Landscape and climate
The Piedmont in Italy is divided into an outer mountain belt of the Western Alps and the Apennines, an inner plain, and the hilly landscapes of Monferrato and Langhe. The most important wine-growing areas in the south lie between the Po and the Ligurian Apennines. The Alps protect the region from north-westerly air currents; the Piemonte DOC specification describes Piedmont as the driest part of northern Italy.
Soils and winegrowing
In the alpine area, igneous and metamorphic rocks predominate. In the Apennines and hilly landscapes, sedimentary rocks such as marl, sandstone and limestone occur, while younger deposits of the plains consist of unconsolidated sands and gravels. The Langhe-Roero-Monferrato wine landscape is shaped by cultivated, gently rounded hills.
Historically significant regional grape varieties include, among others, Arneis, Cortese, Erbaluce, Favorita, Moscato Bianco, Barbera, Bonarda, Brachetto, Dolcetto, Freisa and Grignolino. The regional wine regulations include 19 DOCG and 41 DOC wines; more than 80 per cent of wine production is assigned to a protected designation of origin.
Barbaresco
The growing area of Barbaresco, to the north-east of Alba, is linked above all to Tortonian formations made of layered marls and sands. Whitish-grey marls form low, rounded hills there. For Barbaresco DOCG, only Nebbiolo grapes are permitted; the vineyards must be located on slopes. Valley floors, damp, flat or insufficiently sunlit sites, north-facing slopes and sites above 550 metres are excluded.
Vineyards newly registered or replanted must have at least 3,500 vines per hectare. Traditional training on the wire trellis with Guyot pruning is prescribed; coercive measures are not allowed.
Wine styles and maturation
The Piemonte DOC includes white, red and rosé wines as well as sparkling wines, perl wines, passito wines and variety-specific expressions. For varietal wines, at least 85 per cent of the stated grape variety must be used; Piemonte Moscato and Piemonte Moscato passito require 100 per cent Moscato Bianco.
Barbaresco DOCG must be vinified and matured in the specified production zone. The minimum ageing period is 26 months, of which at least nine months in wood; for Barbaresco Riserva, 50 months apply, also with at least nine months in wood. At release, the wine is described as garnet-red, dry, full-bodied and harmonious.
