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Styles
Principal grape varieties
Terroir
Natural factors
- Predominantly calcareous soils on calcareous-arenaceous marly bedrock, at elevations between 150 and 400 m.
- Geological origin: Pliocene Asti basin, with Tertiary marly-arenaceous sedimentary formations.
- The local argillaceous-sandy marls are called «tuf» in dialect and impart intense aromas, including earthy notes.
- Temperate climate with little wind and mean annual rainfall of around 700 mm.
- Soils with high calcium carbonate content, limited organic matter, and well-balanced nutrients.
Human factors
- A 1609 letter records the Duke of Mantua sending tasters to the area, providing early written evidence of the zone's winemaking reputation. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Girapoggio training with counter-trellis, Guyot or cordone speronato pruning, maximum yield 7 t/ha, minimum ageing 18 months (30 for Riserva).
Product characteristics
- Marly-clayey soils yield wines of deep colour, profound earthy aromas (locally termed «tuf»), full structure, and exceptional longevity.
- Sandy-dominant soils, by contrast, produce more pronounced acidity, lighter colour, and balsamic and herbaceous aromas on a harmonious structure.
Terroir / wine link
- Argillaceous-sandy marls («tuf» in local dialect) impart intense, earthy aromas, deep colour, and long-lived structure; sandy soils yield more pronounced acidity and balsamic nuances.
Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.
Sources
- Specification (EUR-Lex, single document)
- eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PDO-IT-01896
- Official trade body site — Consorzio Barbera d'Asti e Vini del Monferrato