Piemonte / Alba / Roero Hills

Question 1

Where are the Roero Hills located?

Answer 1

• north of Alba on left bank of Tanaro River
• between western Carmagnola plain and low hills of Asti
• opposite of Barolo and Barbaresco

Question 2

What is the most important town in Roero Hills?

Answer 2

Canale

Question 3

Where does the name Roero come from?

Answer 3

• noble and prominent Roero family

- ruled area for centuries during Middle Ages

Question 4

How do the Roero hills differ from the Langhe hills?

Answer 4

• hills lower in altitude and are steeper

Question 5

What are rocche in the Roero Hills?

Answer 5

rocky cliffs; they run SW to NE (like a topographical slash)

Question 6

What do the rocche separate?

Answer 6

alluvial soils of wester plain from sandier soils in east-central hills (where vines planted)

Question 7

What are the soils of the Roero hills?

Answer 7

marine origin (sand, sandstone and marl)

Question 8

Why is Roero one of the most arid parts of southern Piemonte?

Answer 8

western Alps and Ligurian Apennines block most of the rain; very low rainfall

Question 9

Why are there wells and reservoirs in Roero?

Answer 9

• low rainfall

- sandy soils don’t retain rain

Question 10

How is vineyard work carried out in Roero? Why?

Answer 10

field work carried out by hand due to steep hillsides and small size of parcels

Question 11

What are the main varieties in Roero?

Answer 11

Arneis, Nebbiolo, Barbera and Favorita

Question 12

The Roero hills are included in which Langhe appellations?

Answer 12

Barbera d’Alba DOC
Nebbiolo d’Alba DOC
Langhe DOC
Alba DOC

Question 13

Barbera grown is the Roero hills is usually bottled under which appellation?

Answer 13

Barbera d’Alba DOC

Question 14

Favorita grown in the Roero hills must be bottled under which appellation?

Answer 14

Langhe Favorita DOC

Question 15

Nebbiolo producers who previously bottled their wines as Nebbiolo d’Alba DOC use which appellation now?

Answer 15

Roero DOCG

Question 16

Arneis producers who previously bottled their wines as Langhe Arneis DOC use which appellation now?

Answer 16

Roero Arneis DOCG

Question 17

What is the main appellation in the Roero Hills?

Answer 17

Roero DOCG

Question 18

Which 2 varieties does Roero DOCG focus on?

Answer 18

Nebbiolo and Arneis

Question 19

Which variety makes up most of the Roero DOCG plantings?

Answer 19

Arneis

Question 20

How do the labels differ for Arneis and Nebbiolo in Roero DOCG?

Answer 20

Nebbiolo = Roero DOCG
Arneis = Roero Arneis DOCG

Question 21

Is Roero DOCG a younger or older appellation?

Answer 21

relatively young

DOC status in 1985 / DOCG status in 2004

Question 22

How many MGAs does Roero DOCG have?

Answer 22

153 MGAs; top sites for Arneis and Nebbiolo

Question 23

Where is Nebbiolo grown in Roero DOCG?

Answer 23

better, south-facing sites

Question 24

What type of soils does Nebbiolo grow on in Roero DOCG? What type of wines are produced?

Answer 24

poor, sandy soils; fragrant, elegant wines

Question 25

What was Nebbiolo traditionally blended with in Roero?

Answer 25

Arneis to soften its austere character; Arneis no longer allowed for blending

Question 26

What is the approach to Nebbiolo winemaking in Roero DOCG?

Answer 26

- modern approach with short maceration periods and shorter time in small oak barrels - younger appellation so it didn't have the same stylistic disputes as in the Langhe

Question 27

What is Roero DOCG made from?

Answer 27

minimum 95% Nebbiolo

Question 28

What is the ageing requirements for Roero DOCG?

Answer 28

minimum 20 months (including 6 months in oak)

Question 29

What is the ageing requirements of Riserva Roero DOCG?

Answer 29

minimum 32 months (including 6 months in oak)

Question 30

How do Roero DOCG wines differ from Barolo/Barbaresco?

Answer 30

lighter, softer, less tannic and earlier-maturing

Question 31

What was Arneis historically used for in Roero?

Answer 31

sweet wines

Question 32

Who brough recognition to Arneis as a dry wine in the 1970s?

Answer 32

Bruno Giacosa, Vietti and Negro

Question 33

Who was the most instrumental in transforming Arneis in Roero?

Answer 33

Ceretto

Question 34

Where is Arneis grown in Roero?

Answer 34

cooler sites; well-suited to light soils

Question 35

What is Roero Arneis DOCG made from?

Answer 35

95% Arneis in dry style

Question 36

What are the ageing requirements for Risrva Roero Arneis DOCG?

Answer 36

minimum 16 months

Question 37

What are the two styles of Roero Arneis DOCG?

Answer 37

bianco and spumante (rare)

Question 38

What is the Roero Arneis DOCG profile?

Answer 38

- white flowers, pear, apple, peach and almonds - medium to full-bodied - most unoaked