Piemonte

Question 1

What are the most important geographical key points in Piedmont?

Answer 1

• Appenine Mountains
• Po River
• Tanaro River
• Langhe Hills

Question 2

White Varieties in Piedmont

Answer 2

Moscato
Arneis
Cortese

Question 3

Red Varieties in Piedmont

Answer 3

Nebbiolo
Barbera
Dolcetto
Brachetto
Spanna (local name for Nebbiolo in Gattinara and Ghemme)

Question 4

What are the different soil types in Barolo?

Answer 4

• Tortonian Soils: high in calcerous marl - softer wines like La Morra, Barolo
• Serravallian Sandstone provides more structure (Monforte, Serralunga, Castiglione)

Question 5

What are the aging requirements for Barolo?

Answer 5

38 months with minimum of 18 months in oak
Riserva: requires 62 months

Question 6

What are the aginig requirements for Barbaresco?

Answer 6

26 months with minimum aging of 9 months in oak
Riserva: 52 Months

Question 7

What are the top Barolo Vineyards?

Answer 7

• Cannubi
• Brunate
• Monprivato

Question 8

Top Barbaresco Villages

Answer 8

• Ovello
• Montestefano
• Pora
• Asili
• Freisa
• Nieve

Question 9

Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG

Answer 9

Off Dry, semi sparkling red wine from Brachetto

Question 10

Alta Langa DOCG

Answer 10

Metodo Classico with 90% Pinot Nero and/or Chardonnay

Question 11

Roero DOCG

Answer 11

Dry red from Nebbiolo

Question 12

Roero Arneis DOCG

Answer 12

Dry whites from Arneis

Question 13

Ghemme DOCG

Answer 13

Dry reds from Nebiollo - locally known as Spanna

Question 14

Gattinara DOCG

Answer 14

Dry reds from Nebbiolo / Spanna

Question 15

Sorì

Answer 15

best, privileged site

Question 16

Vietti

Answer 16

• located in Castiglione Falletto
• Pioneering the single-vineyard botteling in Barolo (since 1950s)
• Alfredo Currardo (Luciana Viettis husband) = Father of Arneis
• Artist label since 1974

Question 17

Giacomo Conterno

Answer 17

• Grandfather of the traditional Winemaking
• prolonging maceration, aging in large wooden botti
• also own Nervi Gattinara

Question 18

Bruno Giacosa

Answer 18

• considered a traditionalist
• Comes up in the 60s
• Proves that Barbaresco can have the same intensity as Barolo

Question 19

Ceretto

Answer 19

• Terroir Focused
• Sustainable Practices since early
• Modern Winemaking Techniques, while respecting tradition
• Diverse Portfolio
• Winery “Cascina di Castiglione” is known for its architecture

Question 20

Luciano Sandrone

Answer 20

• aim of winemaking is to respect the traditions of Barolo while employing modern techniques

Question 21

Elio Altare

Answer 21

• Founding Pioneer in the Modernist Movement
• shorter macerations, rotary fermenters, new french oak aging, organic methods
• Started changing everything when he came back from Burgundy and got disinherited from his father
• spent his life buying back the vineyards from his siblings
• now everything together again and his daughter Silvia leads the estate

Question 22

Giuseppe Mascarello

Answer 22

• family winery was founded in 1881
• traditional approach but with new techniques, are experimenting with a prototype fermenter that reproduces long fermentation in a controlled manner

Question 23

Gaja

Answer 23

• Iconic - innovative thinking
• responsible for Barrique aging practice in the 70s
• planted the regions first CS, Chardonnay and SB in 2000s
• Pioneer for single vineyard wines

Question 24

La Spinetta

Answer 24

• Spinetta means Top of the Hill
• Made Italy’s first single vineyard Moscato
• No chemicals in the vineyard

Question 25

Produttori del Barbaresco

Answer 25

- Co-Op founded by the towns priest to help small producers - greatest coop in the world - currently 50 members - In the best vintages they produce single cru wines from their nine holdings

Question 26

Best Vintages for Barolo

Answer 26

2016 2013 2010 2008 2006 2004 2001 1999 1997

Question 27

Best Vintages for Barbaresco

Answer 27

2019 2016 2015 2013 2010 2008 2007 2004 2001 1999 1996 1990

Question 28

Traditionalist vs Modernist Styles

Answer 28

Traditionals: long maceration (30 to 40 days on the skins), skins fully submerged Modernists: less extraction, steel fermentations, shorter aging and french barrique In general, return to the traditional style

Question 29

What was the last admitted DOCG?

Answer 29

Canelli in 2023

Question 30

Why does Nebbiolo excel in Gattinara and Ghemme DOCG?

Answer 30

- subalpine climate - southern exposure - fast-draining glacial and porphyry soils - soil of volcanic origin, with more acid than in the Langhe

Question 31

Elevation of Barbaresco Vineyards?

Answer 31

150 to 350 müM 500 müM official maximum

Question 31

What does Bric or Bricco mean?

Answer 31

Term used for specific and distinguished sites

Question 32

What are five key villages in Barolo?

Answer 32

- Serralunga d'Alba - La Morra - Castiglione - Barolo - Monforte d'Alba

Question 33

List all DOCG's of Piemonte

Answer 33

1. Barolo DOCG – Famous for powerful red wines made from the Nebbiolo grape. 2. Barbaresco DOCG – Also based on Nebbiolo, producing slightly more elegant red wines compared to Barolo. 3. Gattinara DOCG – A Nebbiolo-based red wine from northern Piedmont. 4. Ghemme DOCG – Another Nebbiolo-based red wine from northern Piedmont. 5. Roero DOCG – Known for red wines from Nebbiolo and white wines from Arneis. 6. Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba (Diano d’Alba) DOCG – Focuses on red wines from the Dolcetto grape. 7. Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore (Ovada) DOCG – Produces Dolcetto-based red wines. 8. Dogliani DOCG – A region known for rich red wines made from Dolcetto. 9. Barbera d’Asti DOCG – Produces red wines primarily from the Barbera grape. 10. Barbera del Monferrato Superiore DOCG – Another Barbera-based red wine, from the Monferrato area. 11. Nizza DOCG – A subregion of Barbera d'Asti, producing premium Barbera wines. 12. Brachetto d’Acqui (Acqui) DOCG – Known for sweet and sparkling red wines made from the Brachetto grape. 13. Gavi (Cortese di Gavi) DOCG – Focuses on white wines made from the Cortese grape. 14. Asti DOCG – Produces sweet and sparkling white wines made from the Moscato grape, including Asti Spumante and Moscato d’Asti. 15. Alta Langa DOCG – Produces traditional method sparkling wines from Pinot Nero and Chardonnay. 16. Ruche di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG – Known for aromatic red wines from the Ruche grape. 17. Erbaluce di Caluso (Caluso) DOCG Produces white wines from the Erbaluce grape, including still, sparkling, and passito styles.

Question 34

Current Vintage of Brunello

Answer 34

2019 Prices vary from 120 to 200$