The Piemonte region in northwest Italy is home not just to the Alps and Apennine mountain ranges, but to some of the most excellent wines in the country, known as Piemonte wines.
No other region in Italy produces as many DOC and DOCG wines, with 58 of the most highly regarded wines, including Barolo and Barbaresco from the Nebbiolo grape (reds) and whites such as Moscato Bianco, which includes the sweet, bubbly Asti Spumante.
Summers in this region tend to be dry and hot. Winters are cold, snowy and high in fog cover.
Weather Makes the Wine
Switzerland and France border northern Italy, where the Italian Alps join their counterparts, and the Apennine mountain region is in the southern part of Piemonte. The warm Mediterranean air flowing into the region, combined with the cooler temperatures of the Alps, make this a unique environment in which to grow grapes.
During each harvesting period a fog cover affects the grapes during the ripening period, especially those grown on north facing or lower slopes. In the southern region, grapes grown on the slopes of the Apennines receive more direct sunlight, making wines that are less acidic than with grapes cultivated closer to the Alps. The foothills of the Alps produce lighter, more acidic wines.
Barolo and Barbaresco are excellent, well-known wines from the Nebbiolo grape, the most famous grape in Piemonte. The grape has very high tannin, with notes of spice, rose, cherry and fig. Most of the wine produced in the Piemonte region is red, with either Nebbiolo, Barbera or Dolcetto grapes.
Small differences between wine zones can make big differences in taste. Barolo tends to be less acidic than Barbaresco because of the soil composition of the land where the Nebbiolo grape is grown. Its soil is much more clay-like thanks to the Tanaro River that flows through the area.
Both Barolo and Barbaresco are DOCG, the highest level of quality awarded to Italian wines. Prices start at $40 but can go higher. Aging affects price, with wines aged 10 years or more at much more of a premium.
What to Try with Piemonte Wines
Some regional dishes native wines pair well with are pasta cooked with eggs, which the locals spray with Dolcetto, a dark red wine with a strong taste of tannin. Bagna cauda, a dip eaten with fresh vegetables, pairs well with strong, acidic red wines. Truffles go nicely with Barolo.
Other popular dishes in this region are grilled fillet steak, braised beef, organ meats and even roast goose.
The wait staff in any local restaurant will be happy to make suggestions if you are uncertain of your choice. With so much to enjoy, it's hard to make a bad choice.