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
| Piedmont |
Type |
Wine |
Grapes
Used |
| Red |
Barolo |
Nebbiolo |
| Red |
Barbaresco |
Nebbiolo |
| Red |
Gattinara |
Nebbiolo,
Bonarda |
| White |
Gavi |
Cortese |
| White |
Roero
Arneis |
Arneis |
Various
Piedmont Producers
| Fratelli
Baralli |
Batasiolo |
| Bel
Colle |
Cantina
del Parocco di Nieve |
| Cantina
della Porta Rossa |
Tenuta
Carretta |
| Castello
di Neive |
Ceretto: Bricco Asili |
| Pio
Cesare |
Michele
Chiarlo |
| Cigliuti |
Contratto |
| Domenico
Filippino |
Fontanaredda |
| Gaja |
Clemente
Guasti |
| Icardi |
Marchese
di Barolo |
| Marchesi
di Gresy |
Marcarini |
| Moccagatta |
Fiorenzo
Nada |
| Giuseppe
Negro |
Palladino |
| Pelissero |
Elvio
Pertinace |
| Armando
Piazzo |
Poderi
Colla |
| Produttori
del Barbaresco |
Prunotto |
| Giuseppe
Rinaldi |
Albino
Rocca |
|
Bruno Rocca |
Rocca
Giancarlo Ronchi |
| Scarpa |
La
Spinetta |
| Torregiorgi |
Vietti |
References
www.tastings.com
www.epicurious.com
www.italianmade.com
www.winecountry.it
cellarnotes.net
|
