Wine and wineyards of Piedmont

Unlike Valle d’Aosta, Piemonte, due to the presence of level ground, hills and mountains, is an ideal land for wine production. Most of it is made in the hills, although there is something also in the Alpine and Pre-Alps area. The production is made by the direct work of men, not cultivating lots of plants by hectare in order to give preference to quality than quantity.

Production areas

The wine areas can be identified with the elements of the landscape, in particular rivers. One is on the right part of the Po, from Langhe to Monferrato, another one is above that river, spread in the provinces of Biella Cuneo, Novara, Turin and Vercelli.

Monferrato and Langhe

The soil composition of these two lands is perfect for vine growing and thus the production of extraordinary wines, like Barbaresco, Barolo, Nebbiolo d’Alba and much more.

Monferrato

This region is divided into different areas. From one hand there is Astigiano, included between the provinces of Asti and Alessandria (Asti, Casale Monferrato, Ovada and Gavi). Here the most famous red wine is Barbera (of Asti and Moscato). From another hand there is High Monferrato where, among others, the cities of Acqui, Ovada and Gavi are known for Cortese (white), Dolcetto and Brachetto (both red)wines. In High Monferrato is also possible to walk through thematic itineraries: from aromas to cheese, from chestnuts and mushrooms to castles, from sweet lands (near Novi Ligure, where sweets are produced) to villas (ancient agrarian farms).

Langhe

On the right hand of river Tanaro in the region of Cuneo (between Piemonte and Liguria),grow vines at an altitude that goes from 400 and 800 meters, where are produced Barbaresco, Barolo D.O.C.G. (Controlled and Granted Denomination of Origin), Nebbiolo, Ruché, Barbera and Dolcetto.

Roero

On the left hand of river Tanaro, around the cities of Bra and Canale there is another important wine district, called Roero. Here too is present Nebbiolo, but there are also the white vine varieties of Arneis and Favorita.

Wine heritage: Piemonte is mostly known for its red wines, derived from the red berry vine variety, but there are also good white, rosé, sparkling and sweet wines.

Main red wines: Barbera d’Asti DOCG (with its “superior” varieties), Barbera of Monferrato Superior DOC, Barbera of Monferrato DOC, Albugnano DOC, Cisterna of Asti DOC, Freisa of Asti DOC, Grignolino of Asti DOC, Malvasia of Casorzo DOC, Malvasia of Castelnuovo Don Bosco DOC, Monferrato (with its other red varieties), Ruché of Castagnole Monferrato DOCG, Terre Alfieri Nebbiolo DOC, Alba, Barbaresco, Barolo, Canavee, Carema, Cisterna, Dolcetto, Freisa, Gattinara, Grignolino, Ruché, Verduno.

Main white wines: Monferrato Bianco DOC, Piemonte Cortese DOC, Piemonte Chardonnay DOC, Terre Alfieri Arneis DOC, Canavese, Colli Torinesi, Colli Novaresi, Gavi, Roero, Langhe.