Piemonte / Basso & Alto Monferrato Appellations Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 5 main appellations in Basso & Alto Monferrato?

A

1 Barbera del Monferrato Superiore DOCG and Barbera del Monferrato DOC
2 Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore DOCG (or Ovada DOCG) and Dolcetto di Ovada DOC
3 Gavi DOCG (or Cortese di Gavi DOCG)
4 Colli Tortonesi DOC
5 Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese DOC

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2
Q

Which 2 appellations are volumetrically the third-largest for Barbera?

A

Barbera del Monferrato Superiore DOCG

Barbera del Monferrato DOC

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3
Q

What is the zone of production for both Barbara del Monferrato Superiore DOCG and Barbera del Monferrato DOC?

A

both share the same zone; entire Asti province and large part of Alessandria province

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4
Q

What happened in 2008 to the Barbera del Monferrato DOC?

A

split in 2 appellations: DOCG for still red superiore and DOC for still and frizzante versions

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5
Q

Do Barbera del Monferrato and Barbera d’Asti share most of the same territory?

A

Yes

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6
Q

Where is the majority of Barbera del Monferrato grown?

A

Alessandria province in Alto and Basso Monferrato

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7
Q

What is the variety requirement for both Barbera del Monferrato Superiore DOCG and Barbera del Monferrato DOC?

A

minimum 85% Barbera; up to 15% Freisa and/or Grignolino and/or Dolcetto

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8
Q

What was Barbera traditionally blended with in Basso Monferrato?

A

Freisa

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9
Q

What was Barbera traditionally blended with in Alto Monferrato?

A

Dolcetto

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10
Q

How does Barbera del Monferrato Superiore DOCG differ from Barbera del Monferrato DOC?

A

lower yields, higher alcohol, higher extract

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11
Q

Does Barbera del Monferrato DOC have ageing requirements?

A

No

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12
Q

What is the ageing requirement for Barbera del Monferrato Superiore DOCG?

A

14 months (including 6 months in oak)

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13
Q

How do the profiles differ between Barbera del Monferrato DOC and Barbera del Monferrato Superiore DOCG?

A

DOC: light, everyday drinking wine; sour red fruit and refreshing acidity
Superiore DOCG: structured, well-integrated oak; complex aromas of red fruit, flowers and spice with velvet tannins

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14
Q

What happened to the Dolcetto di Ovada DOC in 2008?

A

split into 2 appellations; superiore version elevated to DOCG status

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15
Q

Which area do the Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore DOCG and Dolcetto di Ovada DOC cover?

A

same area around Ovada town in SE corner of Piemonte; west of Gavi DOCG

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16
Q

Which 2 appellations produce the third-largest value of Dolcetto in Piemonte?

A

Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore DOCG and Dolcetto di Ovada DOC

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17
Q

Where are the Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore DOCG and Dolcetto di Ovada DOC vineyards planted?

A

steep slopes on set of arid hills

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18
Q

What is the main training for Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore DOCG and Dolcetto di Ovada DOC?

A

Guyot

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19
Q

What are Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore DOCG wines made from?

A

100% Dolcetto

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20
Q

What are the ageing requirements for Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore DOCG?

A

minimum 1 year

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21
Q

What are the ageing requirements for Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore Riserva DOCG?

A

minimum 2 years

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22
Q

What are Dolcetto di Ovada DOC wines made from?

A

97% Dolcetto with up to 3% of other red varieties

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23
Q

Does Dolcetto di Ovada DOC have ageing requirements?

A

No

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24
Q

Which appellations is the most important for the Cortese grape?

A

Gavi DOCG

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25
Q

Where is the Gavi DOCG located?

A

SE corner of Alto Monferrato in Alessandria province

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26
Q

When did the vines in Gavi switch from red to white (Cortese) grapes?

A

vineyards replanted after phylloxera with Cortese (instead of Dolcetto)

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27
Q

Who raised the popularity of Cortese in the 1960s and 1970s?

A

La Scolca

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28
Q

Why did the quality of Gavi decrease during the 1980s?

A

high yields resulted in neutral, acidic wines

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29
Q

What happened to Gavi in the 1990s?

A

quality recovered and elevated to DOCG status

30
Q

What climate does Gavi DOCG have?

A

moderate continental climate with cold winters and warm summers

31
Q

Why does Gavi DOCG have good air circulation?

A

close to Ligurian Sea

32
Q

Where are Gavi DOCG vineyards planted?

A

only on hillsides; up to 450m

33
Q

What soils are found in Gavi DOCG?

A

terre bianche and terre rosse

34
Q

How many communes does Gavi DOCG have?

A

11

35
Q

What is Gavi DOCG wine made from?

A

100% Cortese

36
Q

What is the most common version of Gavi DOCG?

A

still version

37
Q

What versions does Gavi DOCG allow?

A

still + riserva, frizzante and spumante + riserve

38
Q

What are the requirements for Riserva Gavi DOCG?

A

single vineyard and one year ageing (including 6 months in bottle)

39
Q

What are the requirements for Riserva Spumante Gavi DOCG?

A

single vineyard and traditional method

40
Q

What can winemakers do during cool vintages for Gavi DOCG?

A

can enrich must with MCR (mosto concentrato rettificato) / concentrated grape must from Cortese grapes grown in appellation

41
Q

What is MCR?

A

mosto concentrato rettificato / concentrated grape must

42
Q

What is the profile of Gavi DOCG?

A
  • citrus, almond and almond
  • crisp acidity
  • moderate alcohol
43
Q

What is the difference between warm/hot and cool Gavi DOCG vintages?

A

warm: enough body and extract to balance high acidity
cool: lean and austere

44
Q

When is most Gavi DOCG meant to be consumed?

A

young and fresh

45
Q

Are most Gavi DOCG wines unoaked?

A

Yes

46
Q

How are most Gavi DOCG wines produced?

A

blending wines from different communes

47
Q

How many MGAs does Gavi DOCG have?

A

18 MGAs

48
Q

What is on a Gavi DOCG label if it is from a MGA?

A

Gavi DOCG del Comune di + commune name

49
Q

Which Gavi DOCG commune makes the most wine?

A

Gavi DOCG del Comune di Gavi

50
Q

Which Gavi DOCG communes produces the best examples?

A

Gavi and Tassrolo

51
Q

Where is the Colli Tortonesi located?

A

SE corner of Piemonte; borders Lombardia and Emilia-Romagna to east and Liguria to south

52
Q

What is the main city in Colli Tortonesi DOC?

A

Tortona

53
Q

Where is the Colli Tortonesi DOC located?

A

between Alto Monferrato and Lombardia’s Oltrepò Pavese

54
Q

What are the main varieties in Colli Tortonesi DOC?

A

Barbera, Dolcetto and Cortese

55
Q

What is the native white grape found in Colli Tortonesi DOC?

A

Timorasso

56
Q

Which wines does Colli Tortonesi produce?

A

wide range of wines (red/white blends, frizzante, spumante, varietal) from several varieties

57
Q

What are the 2 official sub-zones in Colli Tortonesi?

A

Monleale and Terre di Libarna

58
Q

Where is the Monleale sub-zone located?

A

northern half of Colli Tortonesi DOC

59
Q

What is the main variety grown in the Monleale sub-zone?

A

Barbera

60
Q

Where is the Terre di Libarna sub zone located?

A

southern half of Colli Tortonesi DOC

61
Q

Which wines does the Terre di Libarna sub zone produce in Colli Tortonesi DOC?

A

Timorasso still and spumante, red Barbera-based blend and white Timorasso-based blend

62
Q

How much Timorrasso is required in the still and spumante in the Terre di Libarna sub zone in Colli Tortonesi?

A

95-100% Timorasso

63
Q

What are Timorrasso wines from Terre di Libarna sub zone (Colli Tortonesi DOC) labeled with?

A

unofficial term ‘Derthona’ (ancient name of Tortona)

64
Q

Which DOC produces Grignolino wines?

A

Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese DOC

65
Q

What are Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese DOC wines made from?

A

minimum 90% Grignolino; up to 10% Freisa

66
Q

What is the profile of Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese DOC wines?

A

pale ruby with high acidity and noticeable tannins

67
Q

What is Piemonte’s broad regional DOC

A

Piemonte DOC

68
Q

What area does Piemonte DOC cover?

A

all of Piemonte; includes all vineyards that fall outside the existing DOC/DOCG zones of production

69
Q

What does the Piemonte DOC give producers?

A

more flexibility; grapes, winemaking practices and wine styles

70
Q

What specific designation does Piemonte DOC have?

A

Vigneti di Montagna (vineyards of the mountains)

71
Q

What are the Vigneti di Montagna in Piemonte DOC?

A

special designation for wines produced from high altitude (minimum 500m), terraced vineyards with minimum 30% gradient