Malvasia di Castelnuovo Don Bosco

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• Soils on Miocene marls (Langhian–Burdigalian), light-coloured and medium-textured, on hills above 400 m.
• Hills standing higher than the rest of the northern Asti area, with steep slopes; woodlands on the less-favoured aspects moderate summer heat.
• A small ampelographic enclave encompassing dark-berried aromatic varieties (Malvasia di Schierano, Malvasia nera) and Freisa, which subsequently spread elsewhere in Piemonte.

• Varieties exclusive to the area: Malvasia di Schierano and Malvasia Nera (dark-berried aromatics), with a traditional blend component of Freisa of up to 15%.
• San Giovanni Bosco, son of vine-growers from the Castelnuovo district, is said to have written a now-lost popular guide: 'L'enologo italiano'.

• Ruby-red colour with violet highlights, a characteristic aromatic bouquet, and a sweet, delicate flavour: the defining traits of the dark-berried aromatic grapes Malvasia di Schierano and Malvasia Nera.
• Three possible styles — sweet, frizzante, or spumante — with an optional traditional blend component of Freisa of up to 15%.

• Soils on Miocene marls (Langhian–Burdigalian), light-coloured and medium-textured, on hills above 400 m: a setting that defines the ampelographic identity of the small enclave.

Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.

Sources

• eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PDO-IT-A1201
• Official trade body site — Consorzio Barbera d'Asti e Vini del Monferrato