North-West Italy Flashcards
(37 cards)
what are Piemonte’s top five varieties?
High to low:
- Barbera
- Moscato w. (sparkl. Asti)
- Dolcetto
- Nebbiolo
- Cortese w. (Gavi)
What is the climate in Piemonte
Moderate continental climate - cold winters/ hot summers.
What are the natural factors affecting viti in Piemonte
- The Alps to the north shelter from rain + cold winds
- The Apennines: shelter from Mediterranean weather systems
Hazards in Piemonte
Thunderstorms, hail and fog. Late frosts. Autumn rain issue f. late ripening Nebbiolo
Describe Nebbiolo
Black, vigorous, early budding(frost risk), late ripening (autumn rain risk).
Nebbiolo grape growing
- in best S + SW sites due to its high value
- likes calcareous marl soil
- trained high as first buds infertile
- vigorous: needs canopy mngmnt/ cluster thinning
- Single Guyot (mechanical trimming)
- Needs sunburn protection
Describe the typical Nebbiolo wine style
Pale ruby in colour, turning to pale garnet within 3–5 years, pronounced intensity aromas/flavours (violet, rose, red cherry, red plum), dry, high acidity, high tannins, high alcohol + full body.
Nebbiolo winemaking
- Past: long maceration on skins (3-4 months), followed by 5-8 years ageing in large old wooden vessels (softern harsh tannins)
- 1980’s: New oak flavour (Altare/Gaja) + deeper colour/more extraction
- Present: less new oak, grapes picked riper, maceration 3-4 weeks, ageing in a combo of large Slavonian + smaller barriques.
Name the Nebbiolo denominations
- Barolo, Barbaresco, Roero, Gattinara, Ghemme (all DOCG)
- Langhe Nebbiolo, Nebbiolo d’Alba (DOC)
Barolo location
It is a village around the city of Alba, Piemonte
Barolo factors + effect on style
- south+ south-west facing slopes
- 200–400 m. asl
- good sunlight + cool influence during long growing season (–>ripeness + acidity)
What are the yields in Barolo
The DOCG restricts yields to 56 hL/ha.
Plantings have doubled. Local consortium started controlling plantings to preserve quality.
what are the soils in Barolo
- Blue-grey marl (more fertile) in N + NW (lighter more aromatic, earlier drinkability).
- Yellow-grey sand and clay (less fertile) in S + SE (closed and tannic in youth, need cellaring)
what are the ageing requirements for Barolo & Barolo Riserva?
Barolo DOCG: 3yrs + 2 m
Barolo Riserva: 5 years+2m
Both min. 18m in oak. (long maturation adds to cost)
what is barolo chinato?
Barolo wine, sweetened and infused with herbs and spices.
Famous Barolo Single vineyards
Vigna Rionda, Cru Cannubi
What’s Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive (MeGA)?
status given to high quality single vineyard. Can appear on label to signify this.
How is Barbaresco different to Barolo?
Smaller in size Lower altitude Warmer climate Harvest a week earlier Shorter maturation times 2yrs for Barb. DOCG + 4 yrs for Rsrva.
Gattinara + Ghemme DOCGs
continental climate, great diurnal variation
South facing- 300asl
higher acidity
light body+pronounced intensity
Barolo & Barbaresco prices
premium to super premium from £35 + above
Describe the Barbera variety
- black variety
- early budding (spr.frost)
- late ripen. (before nebbiolo)
- vigorous+ disease-resistant
- range of sites and aspects
- fan leaf virus issue
- high yields (control for
concentr. wines) - hi acid- lo tannin
Barbera wine style in general
deep ruby, med intensity red cherry, plum, black pepper, no oak, high acidity, med. tannins, med. alcohol
inxpnsive -mid price
where is top Quality Barbera grown
- Nizza DOCG
-Low Yields (49 hL/ha)
-Aged in small french oak
barriques
-premium price
Barbera denominations
- Barbera d’Asti DOCG(63 hL/ha, no oak age)
- Nizza DOCG (49 hL/ha, 18 months total age- 6 in barrique
- Barbera D’Alba
- Barbera del Monferatto
