Piemonte

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The soil is generally shallow, recently formed or continually rejuvenated by slope erosion, and of variable texture.
• Chemically, the soil is characterised by modest organic matter content, low levels of available potassium, and is often calcareous.
• The climate is continental, with winter temperatures that can fall below 4–5 °C and hot, dry summers during which 35 °C is not infrequently exceeded.
• Annual rainfall averages around 700–900 mm, with a certain prevalence in late autumn and spring.
• Diurnal temperature ranges are appreciable, due in part to relatively high elevations, particularly in mountain viticulture settings.

• In the nineteenth century, post-phylloxera replanting renewed Piedmont's viticultural heritage, while subsequent research and experimentation encouraged the adoption of new techniques in both viticulture and winemaking.
• Non-aromatic red wines produced by carbonic maceration may be labelled with the additional designation 'Novello'. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
• For passito wines, the appassimento takes place either on the vine or in the fruttaio, an environment requiring low humidity, a marked diurnal temperature range, and adequate ventilation.

• Rosé wines range in colour from orange to a more or less deep cherry-red (cerasuolo), showing considerable aromatic freshness, good extract, and pronounced acidity, with a palate ranging from dry to off-dry.
• Red wines display a vivid red colour of varying intensity with hues ranging from violet to garnet, aromas of red fruits sometimes with lightly herbaceous nuances, and a tannic structure ranging from gentle, as in Barbera, to firm, as in Albarossa and Freisa.
• Sparkling wine obtained from aromatic varieties such as Brachetto shows a medium-intensity red colour sometimes tending toward cherry-red (cerasuolo), a delicate flavour that is more or less sweet, and a delicately musky aromatic character.

• Autumn in the hillside and foothill zones of the DOC brings strong diurnal temperature swings and solar-radiation warming greater than on the plain, which generate a natural air circulation at sunset — geographical conditions of decisive importance for the appassimento in the fruttaio.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in Italy

Sources

• Specification (EUR-Lex, single document)
• eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PDO-IT-A1224
• Official trade body site — Consorzio Barbera d'Asti e Vini del Monferrato