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It is common knowledge that Italy produces excellent wines, but which are the most renowned regions for quality wines? Along with Tuscany, Piedmont is world-famous for its fascinating and sought-after wines, whether red, white or spumante.
What makes Piedmontese wines so special?
What makes Piedmontese wines special is the terroir of the region, which boasts both the climatic influence of the Alpine ranges, making it the least rainy region in Italy, and that of the Ligurian Apennines, not far from the Mediterranean Sea.
The temperature ranges, and the variety of mineral characteristics of the soil dedicated to the cultivation of vines, located mainly on hillsides with good exposure to the sun, ensure the character and uniqueness of the wines produced in Piedmont.
Here, the grapes can ripen and develop characteristics that cannot be reproduced anywhere else in the world, with more than 20 indigenous grape varieties that have found in the region the ideal place to flourish. Thanks to the longstanding winegrowing tradition of the region, they have achieved 18 Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) and as many as 41 Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) wines.
The winegrowers and wine producers of Piedmont, aware of all these local strengths, have further revolutionised the world of wine in Italy, introducing for the first time in the country the concept of cru. These are additional geographical references, shown on the label, aimed at making the most of the different nuances of the wines, thanks to the special features of specific portions of vineyards, which add further value and quality to the wines produced there.
Piedmont's great red wines
Of the entire vineyard area of the Piedmont region (no less than 48,000 hectares), 60% is dedicated to black vines, among which Barbera, Dolcetto and the noble Nebbiolo varieties stand out in particular. The latter, according to the different production methods and using its grapes alone or blended with grapes from other regional vines, gives rise to the most famous red wines such as Barbaresco and Barolo.
The best Piedmontese red wines are so many it is impossible to list them all, but the best known are produced in the Langhe area, situated between the provinces of Cuneo and Alessandria, an area that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; further proof of why Piedmont ranks among the most important regions in the world of wine. Among the most famous are, in addition to those mentioned, Dogliani, Gattinara and Roero.
The king of wines, the wine of kings: Barolo DOCG
Barolo, one of the world's finest red wines, known for its elegance and prestige, is produced using pure Nebbiolo grapes and undergoes long periods of ageing. All of its countless crus boast multi-award-winning productions of undisputed quality, such as the Barolo DOCG Cannubi 2016 or the Barolo DOCG 2017.
Barbaresco DOCG: worthy brother of Barolo
Another renowned expression of the Nebbiolo variety: Barbaresco. It is surprising to note how the same grape variety can be so sensitive to differences in soils, so as to yield such different wines. Even the iconic Barbaresco wine boasts numerous crus, such as the 'San Cristoforo' Barbaresco DOCG, representative of the tasting characteristics of this type of wine.
Barbera d'Asti, DOCG balance and bouquet
Initially born as a wine of the people, evolving over time to become the great wine we know today, thanks to the efforts of the growers and viticultural progress, the Barbera d'Asti has gained fame. The star vine of this great wine is the Barbera, which gives rise to the eponymous Barbera wines, and is the most widely cultivated in the region. It is perhaps the most representative of the spirit of the territory, as evidenced by the Barbera d'Asti Superiore 'La Luna e i Falò' DOCG or the multi-award-winning wines in this category.
Piedmont and wines: the famous whites
The success of Piedmontese wines does not stop with red wines, but also extends to the excellent and characteristic white and sparkling wines, approximately 40% of the wines produced in the region. Among the white grape varieties cultivated are the indigenous Moscato Bianco, Erbaluce, Arneis, Cortese, Favorita and Timorasso, as well as international varieties such as Chardonnay, used for the production of Metodo Classico Alta Langa DOCG sparkling wines. Even Piedmontese white wines find in the region the place to express their character and quality, with nothing to envy the great red wines mentioned above.
Asti DOCG: the most exported denomination
From the prized grapes of Moscato Bianco, an aromatic vine, come wonderful wines such as Moscato d'Asti DOCG and Asti Spumante DOCG, a source of pride not only for Piedmont but also for Italy, being one of the most exported Italian wines. These types of wines are among the most popular sweet and semi-sweet wines in the world, well suited to accompany desserts or to be meditatively sipped on their own.
Roero Arneis DOCG: elegance and longevity
From the grapes of the vine of the same name comes this excellent dry white wine: Roero Arneis DOCG, suitable to accompany the entire meal. It is also made in a refined sparkling version, such as this Roero Arneis Spumante Brut, characterised by fine bubbles and a delicate, harmonious flavour, with an irresistible bouquet.
Gavi DOCG: an aristocratic wine
Among the main Piedmontese white wines, appreciated since the 18th century by noble families, Gavi or Cortese di Gavi DOCG is as polite and personable as the name of the vine from which it originates: the Cortese ("the courteous one"). Whichever version is produced, they will all bear those distinctive and expressive characteristics of the noble vine of origin, also used for other white wines such as Colli Tortonesi DOC, Monferrato DOC and Piemonte DOC, all typical wines of the region.
Now that you are familiar with the best Piedmontese wines, you can be sure to stock your cellar with the exceptional and highly-prized labels that the experts at Svinando have carefully selected for you!
