piemonte
A bridge between Italy and France
Piedmont, not only Barolo and Barbaresco
- Area: 25.387 km2 (2nd out of 20)
- Mountain: 43,3%
- Hill: 30,3%
- Plain: 26,4%
- Highest peak: Monte Rosa (4.609 mt)
- Population: 4.251.351 (7,2%)
- Provinces: Torino, Cuneo, Asti, Alessandria, Vercelli, Novara, Biella e Verbano-Cusio-Ossola
- The region’s viticultural landscape is one of the most distinctive in the world: vineyards occupy every single corner in areas of the Monferrato and Langhe areas, creating a unique scenery. For this reason, Langhe, Roero and Monferrato were inserted in the list of the UNESCO world heritage sites.
- The Langhe aren’t just a prominent wine destination: they are also a gastronomic district, housing a large concentration of high quality restaurants (many of which hold Michelin stars). Alba white truffle is the most coveted local specialty.
- The DOC Piemonte covers the entire region, resulting in 94% of the total production benefiting from DOC status. IGT wines don’t exist in Piedmont.
- 58% of the production is red and rosè wine and 42% is white wine.
What Makes Piedmont a Perfect Wine Region?
- Piedmont boasts an ancient winemaking tradition, with the first references to the Nebbiolo grape dating back to the 13th century. It is the land of Barolo and Barbaresco – the former conceived by Marchesi Falletti di Barolo in the 19th century. These world-class wines only account for about 3% of Piedmont’s wine output, meaning that this region has a lot more to offer.
- What makes this region especially suitable for wine production is the unique geology. Delimiting Piedmont on three sides, the alps create a perfect environment for viticulture – the continental climate favors considerable diurnal shifts during warmer months.
- A long time ago, the hills of Piedmont were completely submerged by the Adriatic sea. As the water receded, moderately fertile lands covered by marine sediments started emerging. Such soils allow vineyards to thrive and produce high quality grapes.
- In Northeastern Piedmont, the collapse of an ancient volcano resulted in a small river valley, Valsesia, boasting one of the world’s widest variety of soils. The Sesia-Valgrande Geopark became a UNESCO world heritage site in 2013. Usually referred to as the wines of “Alto Piemonte”, Nebbiolo-based reds from this area are slowly garnering international accolades. In the future, Gattinara, Ghemme and Bramaterra – just to name a few – might be as renowned and sought-after as Barolo and Barbaresco.
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Piemonte Travel Guide
Where is Piedmont located?
Piedmont situates itself in the northwestern segment of Italy, sharing borders with Switzerland and France. On the Italian front, it is neighbored by the regions of Lombardy and Liguria.
Why is it called Piedmont?
Piedmont means “on the foothills of the mountains“.
What to see in Piemonte?
- Turin: Egyptian Museum, Royal Palace, Mole Antonelliana.
- Alba: White truffle and hazelnuts.
- Langhe: home to the Barolo and Barbaresco wines.
- Lake Maggiore: one of Italy’s largest lakes, housing Isola Bella and Isola dei Pescatori.
- Acqui Terme: Thermal resort.
- Monferrato: Vineyards and castles.
- Gran Paradiso National Park: Hiking and trekking.
- Sacra di San Michele: one of Italy’s largest abbeys.
- Bra: The birthplace of the Slow Food movement, also hosting one of the largest Cheese fairs in the world.
- Mondovì: baroque churches, Vicoforte Sanctuary.
- Sestriere and Bardonecchia: Ski resorts in the Piedmontese Alps.
- Sesia-Valgrande: UNESCO-protected geopark.
What are the typical dishes of Piedmont?
Once relatively little-known, Piedmontese cuisine has risen to global success in recent years. White truffle from Alba is one of the world’s most sought-after food delicacies: locals shave it onto poached eggs, raw Fassona meat, and tajarin (fresh pasta) with butter.
Tajarin from the Langhe also go well with sausage ragù, while potato gnocchi match creamy sauces made with Castelmagno or Raschera cheese. Agnolotti del plin are among the tiniest and most flavorful meat-stuffed ravioli you will ever encounter. Vitello tonnato (thin slices of veal with tuna sauce) hints at commercial exchanges with neighboring Liguria occurring ever since the dawn of times, and so does Bagna Cauda (vegetables dipped in an anchovy, parsley and garlic sauce).
Brasato al Barolo (braised meat cooked in Barolo) is another must-try. An assorted platter of cheese from the Piedmontese alps or a slice of bonet (chocolate and hazelnuts cake) are a perfect way to end the meal.
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Grapes in Piemonte
Housing one of the largest varieties of native grapes in Italy, Piedmont boasts immense biodiversity.
However, Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto and Moscato make the lion’s share of total volumes, thriving in different areas across the region. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grown stand out among the international grapes planted in Piedmont, giving some of Italy’s finest – if relatively little-known – Metodo Classico (bottle – fermented) sparkling wines
What are the grape varieties in Piemonte?
- Nebbiolo: one of Italy’s greatest native grapes, giving Barolo and Barbaresco in the Langhe, as well as Langhe Nebbiolo and Ghemme, Gattinara, Bramaterra, Carema and other lesser-known red wines in Northern Piedmont. These wines are often complex and exceptionally refined, with a light ruby color anticipating intense aromas of red cherry, violets and balsam herbs that give way to undergrowth, leather and tar with aging. Medium to full-bodied, high acidity and imposing tannins ensure excellent aging potential.
- Barbera: the key grape in Monferrato, also giving Barbera d’Alba in the Langhe. Darker than Nebbiolo, high acidity and moderate tannic heft are its distinctive features, making for easily recognizable wines that range from simple and immediately-pleasing to rich, complex, and velvety.
- Dolcetto: native to the Langhe, it gives inky and slightly rustic red wines redolent of sweet black fruits and violets, usually displaying slightly powdery tannins and matching hearty Piedmontese cuisine. Dolcetto di Ovada, from a different clone, is slightly lighter and more refined.
- Arneis: the key white grape in Langhe and the neighboring Roero region, yielding easy-drinking whites focusing on zesty acidity.
- Timorasso: an up-and-coming white grape from Southern Piedmont, it produces full-bodied whites bursting with aromas of botanical herbs, marzipan, petrol and flint – at times recalling Riesling, even though it tends to be more powerful and alcoholic on the palate. Crisp acidity allows Timorasso to age like fine red wines.
- Moscato Bianco: this aromatic white variety yields light and perfumed sweet wines. Moscato d’Asti and Asti Spumante are the reference denominations, covering a large portion of the provinces of Asti, Alessandria, and Cuneo.
- Cortese: thriving in Southeastern Piedmont, it gives Gavi, an historical white wine, ranging from lemony and refreshing in its youth to smoky and complex when undergoing extended aging in bottle or on the fine lees.
- Other key white wines from native grapes include crisp and herbal Erbaluce di Caluso from Northern Piedmont, savory and perfumed Nascetta from the Langhe, and Favorita (Vermentino).
- Other key red wines from native grapes include Freisa d’Asti, Grignolino d’Asti, Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato. Brachetto d’Acqui produces light sweet wines.
- Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the most popular international grapes in Piedmont, usually giving Metodo Classico (bottle-fermented) sparkling wines such as Alta Langa from the highest reaches of the Langhe. Chardonnay also gives a few ambitious, barrel-aged still whites.
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Piedmont Wine Area
- Hectares under vine: 42,588 (2021)
- Total production: 2.41 million hectoliters
- Percentage of DOC/DOCG wine: 94%
From the slopes of the Alps to the hills of southern Piedmont, vineyards occupy a large proportion of the regional surface area. Some wine growing areas-such as Monferrato or Colli Tortonesi-area quite large, while others only cover few hectares of land but are equally meaningful for the excellent quality of the wines they produce.
Which are the wine-growing areas of Piedmont?
- Langhe: Langhe: Perhaps the most famous wine-producing region of Piedmont. Owing its name to the Latin word for “tongue,” this hilly area is densely populated with vineyards that run along tight curves and steep slopes. The Langhe area, extending around the city of Alba in the province of Cuneo, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, world-famous for its breathtaking landscape and for producing Barolo and Barbaresco.
- Alto Piemonte: Nebbiolo is planted throughout Piedmont, and one of the most unique expressions of this grape comes from the northeastern corner of Piedmont, on foothills of the Alps and close to Lombardy. In Alto Piemonte, Nebbiolo acquires a lighter and more ethereal personality, standing out for its finesse and tension.
- Roero:the lesser-known neighbor of the Langhe. Boasting dramatically steep vineyards on sandy soils, it produces medium-bodied Nebbiolo and crisp, refreshing Arneis.
- Canavese: a large area in northwestern Piedmont, producing Erbaluce di Caluso and Carema, yet another excellent Nebbiolo-based wine, from small terraced plots on a valley connecting Piedmont to Valle d’Aosta.large area in northwestern Piedmont, producing Erbaluce di Caluso and Carema, yet another excellent Nebbiolo-based wine, from small terraced plots on a valley connecting Piedmont to Valle d’Aosta.
- Monferrato: t *the largest wine district in Piedmont, giving the lion’s share of the regional production. Iconic wines include Barbera del Monferrato, Barbera d’Asti, Moscato d’Asti, and Nizza
- Colli Tortonesi: the cradle of Timorasso and Colli Tortonesi Barbera.
- Gavi: please see the previous chapter.
- Ovada: a mountainous area on the border with Liguria, mainly producing high-acid and age-worthy Dolcetto.
What are the Denominations of Piemonte?
Over 80% of the regional output comes from a denomination of origin. 18 wines enjoy Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) status and 41 are granted Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) status.
The D.O.C.G. and DOCs of Piedmont:
- Alta Langa
- Asti
- Barbaresco
- Barbera d’Asti
- Barbera del Monferrato Superiore
- Barolo
- Brachetto d’Acqui or Acqui
- Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba or Diano d’Alba
- Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore or Ovada
- Dogliani
- Erbaluce di Caluso or Caluso
- Freisa d’ Asti
- Grignolino d’ Asti
- Langhe Nebbiolo
- Gattinara
- Gavi or Cortese di Gavi
- Ghemme
- Bramaterra
- Lessona
- Boca
- Carema
- Colline Novaresi Nebbiolo
- Nebbiolo d’ Alba
- Nizza
- Roero / Roero Arneis
- Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato
- Terre Alfieri
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Wineries of Piemonte
What are the most important Wineries in Piemonte?
Except for Monferrato, which houses a few large players, most wine-growing areas in Piedmont are filled with small to medium-size producers who punch far above their weight, some of them having becoming true icons among wine connoisseurs. Because of the limited supply in the face of ever-soaring demand, the wines made by these incredibly talented growers often command high prices in international markets.
Big Wineries
- Borgogno
- Braida
- Ceretto
- Contratto
- Fontanafredda
- Gancia
- Marchesi di Barolo
- Produttori del Barbaresco
- Terre del Barolo
Cult Wineries
Barolo / Barbaresco:
- Aldo Conterno
- Bartolo Mascarello
- Burlotto
- Bruno Giacosa
- Cappellano
- Chiara Boschis
- Damilano
- Domenico Clerico
- Elio Altare
- Elvio Cogno
- Ettore Germano
- Giacomo Conterno
- Gaja
- Giuseppe Mascarello
- Luciano Sandrone
- Marchesi di Gresy
- Massolino
- Paolo Scavino
- Roagna
- Vietti
Other areas:
- Ca’ d’ Gal
- La Colombera
- La Scolca
- Le Piane
- Favaro
- Nervi
- Travaglini
- Malvirà
- Vigneti Massa
Up-and-Coming Wineries
Barolo / Barbaresco:
- Azelia
- Cascina Vano
- Ferdinando Principiano
- Fletcher
- Giulia Negri
- Sobrero
Other areas:
- Antoniolo
- Antoniotti
- Balbiano
- Barbaglia
- Monte Maletto
- Muraje
- Proprietà Sperino
Natural Wineries
Barolo / Barbaresco:
- Cascina delle Rose
- Cascina Roccalini
- Cavallotto
- Giacomo Fenocchio
- Giovanni Canonica
- Nadia Curto
- Sobrero
Other areas:
- Carussin
- Cascina Tavjin
- Cascina degli Ulivi
- Rocco di Carpeneto
- Valfaccenda
Wine areas
In the Piedmont area of Italy, there are a total of 59 wine regions, including well-known ones such as Barolo, Gabiano, Barbera d'Asti, and others. This region is renowned for its diverse and high-quality wine production, offering a rich array to discover.
Grapes
In Piedmont, the most extensively cultivated grape variety is Barbera, known for producing a robust, juicy red wine. Unlike the more tannic wines of Barolo and Barbaresco, Barbera wines offer a smoother and more approachable profile
Wineries
Taste the essence of Italy's Piedmont region as you traverse through the scenic Langhe and Roero areas, indulging in the renowned Barolo and Barbaresco wines, celebrated for their unparalleled quality.
Travel
The ideal time to visit Piemonte, including cities like Turin, Alba, Langhe and the Alpine regions, is during the early fall.
piemonte
Curiosities, food and wine pairings and much more
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