Piemonte 2 Flashcards

1
Q

In which village would you most likely find the grape Pelaverga Piccolo?

A

Verduno

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2
Q

What is the principal white grape of Caluso?

A

Erbaluce

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3
Q

What are the names of the two geologic formations in Barolo DOCG?

A

Tortonian and Helvetian/Serravallian

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4
Q

What is the minimum percentage of Dolcetto in Diano d’Alba DOCG?

A

100%

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5
Q

Which river separates the DOCGs of Gattinara and Ghemme?

A

Sesia

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6
Q

What is the most widely planted white grape in Piemonte?

A

Moscato Bianco

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7
Q

What is the production method for Alta Langa DOCG?

A

Traditional method sparkling

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8
Q

The town of Castagnole is associated with what aromatic red grape variety?

A

Ruchè

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9
Q

What is the largest subzone of Moscato d’Asti DOCG?

A

Canelli

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10
Q

How many communes can make Barolo DOCG?

A

11

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11
Q

What DOC traditionally adopts the Topia vine training system?

A

Carema DOC

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12
Q

Which grape’s name translates as “little sweet one”?

A

Dolcetto

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13
Q

Why is Erbaluce suitable for passito wines?

A

Its thick skin and high acidity

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14
Q

What village is closely associated with the Nascetta grape?

A

Novello

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15
Q

Who created Asti Spumante?

A

Carlo Gancia

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16
Q

How many MGAs are there in Barbaresco DOCG?

A

66

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17
Q

The Nizza DOCG is based on what grape variety?

A

Barbera

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18
Q

Define “Sörì”.

A

A sunny, well exposed site

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19
Q

What is the minimum lees aging for Alta Langa DOCG?

A

30 months

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20
Q

What is the approximate alcohol content in Moscato d’Asti DOCG?

A

~ 5 - 5.5% abv

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21
Q

The first MGAs created in Piemonte were in which DOCG?

A

Diano d’Alba DOCG

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22
Q

What is Nebbiolo called in Northern Piemonte?

A

Spanna

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23
Q

What is the principal clone of Nebbiolo?

A

Lampia

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24
Q

What is the minimum aging for Dogliani Superiore DOCG?

A

1 year

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25
Q

What is the maximum pressure (atm) of Moscato d’Asti DOCG?

A

2.5 atm

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26
Q

Timorasso is grown mostly around what area of Piemonte?

A

The hills of Tortona

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27
Q

Boca DOC is in which winegrowng region of Piemonte?

A

Northern Piemonte

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28
Q

Define “Bricco”.

A

A superior site on the higher part of the hill

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29
Q

Dogliani DOCG is based on which grape?

A

Dolcetto

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30
Q

Grignolino gets its name from what?

A

The high number of pips (grignole in Italian).

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31
Q

Cannubi is a cru in what DOCG?

A

Barolo DOCG

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32
Q

What is the most widely planted red grape in Piemonte?

A

Barbera

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33
Q

Define “Barolo Chinato”.

A

Aromatized, fortified wine produced using Barolo wine

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34
Q

Barbaresco is on which bank of the Tanaro river?

A

Right

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35
Q

Approximately when did Barolo transition into a dry wine?

A

Mid 19th century

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36
Q

What is the grape Uva Rara called in Northern Piemonte?

A

Bonarda

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37
Q

What are the names of the three villages of Barbaresco?

A

Barbaresco, Neive and Treiso

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38
Q

What is the minimum percentage of Nebbiolo in Ghemme DOCG?

A

85%

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39
Q

How many MGAs are there in Barolo DOCG?

A

181

40
Q

What is the Nebbiolo-based DOC in Piemonte that borders Valle d’Aosta?

A

Carema DOC

41
Q

The Roero and Langhe hills of Piemonte are divided by which river?

A

Tanaro

42
Q

Favorita is genetically identical to which popular grape from Sardegna?

A

Vermentino

43
Q

In Northern Piemonte, which river separates the Vercelli hills from the Novara Hills?

A

Sesia

44
Q

What is the minimum percentage of Nebbiolo in Roero DOCG?

A

95%

45
Q

Why would have Freisa wines traditionally been finished with some residual sugar?

A

To offset Freisa’s characteristic bitterness

46
Q

Which clone of Nebbiolo is considered lesser quality and higher yielding?

A

Bolla

47
Q

What is the percentage of Cortese required in Gavi DOCG?

A

100%

48
Q

What is Italy’s second largest region?

A

Piemonte

49
Q

What province lead the reunification of Italy

A

Piemonte

50
Q

Why does Piemonte have Vinous Supremacy?

A
  1. Fine and Prestigious wines

2. Diversity & Quantity

51
Q

Who has the largest number of DOC/Gs?

A

DOCG-17
DOC-42
No IGT

52
Q

What is the presence of international wines in Piemonte?

A

Insignificant

53
Q

Who were the descendants of the Liguri tribes

A

Taurini and Salassi 1000bc

54
Q

Who were the descendants of the Liguri tribes

A

Taurini and Salassi 1000bc

55
Q

What tribe merged with the Taurini and Salassi in Piemonte?

A

The Celtic

Took Romans a century to conquer.

56
Q

What happened to Piemonte after the fall of Roman?

A

They had a much better time defending from Barbarian hordes than most of Italy
Eventually the Lombards took over chopped into Dutchies

57
Q

Who conquered the Lombards?

A

Charlemagne and Franks

Became Holy Roman Empire

58
Q

Who saved viticulture during the Middle Ages?

A

Monks allowed winemaking to flourish.

59
Q

What borders Piemonte?

A

Northern and Western Alps with France and Valle d’Aosta
Switzerland to the north
Ligurian Apennines and Maritime Alps separate to the south
East - Lombardia and Emilia-Romagna

60
Q

What is the capital of Piemonte?

A

Torino

61
Q

Where are most of the wine growing provinces in Piemonte?

A
  1. Novara
  2. Vercelli
  3. Asti
  4. Alessandria
  5. Cuneo
62
Q

How to describe Piemonte’s landscape?

A

Loosely as 3 concentric topographical rings

  1. Alpine-Apennine external ring (43% mountains)
  2. Hills Zone (30%) - most of wine districts here 150-400m (sun exposure in all directions)
  3. Hills Clusters eg Monferrato, Langhe, Roero, Novara, Vercelli, Tortona
  4. Plains (27%) - upper portion of Po Valley Pianura Padana
63
Q

What is interesting about the mountain ranges in Piemonte?

A

There are no Prealps

High elevation directly to the plains

64
Q

What makes the Hills Zone in Piemonte interesting?

A

Sun exposure in all directions.
Different aspects
Allows different grapes to be grown

65
Q

Where is the largest network of hills found?

A

Monferrato within Asti and Alessandria

66
Q

What is the principal crop on the Padana Plain?

A

Rice. Too fertile for wine

67
Q

What is the climate of Piemonte?

A

Continental

Varied geography create macro and meso-climates

68
Q

What are seasons like?

A
Snow is frequent
Fog is common - autumn, winter
Hail is a problem in summer/fall
Wide diurnal ranges here
Rain shadow from Alps and Apennines
69
Q

Where is the lowest annual rainfall?

A

Monferrato area
Eastern part of Cuneo
(Central area of Piemonte)

70
Q

Where are most of Piemonte’s vineyards planted?

A

In central band of hills

71
Q

What is the number one grape in Piemonte?

A

Barbera (30%)- traditional and strong in Asti and Alessandria

72
Q

How much do red grapes account in Piemonte production?

A

2/3

73
Q

What is the second most widely planted red grape?

A

Dolcetto (13%), 3rd most planted overall

74
Q

How much does Nebbiolo account for amongst Piemonte plantings?

A

Less than 10%

75
Q

What is the second most planted grape and most planted white?

A

Moscato Bianco (21%)

76
Q

What is the second most widely planted white?

A

Cortese (5%)

77
Q

What are two lesser know white grapes that have been elevated in Piemonte?

A

Arneis and Erbaluce

78
Q

What 4 grapes represent 70% of plantings?

A

Barbera
Moscato Bianco
Dolcetto
Nebbiolo

79
Q

How are international grapes represented.

A

Less than 4% and most Chardonnay for sparkling

80
Q

Describe Barbera

A

Traditional Piemonte grape
Most widely planted
Monferrato considered native home (no evidence)
Gained post phylloxera - productive and versatile
Late ripening, High Acidity (Hallmark even when ripe)
Deep Color, Bright Red Cherry, Low Tannin

81
Q

Describe Dolcetto

A
Traditional Piemonte grape
Once most widely planted pre-phylloxera
"Little Sweet One" 
Langhe & Monferrato
Ripens early on cooler higher sites (Nebbiolo cannot)
Released sooner. 
Source of income
Deep color, Fragrant grapey
Low Acid, High Tannins, Bitter Finish
82
Q

Describe Nebbiolo

A
Italy's most noble & oldest
Nebbia Means fog
Thick bloom covers skin at harvest
Early budding
Very late rippening
Needs good exposure
Prefers calcareous marl
Site sensitive and changes with terroirs
High tannin, High Acid, ABV, Extract, Longevity
83
Q

What is the principal clone

A

Lampia - High quality most widely planted since it is reliable

84
Q

Describe Freisa

A
One of oldest
Once popula
Planting in Asti and Torino
Light Colored, High Acid, Tannin
Wild Strawberry and Raspberry
85
Q

Describe Grignolino

A
Native Monferrato
Once widely planted
Pips called grignole
Light Body, M-ABV
High Tannin and Acidity
86
Q

Describe Brachetto

A

Aromatic Red
Acqui Terme in Alessandria
Red equivalent to Moscato Bianco

87
Q

Describe Ruchè

A

Rare, Aromatic Red
Native to Castagnole
Exclusive to area
Intensely Perfumed, Rose, Red Fruit & Spice

88
Q

Describe Moscato Bianco

A
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
Most widely planted white grape
Used for sweet wine Asti Spumante
& Moscato d'Asti
Full Aromatic profile
Floral, Fruity, Honey Mush and Spice Notes
89
Q

Describe Cortese

A
One of Piemonte's principal white grapes
Restrained and subtle character
Very Productive, yields need to be restrictive
High Acidity, Body, Fruit
Neutral and lean wines
Gavi
90
Q

Describe Arneis

A

Roero Hills
Almost extinct Vietti and Bruno Giacosa saved
means ‘difficult personality’
Prone to poor and irregular yields
Drop acidity quickly
Full Body wines with Perfume and Complexity

91
Q

Describe Erbaluce

A
Native to Caluso and Canavese N Piemonte
Thick Skins
Very High Acidity
Suitable for Passitos
Dry Erbaluce refreshing Vibrancy, Floral Citrus, Apple
92
Q

Describe Timorasso

A
Ancient, rare white
High Quality
From Tortona SE Piemonte
Walter Massa brought back
High Acidity, Mineral, Floral, Citrus
Ages Well, Complex Bottle ageing
Best after a few years
93
Q

What is the break down of red and white?

A

Reds are 60%

Sparkling accounts for the majority of white

94
Q

How much wine production is DOC/G

A

Almost 90%
No IGT produced
A small amount of generic wine is made

95
Q

Where are the Piemonte vineyards concentrated?

A

Southern and Eastern part
80% from this region
Asti and Alba

96
Q

Are the majority blends or varietals?

A

Varietals

97
Q

What is the average vineyard holding size?

A

1-2 ha

Majority of producers are family estates