PIEDMONT

READING BETWEEN THE WINES:

Piedmont has been giving us a run for our grape juice lately, as vintners modernize their refined, albeit rigid, craft and turn lesser-known wines into must haves.

The area’s winemakers strictly adhere to tradition and local affections and, therefore, boast the largest number of officially classified wines. Piedmont soil offers rich black-cherry reds, lighter-bodied reds, and some of the most refreshing in both still and sparkling whites.

THE REGION

The Piedmont wine region wraps the northwestern arch at the top of the boot, and sits at the base of the Alps and Apennines. Some white wines are made here but reds rule the Piedmont with their world famous Barolo and Barbaresco wines.

A few of the major appellations in the region are Barbaresco, Barbera, Barolo, Dolcetto, and Asti.

THE GRAPES

PIEDMONT REDS:

Barbera

Barbera hits us with her best shot in northern Italy. On her final crush, this sexy little tart melts into Piedmont’s medium- to full-body reds.

Dolcetto

Dolcetto is distinctly dry and light bodied and is frequently the first wine served in a traditional Piedmontese meal. It is easy drinking like a French Beaujolais but contains more tannin.

Nebbiolo

This dry and dusty red grape turns out the Piedmont region’s dry and dusty red wines. Go figure. Its grit adds to its shelf life too! This is the grape used to make the full bodied, high tannin and alcohol Barolo and Barbaresco.

PIEDMONT WHITES:

Moscato Bianco

Italy can’t shake the widely planted white Moscato. This grape is responsible for Piedmont’s explosion of sweet, frothy or sparkling whites.

NON-VARIETAL PIEDMONT WINES

Various Piedmont Producers

References

www.tastings.com
www.epicurious.com
www.italianmade.com
www.winecountry.it
cellarnotes.net