The Top Wines of the Piedmont Region
What are the Piedmont's best wines?...Acqui or Brachetto d'Acqui
Acqui wine label
Piedmont is the Aosta Valley's southern and eastern neighbor. It has a total of 50 classified wines, seven DOCGs and the rest DOCs. There are no IGTs in Piedmont. Let's take a look at Piedmont's DOCGs, and one of its DOCs.
Acqui or Brachetto d'Acqui is a light red, sparkling dessert wine that smells of roses and has a delicate taste and only 7% to 10.5% alcohol. It is rarely available in North America. Some people claim that this wine originated in the then Italian city of Nizza Marittima, today known as Nice, France. Be that as it may, Acqui is now produced in a small area in southeastern Piedmont. It is composed of one hundred percent Brachetto a red, quite aromatic grape. Serve this wine at 52-56 degrees Fahrenheit (12-14 degrees Centigrade).
Asti Spumante bottles
Asti
Asti is a straw-yellowish white wine with an intense musk aroma and 12% alcohol. It may be vinifed as a aromatic, sweet sparkling wine (Asti) or a semi-sparkling wine (Moscato d'Asti). This wine comes from the white Moscato Blanco (Muscat) grape which has been cultivated in the Asti area of southeastern Piedmont for centuries. The wine itself dates back to the early 1600s. Because the name Asti Spumante was once associated with low-quality wines, the bubbly version's official name is now Asti. Consume Asti within the year, it may take on an unpleasant odor of geraniums upon aging. Serve this wine at 42-45 degrees Fahrenheit (6-8 degrees Centigrade).
Barbaresco vineyards
Barbaresco
Barbaresco is a brilliant ruby red tannic wine that turns maroon with age. It has a strong aroma of violets and weighs in at 12% to 14% alcohol. This aristocratic wine was cited by the famous historian Livy in his History of Rome. It was once vinified as a red, sweetish wine thanks to the addition of secondary grape varieties. Now it is 100% Nebbiolo, and no longer the least bit sweet. I haven't heard any complaints about the change, perhaps because it happened well over one hundred years ago. This is a fine Italian wine which many people prefer to Barolo, often considered to be Italy's greatest wine. Barbaresco is aged for a minimum of two years, one of which must be in oak or chestnut casks. The Riserva version is aged for a minimum of four years, two of which must be in oak or chestnut casks. One is advised to open the bottle at least two hours before serving. Serve this wine at 64-67 degrees Fahrenheit (18-20 degrees Centigrade).
See I Love Italian Wine and Food - The Aosta Valley Region - Piedmont Wine for a review of a Gattinara Nebbiolo-based wine.
See I Love Italian Wine and Food - Riserva Wines for a review of a Gattinara Riserva Nebbiolo-based wine.
Barolo wine production areas
Barolo
Barolo is a tannic, somewhat austere red wine with maroon-orange highlights and rose, violet, and licorice aroma. This wine is often called "The king of wines and the wine of kings." Louis XIV was a well-known admirer of this wine, as were many Popes. It is one-hundred percent Nebbiolo grown in a small region of south-central Piedmont near the village of Alba. Barolo is aged for a minimum of 38 months, and the Riserva version is aged for a minimum of 60 months. Barolo wines may be cellared for 8-25 years. They come from a small region of south-central Piedmont, near the village of Alba. Serve this wine at 64-67 degrees Fahrenheit (18-20 degrees Centigrade). I recently tasted two Barolo wines, both on the same night. I felt a bit disappointed, while they were fine I prefer a Piedmont cousin, Gattinara, described next.
Vintage Gattinara wine bottle
Gattinara
Gattinara is a maroon colored red wine with orange highlights and a violet aroma and 12%-13% alcohol. It comes from northern Piedmont. I first selected this wine for my article I Love Italian Wine and Food- Aosta Valley Region, Piedmont Wine because it comes from an area very close to the Aosta Valley. I now buy this wine for its own qualities. The Gattinara area has been producing wine since the days of the Ancient Romans. The wine contains at least 90% Nebbiolo grapes (locally known as Spanna), with the remainder coming from two local grape varieties. It is aged for a minimum of 3 years, one of which must be in wood. The Riserva version is aged for a minimum of 4 years, two of which must be in wood. Having tasted both, I prefer the Riserva which is even more powerful than the plain old variety, which itself is one powerful, mouth-filling wine. Serve this wine at 64 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Centigrade).
Gavi wine label
Gavi
Gavi, also known as Cortese di Gavi, is a straw-yellowish white wine at 10.5% to 11% alcohol. It is made from 100% Cortese grapes in a southeastern area of Piedmont. Gavi wines may be sparkling, fizzy, or still. At best they take on a honey flavor after a couple of years of bottle aging. Serve these wines at 45 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Centigrade).
Ghemme village and surrounding vineyards
Ghemme
Ghemme is a maroon colored red wine with a violet aroma at 12% to 14% alcohol. It comes from northern Piedmont, across the river from Gattinara. The area was known for "scientific" wine production two millennia ago. Ghemme is made primarily from Nebbiolo grapes with a maximum of 35% of two other local red grapes. Prior to sale it is aged for a minimum of three years, including at least 20 months in a wooden barrel and at least 9 months in the bottle. The Riserva is aged for a minimum four years, including at least 25 months in a wooden barrel and at least nine months in the bottle. Partly because of its location and price, Ghemme is considered a direct competitor to Gattinara. I have never tasted a Ghemme; when I do I'll give my opinion. Serve this wine at 60-64 degrees Fahrenheit (16-18 degrees Centigrade).