Piemonte

Question 1

What geographic features surround the Piemonte region?

Answer 1

The Apennines and the Alps.

Question 2

What river flows eastward, cutting through the heart of Piemonte?

Answer 2

The Po River

Question 3

Describe the climate of Piemonte?

Answer 3

Piemonte experiences a continental climate with a “rain shadow” effect provided by the Alps.

Question 4

Although they can vary by specific mesoclimate, describe the soil of Piemonte.

Answer 4

Thinner, calcareous marl and sandstone soils with varying percentages of clay and sand.

Question 5

What are the 3 major red varietals of Piemonte?

Answer 5

Nebbiolo

Barbera

Dolcetto

Question 6

What is the most planted red grape of Piemonte?

Answer 6

Barbera

Question 7

What is the most planted white grape of Piemonte?

Answer 7

Moscato Bianco

Mostly used in the production of sparkling wines of Asti.

Question 8

What are the 2 most prestigious DOCGs in Piemonte?

Answer 8

Barolo and Barbaresco

Question 9

What are the aging requirements for Barolo red wines?

Answer 9

38 months with 18 in oak

Barolo Riserva requires a total of 62 months

Question 10

Describe the division in wine making between the “traditionalists” and the “modernists” of Barolo (and Barbaresco).

Answer 10

“Traditionalists” mostly age the wines in large neutral casks after extended macerations of 30-50 days requiring the consumer to cellar the wine for years before it was approachable.

“Modernists” embrace the use of barriques, shorter macerations, and a rounder style of wine.

Question 11

Although Barolo is produced in 11 comunes, what 5 communes make up 90% of the DOCG’s demarcated land?

Answer 11

La Morra

Barolo

Serralunga d’Alba

Monforte d’Alba

Castiglione Falletto

Question 12

What 3 towns produce the majority of the Nebbiolo wines in Barbaresco DOCG?

Answer 12

Barbaresco

Neive

Treiso

Question 13

What are the aging requirements for Nebbiolo in the Barabersco DOCG?

Answer 13

Minimum of 2 years with 9 months in cask

Riserva requires a minimum of 4 years.

Question 14

What similarities do Barolo and Barbaresco have with Burgundy?

Answer 14

The wines show similar aromatic richness

The Langhe has a similar climate

Emphasis on single vineyards and on domaine bottling

Question 15

What is Barolo Chinato?

Answer 15

A DOCG aromatized wine that is flavored with quinine.

Question 16

What grape is used to produce the fresh and floral white wines of Roero DOCG?

Answer 16

Arneis

Question 17

List some other appelations of Barolo that produce Nebbiolo based red wines

Answer 17

Roero DOCG

Gattinara DOCG

Ghemme DOCG

Lessona DOC

Sizzano DOC

Carema DOC

Question 18

What 3 DOCG’s in Barolo produce red wine from Barbera?

Answer 18

Barbera d’Asti

Barbera del Monferrato

Nizza

Question 19

What are the aging requirements for Barbera d’Asti?

Answer 19

Barbera d’Asti may be released as normale after a 4 month aging period.

Question 20

What are the aging requirements for Barbera del Monferrato?

Answer 20

Barbera del Monferrato must be superiore with 14 months of aging (6 in cask) prior to release.

Question 21

Which DOCG in Barolo produces an aromatic red wine from the local Ruchè grape?

Answer 21

Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG

Question 22

What are the 3 DOCG’s of Barolo that produce wine from 100% Dolcetto?

Answer 22

Dogliani DOCG

Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba DOCG

Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore DOCG

Question 23

Gavi DOCG’s dry, mineral-tinged and generally still white wines are produced from what grape?

Answer 23

Cortese

Question 24

What area is the largest producer of DOCG wines in Italy?

Answer 24

Asti DOCG

Question 25

What grape is used to produce the frizzante/spumante wines of Asti?

Answer 25

Moscato Bianco

Question 26

In Asti DOCG, where does secondary fermentation generally take place?

Answer 26

In stainless steel tanks using the Charmat Method.

Question 27

What is the general alcohol level of Moscato d'Asti?

Answer 27

4.5% to 6.5%

Question 28

Which DOCG of Barolo produces sparkling wine in the same style Champagne and Franciacorta?

Answer 28

Alta Langa DOCG

Question 29

What grapes are used to produce the sparkling wines of Alta Langa DOCG?

Answer 29

Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

Question 30

What are the aging requirements of the sparkling wines of Alta Langa DOCG?

Answer 30

* Spumante* wines may not be released for 30 months after harvest * Riserva* wines may not be released for 36 months.

Question 31

What style of wine is produced from Brachetto d'Acqui DOCG?

Answer 31

Generally sparkling reds that are ususally sweet and suitable as a dessert accompaniment.

Question 32

Among the 20 wine producing regions of Italy, which one ranks last in volume of production?

Answer 32

Valle d'Aosta