but these are actually from different ages

Question 18

Along which river are Barolo DOCG and Barbaresco DOCG located?

Answer 18

Tanaro

The river divides the Langhe from the Roero

Question 19

What are the ‘other’ communes of Barolo DOCG?

Answer 19

Diano d'Alba 
Novello 
Verduno
Grinzane 
Cavour
Cherasco
Roddi

Question 20

What is Barolo DOCG + Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive

Answer 20

A Barolo wine from one of the designated ‘cru’ - defined in 2010

Question 21

What is Barolo DOCG + Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive + Vigna

Answer 21

A Barolo wine from one of the designated ‘cru’ plus 100% of the grapes must come from a named vineyard

Question 22

What is the denominazione for a Barolo wine that comes from one of the designated ‘cru’ plus 100% of the grapes must come from a named vineyard.

Answer 22

Barolo DOCG + Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive + Vigna

Question 23

What styles of wine can be produced in Barolo DOCG?

Answer 23

All red, all 100% nebbiolo

Barolo DOCG
Barolo Riserva DOCG
Barolo DOCG + Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive
Barolo DOCG + Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive + Vigna
Barolo Chinato

Question 24

What is the elevation requirements for the planting of nebbiolo in Barolo DOCG?

Answer 24

170-540m asl

Older plantings are permitted outside of this but new plantings cannot be made

Question 25

Can nebbiolo be planted on slopes of any aspect in Barolo DOCG?

Answer 25

No - it is prohibited to plant on completely north facing slopes.

Question 26

What are the aging requirements of Barolo DOCG? How and when did this change?

Answer 26

38 months total aging, 18 months of which is in wood In 2010, aging requirements changed, reducing 2 years in wood (from a total of 3 years aging) to 18 months in wood (with a total of 38 months aging)

Question 27

What are the aging requirements of Barolo Riserva DOCG?

Answer 27

62 months total aging, 18 months of which is in wood

Question 28

Name three producers of Barolo associated with the 'modernist' movement that started in the 1980s

Answer 28

Elio Altare Luciano Sandrone Paolo Scavino Aldo Conterno

Question 29

Name three producers of Barolo associated with the 'traditionalist' movement during the 1980s

Answer 29

Giacomo Conterno Bartolo Mascarello Giuseppe Rinaldi

Question 30

Who is the most iconic producer of Barolo Chinato DOCG?

Answer 30

Cappellano

Question 31

What are the three main communes of Barbaresco DOCG?

Answer 31

Nieve Barbaresco Treiso (a frazione/hamlet within Barbaresco) A small part of Alba is also allowed, San Rocco Senodelvio

Question 32

When did the Consorzio enshrine the cru of Barbaresco DOCG?

Answer 32

2007

Question 33

When did the Consorzio enshrine the cru of Barolo DOCG?

Answer 33

2010

Question 34

What is the aging requirements for Barbaresco DOCG?

Answer 34

Minimum 26 months, with at least 9 months in wood

Question 35

What styles of wine can be ,ade in Barbaresco?

Answer 35

All red, all 100% nebbiolo Barbaresco DOCG Barbaresco Riserva DOCG Barbaresco DOCG + Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive Barbaresco DOCG + Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive + Vigna

Question 36

What is the minimum alcohol requirement for Barbaresco DOCG?

Answer 36

12.5%

Question 37

What is the aging requirements for Barbaresco Riserva DOCG?

Answer 37

Minimum 50 months, with at least 9 months in wood

Question 38

Name three significant Barbaresco DOCG cru

Answer 38

Asili - covers a full 360°C aspect Martinenga - one of the most famous sites Rabaja - two sections, one south facing, one south east Ovello - largest cru in Barbaresco Montestefano - southern exposure

Question 39

Name three significant Barolo DOCG cru

Answer 39

Cannubi - most prestigious cru in Barolo, whole hillside, sandier soils, many aspects and sub-vineyards Brunate - La Morra/Barolo, southern exposure Rocche dell'Annunziata - La Morra, south east facing, well regarded Bussia - Monforte, nearly 300ha with many sub-vineyards Monprivato - Castiglione Falletto, made famous by Mascarello, disput over boundaries Vigna Rionda - Serralunga, famed south facing vineyard Francia - Serralunga, a monopole of Giacomo Conterno

Question 40

When were Barbaresco DOC and Barolo DOC established? When were they elevated to DOCG?

Answer 40

DOC - 1966 | DOCG - 1980

Question 41

Yields for Barolo DOCG and Barbaresco DOCG?

Answer 41

56 hl/ha

Question 42

What is the soil type of Barbaresco DOCG

Answer 42

Tortonian calcareous marl

Question 43

Where is Barbaresco DOCG located in relation to Barolo DOCG?

Answer 43

North east, along the Tanaro river

Question 44

Which appellation encompasses the area of Barolo DOCG and Barbaresco DOCG, plus some extra land around them?

Answer 44

Langhe DOC

Question 45

Which styles of wine can be made in Langhe DOC?

Answer 45

``` White White + Variety White Passito Rosato Red Red + Variety Red Passito ```

Question 46

What percentage must be included to make a Langhe DOC wine with varietal labelling?

Answer 46

85% of that variety | 15% of other approved varieties of the same colour.

Question 47

Which grape varieties are allowed for Langhe DOC?

Answer 47

``` Arneis/Arneis Passito Chardonnay Favorita Nascetta/Nascetta del Commune di Novello Riesling Rossese Bianco Sauvignon Blanc ``` ``` Barbera Cabernet Sauvignon Dolcetto/Dolcetto Novello Freisa/Freisa Frizzante Merlot Nebbiolo Pinot Nero ```

Question 48

Where is Roero DOCG?

Answer 48

On the northern bank of the Tanaro, north of Alba

Question 49

What styles of wine are made in Roero DOCG?

Answer 49

Lighter examples of Nebbiolo (min 95%) - sandy soils | Arneis (min 95%) - Arneis Spumante can also be made

Question 50

Which two appellations are in the hills north of the Po River?

Answer 50

Ghemme DOCG | Gattinara DOCG

Question 51

What is the river on which Ghemme DOCG and Gattinara are located?

Answer 51

Sesia

Question 52

What is the DOC of the area around Gattinara and Ghemme?

Answer 52

Coste della Sesia

Question 53

What does MGA relate to with regard to Barolo DOCG and Barbaresco DOCG?

Answer 53

Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive | A cru

Question 54

What is the synonym for nebbiolo in the north of Piemonte?

Answer 54

Spanna

Question 55

Which grape varieties are allowed for Gattinara DOCG?

Answer 55

Spanna (Nebbiolo) - minimum 90% Vespolina Bonarda di Gattinara

Question 56

Which grape varieties are allowed for Ghemme DOCG?

Answer 56

Spanna (Nebbiolo) - minimum 85% Vespolina Uva Rara (Bonarda Novarese)

Question 57

What are three other DOCs of northern Piemonte known for red wines made from nebbiolo>

Answer 57

Lessona DOC - near Ghemme (85% Nebbiolo/Vespolina/Uva Rara) Sizzano DOC - near Ghemme (50-70% Nebbiolo, 30-50% Vespolina&Uva Rara, up to 10% other red grapes of the region) Carema DOC - near Valle d'Aosta (85-100% Nebbiolo, up to 15% other red grapes of the region)