Piedmonte

Question 1

What is the permitted blend for Alta Langa DOCG?

Answer 1

Must be 90% combined Pinot noir and Chardonnay

Question 2

What are the permitted styles in Alta Langa DOCG?

Answer 2

Spumante
Spumante Riserva
Spumante Rosato
Rosato Riserva

Question 3

What are the aging requirements for Alta Langa Spumante and Riserva?

Answer 3

Spumante must be aged for 30 months on the lees, Riserva must be aged 36 months on the lees.

Question 4

What are the permitted styles for Asti DOCG?

Answer 4

Spumante
Metodo Classico
Moscato d’Asti
Moscato VT

All must be 100% Moscato Bianco. Moscato d’Asti is max 2.5 bars of pressure.

Question 5

What are the subzones of Asti?

Answer 5

Cannellino
Strevi
Santa Vittoria d’Alba

Question 6

What are the subzones of Barbaresco?

Answer 6

Barbaresco
Neive
Treiso
San Rocco Senodelvio

Question 7

What are the aging requirements for Barbaresco and what is the minimum required alcohol?

Answer 7

12.5% alcohol
26 months aging with 9 in wood
Riserva is 50 months with 9 in wood.

Question 8

What are some of the top crus of Barbaresco?

Answer 8

Ovello-  largest
Monto Stefano
Paje 
Rabaja-Bas
Asili- this cru covers 360 degrees area
Martinega 
Rabaja 
Roncagliete (contains Sori Tildin)
Rio Sordo
Tre Stelle

Question 9

What is the required amount of Barbera for Barbera d’Asti? How does this differ from Barbera del Monserrato Superiore DOCG?

Answer 9

Barbera d’Asti DOCG must be 90% Barbera with the remaining balance made up from Freisa, Grignolino and Dolcetto.

Barbera del Monferrato Superiore DOCG is only 85% required Barbera with the remaining balance made up from Freisa, Grignolino, and Dolcetto.

Question 10

What are the requirements for barrel aging for Barbera d’Asti and Barbera del Monferrato?

Answer 10

Barbera d’Asti: 14 months from November 1 with 6 in oak
Barbera del Monferrato Superiore: 14 months with 6 in oak
Barbera d’Asti Superiore with mention of a subzone is 24 months aging with 6 in oak and 6 in a bottle.

Question 11

Which DOCG of Piedmonte used to be part of Barbera d’Asti?

Answer 11

Nizza which became its own DOCG in 2014

Question 12

What are the subzones of Barbera d’Asti? Why does this matter?

Answer 12

Tinella
Colli Astiani

This matters because you can mention a subzone on a label in the Superiore category and this also carries requirements for more aging than the regular superiore or Barbera d’Asti DOCG.

Superiore with mention of subzone: 24 months aging with 6 in oak and 6 in bottle.

Question 13

What is the soil type found in the Barbera d’Asti DOCG?

Answer 13

Clay, silt, sand and limestone

Question 14

What is the maximum permitted yield for Barolo DOCG?

Answer 14

56hl/ha

Question 15

What is the minimum required alcohol for Barolo? How does this compare to Barbaresco?

Answer 15

Barolo is 13%

Barbaresco is 12.5%

Question 16

Name two DOCGS of Piedmonte for Dolcetto?

Answer 16

Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba DOCG
Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba SuperioreDOCG
Dolcetto di Ovada di Ovada Superiore DOCG
Dogliani

Question 17

Name three white wine only DOCGs from Piedmont

Answer 17

Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG
Gavi di Gavi DOCG
Asti DOCG

Question 18

What styles are permitted in Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG?

Answer 18

Bianco
Spumante- 15 months on the lees
Passito- 36 months from November 1
Passito Riserva- aged 48 months from November 1

All must 100% Erbaluce

Question 19

What is the elevation range for Gattinara DOCG?

Answer 19

250-550 meters

Question 20

How are the required blends for Gattinara and Ghemme different?

Answer 20

Gattinara DOCG: 90% Spanna, 10% Bonarda and Vespolina

Ghemme DOCG: 85% Spanna, 15% combined Vespolina and Uva Rara

Question 21

Compare the aging requirements for Gattinara and Ghemme?

Answer 21

Both DOCGs can produce wines in the Riserva category.

Gattinara DOCG: 35 months with 24 in wood from November 1
Riserva: 47 months with 36 in wood

Ghemme: 34 months with 18 in wood and 6 in bottle
Riserva: 46 months with 24 in wood and 6 in a bottle

Question 22

What are the soils in Ghemme?

Answer 22

Clay, sand, loam, stony

Question 23

How do the elevations compare between Barolo, Ghemme and Gattinara?

Answer 23

Gattinara can be planted up to 550 meters which is the highest (from 250 meters) Barolo is 170-540, and Ghemme is the lowest, at 200-400 meters. Northern exposures are not permitted!

Question 24

What are the permitted styles in Gavi di Gavi DOCG?

Answer 24

Tranquillo
Riserva
Frizzante
Spumante
Metodo Classico Riserva

All are 100% Cortese

Question 25

What is the most planted commune of Barolo?

Answer 25

La Morra has 1/3 of all Barolo wine. It has twice the amount of Serralunga d’Alba which would be second.

Question 26

Who is Renata Ratti?

Answer 26

A winemaker who conducted an extensive study of the soils and created the “Ratti map,” of the Barolo region.

Question 27

What are the top MGAs of Barolo?

Answer 27

``` Cannubi Sarmassa Brunate Liste San Lorenzo Preda Bricco Viole Rue ```

Question 28

What are the top MGAs of La Morra?

Answer 28

Brunate, Cerequio, Fossati, Rocche

Question 29

Top MGAs of Castiglione Falletto?

Answer 29

``` Monprivato Vuillermin Bricco Rocche Pira Rivera ```

Question 30

Top MGAs of Serralunga d’Alba?

Answer 30

``` Lazzarito Vigna Rionda Falletto Francia Ornato Marenca-Rivetti La Serra Cerretta ```

Question 31

Top crus of Monforte?

Answer 31

``` Bussia Ginestra Santo Stefano di Perno Dardi Cicala Masconi Romirasco ```

Question 32

What are the aging requirements for Barbaresco and Barbaresco Riserva?

Answer 32

26 months with 9 in wood- released Jan 1 3rd year | 50 months with 9 in wood- released Jan 1 5th year

Question 33

What are the aging requirements and alcohol for Barbara d’Asti Superiore?

Answer 33

Superiore 12.5% 14 months/ 6 in wood | Superiore with Subzone: 13% 24 months/ 6 wood/6 bottle

Question 34

What are the subzones of Barbera d’Asti?

Answer 34

Tinella | Colli Astiani

Question 35

How is the aging for Barbera del Monferrato Superiore similar to Barbera d’Asti Superiore?

Answer 35

Both require 14 months aging with 6 in oak. The alcohol minimum here is 13% rather than 12.5%

Question 36

Aging for Nebbiolo d’Alba Superiore?

Answer 36

18 months with 6 in wood. 12.5% alcohol

Question 37

Nizza DOCG requires what aging?

Answer 37

Nizza 13% 18 months/ 6 in wood Nizza Vigna 13.5% 18 months/ 6 in wood Nizza Riserva 13% 30 months/ 12 in oak Nizza Riserva Vigna 13.5% 30 months/ 12 in oak

Question 38

What is the required aging for Montefalco Sagrantino Secco and Passito?

Answer 38

13 and 18% alcohol respectively. Must age 37 months with 12 in wood and 4 in the bottle.

Question 39

Which direction does the Monprivato vineyard face?

Answer 39

This vineyard is in Castiglione-Falletto. It faces southwest along with Villero, Bricco Rocche and Fiasco.

Question 40

Which direction does the Brunate vineyard face?

Answer 40

This is a shared vineyard between La Morra and Barolo. The vineyard faces southeast along with Cerequio and Fossati.

Question 41

Which direction do Francia and Falletto vineyards face?

Answer 41

These vineyards are in Serralunga d’Alba and are west/south facing.

Question 42

Which direction do the Cannnubi vineyards and surrounding face?

Answer 42

South/ Southeast.

Question 43

Who produces the “Monprivato” MGA, and in which commune is this?

Answer 43

This is Giuseppe Mascarello’s vineyard in Castiglione Falletto.

Question 44

Who produces a Falletto bottling?

Answer 44

This is Bruno Giacosa’s vineyard in Serralunga d’Alba. In only the best years he produces the red label Le Rocche de Falletto. He also produces a Dolcetto and Barbera from this vineyard.

Question 45

Sori Tilden and Costa Russi are bottlings made from which vineyard and which producer?

Answer 45

Angelo Gaja from the Roncagliette Cru in Barbaresco

Question 46

Who produces “Monfortino?”

Answer 46

Giacomo Conterno from the Cascina Francia Vineyard.

Question 47

Who is the most famous producer of Monprivato cru? What commune is this from?

Answer 47

Guisseppe Mascarello from Castiglione Falletto.

Question 48

Who makes Cascina Francia and from which commune?

Answer 48

Giacomo Conterno from the Serralunga d’Alba commune. The family purchased the vineyard in 1974. The very best grapes are saved for Monfortino- not made every year.

Question 49

From what year will Gaja’s Costa Russi have “Barbaresco DOCG” on the bottle and why?

Answer 49

Traditionally this wine, Sori Tildin, And Sori San Lorenzo all were labeled Langhe. As of 2013 the 5% of Barbera was removed from the blends so that they can join the Barbaresco DOCG.

Question 50

The wines Conteisa and Dagromis are made by whom and from where?

Answer 50

These are two 100% Nebbiolo wines made by Gaja. Both are from the Barolo region although Conteisa is still labeled Langhe Nebbiolo.

Question 51

Darmagi is Gaja’s wine based on which grape?

Answer 51

Cabernet is 95%

Question 52

Sito Moresco is what blend from where?

Answer 52

Gaja’s wine from estate owned vineyard in Barbaresco. This wine is equal parts Nebbiolo, Cabernet and Merlot.

Question 53

What is the soil type of Barbaresco?

Answer 53

Tortonian marl

Question 54

Which commune of Barbaresco is known to produce the most powerful style of wines?

Answer 54

Nieve

Question 55

Name a single vineyard Brunello

Answer 55

Gaja’s Sugarille Brunello | San Filippo Le Lucere Brunello

Question 56

Name three producers of an Asili bottling?

Answer 56

``` Giacosa Ceretto Ca’ del Baio Produttori del Barbaresco Bruno Rocca Sottimano Castello di Neive ```

Question 57

Name three producers of a Cannubi bottling?

Answer 57

Borgogne Francisco Rinaldi E. Pira Marchesi di Barolo