WINES OF THE WORLD 🇮🇹 Italy - Northwest

Question 1

Climate of Piedmont

Answer 1

Moderate continental. Protection from cold N winds and excessive rainfalls by the Alps to the N and from the Mediterranean by the Appennines to the S. Low rainfall in June-September and more in late September-October.

Question 2

Hazards in Piedmont

Answer 2

Thunderstorms, hail, and fog. Possibility of a late frost.

Question 3

Main grape varieties of Piedmont

Answer 3

Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, Cortese, Arneis, Muscat, Brachetto.

Question 4

Main appellations for Nebbiolo within Piedmont

Answer 4

• Barolo DOCG, Barbaresco DOCG, and Roero DOCG
• Gattinara DOCG and Ghemme DOCG
• Langhe Nebbiolo DOC or Nebbiolo d’Alba DOC

Question 5

Main appellations for Barbera within Piedmont

Answer 5

• Barbera d’Asti DOCG
• Nizza DOCG

Question 6

Main appellations for Dolcetto within Piedmont

Answer 6

• Dolcetto d’Alba DOC
• Dolcetto di Ovada DOC
• Dogliani DOCG

Question 7

Main appellations for Cortese within Piedmont

Answer 7

• Gavi DOCG or Cortese di Gavi DOCG

Question 8

Main appellations for Arneis within Piedmont

Answer 8

• Roero Arneis DOCG

Question 9

Types of businesses that operate in Piedmont

Answer 9

Mainly small family-owned farms. Also small estates bottle their own wines (before sell the grapes to large producers).

Question 10

Key winemaking operations for Dolcetto wines

Answer 10

Dolcetto needs frequent pump overs or rack-and-return (reductive variety), mid-range fermentation temperatures, short skin maceration, soft extraction methods.

Question 11

Key maturation practices for Dolcetto wines

Answer 11

Dolcetto is typically aged in stainless steel or cement.

Question 12

Key winemaking operations for Cortese wines

Answer 12

Cortese requires mid-range temperatures for fermentation.

Question 13

Key maturation practices for Cortese wines

Answer 13

Cortese is usually aged in stainless steel, some can age in bottles to develop tertiary notes.

Question 14

Type of soils in Barolo DOCG

Answer 14

Blue-grey marl in the NW and less fertile soils with yellow-grey compacted sand and clay in the SE.

Question 15

Where the Nebbiolo vineyards are located within Barolo DOCG

Answer 15

Includes Barolo itself and several villages to the SW of Alba. Vineyards on S- and SW-facing slopes, 200-400 m.

Question 16

Key winemaking operations for Barolo DOCG

Answer 16

Some producers blend wines from different vineyards to search more complexity (Bartolo Mascarello), others prefer single-vineyard approach (Bruno Giacosa) due to the high-quality reputation of those vineyards (Cannubi or Vigna Rionda).

Question 17

Maturation regulations for Barolo DOCG

Answer 17

38+ months (18+ months in oak) from 1 November of the harvest year.

Question 18

Maturation regulations for Barolo Riserva DOCG

Answer 18

62+ months (18+ months in oak) from 1 November of the harvest year.

Question 19

MGA

Answer 19

Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive, introduced in Barbaresco (2007) and Barolo (2010), official system of sub-zones:
- entire villages (La Morra);
- specified single vineyards (Bussia or Cannubi);
- a number of specified vineyards now mad into a single (Via Nuova in the Terlo MGA).
‘Vigna’ can be added if the name of MGA is also stated.

Question 20

Barolo Chinato

Answer 20

Barolo wine, sweetened and infused with herbs and spices.

Question 21

Where the Nebbiolo vineyards are located within Barbaresco DOCG

Answer 21

Includes Barbaresco itself and several villages to the E of Alba. Vineyards at slightly lower altitude than Barolo.

Question 22

Key winemaking operations for Barbaresco DOCG

Answer 22

Traditionally, very long maceration and long ageing to soften tannins. Then, in 1970-1980, wines with deeper colour, softer tannins and less ageing, new oak flavours. Now, less extreme techniques.
Picking only fully ripe grapes, maceration for 3-4 weeks.

Question 23

Maturation regulations for Barbaresco DOCG

Answer 23

26+ months (9+ months in oak) from 1 November of the harvest year.

Question 24

Maturation regulations for Barbaresco Riserva DOCG

Answer 24

50+ months (9+ months in oak) from 1 November of the harvest year.

Question 25

Differences in terms of harvest between Barolo and Barbaresco

Answer 25

Barbaresco is a week earlier than Barolo.

Question 26

Langhe Nebbiolo DOC or Nebbiolo d’Alba DOC

Answer 26

From young vines, early drinking style, short maceration, inert vessels, short ageing. Some producers use grapes for Barolo or Barbaresco that don’t meet their standard for top wines.