PIEDMONT
Situated in the northwestern part of Italy, Piedmont stands as one of the world's premier wine regions, boasting more DOCG wines than any other Italian counterpart. Notable appellations like Barolo, Barbaresco, and Barbera d'Asti enjoy widespread recognition and esteem. While renowned for its robust, tannic, and floral reds crafted from Nebbiolo, Piedmont has recently seen a surge in acclaim for its sweet, white, sparkling Moscato d'Asti.
As its name suggests (pied = foot, mont = mountain), Piedmont rests at the foothills of the Western Alps, which encircle its northern and western perimeters, forming a natural boundary with Provence to the west and, via the Aosta Valley, Switzerland's mountainous Valais to the north. The northern Apennine Mountains lie to its southeast, separating Piedmont from its elongated neighbor, Liguria, along the Mediterranean coast.
To the east lies Lombardy and the fertile plains of the Po River. While the Po River basin isn't the most conducive to viticulture, vineyards are still found west of Piedmont in the undulating valleys south of Padua and Franciacorta to the northeast, bordering the vineyards of the western Veneto. To the southeast lies Emilia-Romagna.
AVAILABILITY BY GRAPE/BLEND
The Alps and the Apennines play a significant role in Piedmont, contributing to the region's favorable climate and historically providing a degree of protection from invasion. Presently, Piedmont serves as a vital viticultural crossroads, drawing inspiration from its neighboring regions and engaging in an exchange of winemaking knowledge with other renowned wine hubs worldwide, keeping it at the forefront of viticultural advancement in Italy.
Piedmont's viticultural land is largely concentrated in the vicinity of Asti and Alba, spreading approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) across the southeast of Turin, nearly reaching Genova on the Ligurian coast. This area sees several wine regions overlapping, including Freisa d'Asti, Monferrato, Barbera del Monferrato, Nizza, and Brachetto d'Acqui, among others, all intersecting southeast of Asti.
Surrounding Alba, the esteemed red wine regions of Barolo and Barbaresco reign supreme, epitomizing the essence of Nebbiolo. These are flanked or intersected by Roero, Dolcetto d'Alba, Dogliani, and the Langhe.
In parts of these areas, the Moscato d'Asti denomination is prevalent, while on the fringes, one can find the Collina Torinese DOC (in the hills immediately southeast of Turin), Gavi, and Dolcetto di Ovada (near the Ligurian border), as well as Colli Tortonesi, situated along the Emilia-Romagna border.
Piedmont grape varieties
Piedmont, often called Italy's "Burgundy," is renowned for its small family wineries devoted to quality. Nebbiolo, akin to Burgundy's Pinot Noir, dominates, shaping Piedmont's top wines like Barolo and Barbaresco. Known for their tar and roses aroma, Nebbiolo wines age superbly despite their firm tannins.
Barbera, the region's most planted grape, produces diverse wines like Barbera del Monferrato, known for its sour cherry notes and balanced acidity. Unlike Nebbiolo, Barbera wines are approachable shortly after release, making them popular in today's fast-paced wine market.
Dolcetto, Piedmont's third red grape, boasts several DOCs and three prestigious DOCGs.
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