One cannot talk about Italian food and culture without talking about wine. Of all the wine-producing regions in Italy, Piedmont is the largest contributor to Italian wine in all possible aspects. It is the largest in terms of geographical area, annual wine production, number of DOC & DOCG certified wines and variety of wines produced. Not only is Piedmont the largest contributor to Italian wine, but it's also home to some of the absolute best Italian wines.
Southern Italy was known as Oenotria or ‘Land of Wine’ after its inhabitants the Oenotrii who perfected the art of making wine. As the tide of civilization in the Roman era swept over the Italian peninsula, and entered northern Italy, the region was covered by blankets of vibrant and deep ruby red to purple-coloured vineyards from the gentle Apennines in the south to the foothills of the Alps in the North.
“Amici e vini sono meglio vecchi” (Wine and friendships improve with age)
The Geography & Climate of Piedmont
The name ‘Piedmont’ is derived from the Latin name ‘Pedemontium’ which literally means ‘at the foot of the mountains.’ It is a region in Northwest Italy cushioned from the West and North by the Western Alps and from the East by the Northern Apennines. In fact, 74% of the regional territory of Piedmont consists of hilly areas. This naturally forming basin is a part of the famously known ‘Po Valley,’ being naturally irrigated by numerous tributaries of the Po River flowing all over its elevated plains. Regardless of its mountainous properties, the region has infrequent snowfall and is blessed with a temperate-cold climate along with typical Mediterranean hot summers. With the optimum average elevation, innumerable natural channels of irrigation, Mediterranean winds, and a hospitable climate; this region forms the perfect conditions for an outstanding and distinct quality of the wine.
Cultural Significance
Being a part of the former kingdom of Savoy, the region was the driving force behind the reunification of Italy and the pioneer of the initial phases of the Italian industrial revolution. Its geographical position isolated and protected it during the period of Habsburg, Bourbon, and Papal domination and resulted in the region’s relative prosperity in stark contrast to the poverty of the rest of the peninsula in the 19th century.
As a result of political and cultural stability, Piedmont’s viticulture is the most stable and evolved in Italy and has made the greatest progress both in identifying the proper areas for growing its own individual wine varieties and developing the proper techniques for fermenting and ageing them.
Wine Production Areas in Piedmont
The two highest qualities of wines are identified from their DOC and DOCG certifications which stand for ‘Denominazione di Origine Controllata’ and ‘Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita.’ These are the Italian government’s quality certifications that guarantee the quality of the wine by imposing sanctions on production; where that certain wine must be produced in a specific region. This designation gave rise to the demarcation of wine regions. The four northern regions while not as productive as the south are still quality producers of wine;
Colline Novarese - or the Mountains of Novara
Canavese – the hilly plains north of Turin
Coste della Sessia – the plains between the river banks and the foothills in Vercelli
Colline Tortonesi – or the Mountains of Alessandria
However, the climate in southern Piedmont is far more suitable for wine production than the relatively colder climate of the north;
Langhe
The Langhe and Roero plains in the provinces of Cuneo and Asti are the highest-quality wine producers in the region. It is the home of the Nebbiolo grape variety which produces the majority of the region’s quality wines.
Monferrato
Monferrato is one of the most well-known Italian wine regions for red wines and sparkling wines. Located in the provinces of Asti and Alessandria from the banks of the Po to the foothills of the Ligurian Apennines, this region has the perfect climate for wine production. As a result, this is the largest wine-producing area in the region.
Langhe and Monferrato, the two regions alone stand for 90% of the wine production of Piedmont.
Grape Varieties
When it comes to Italian wine, Nebbiolo is the noblest and the oldest grape and is responsible for most of Italy’s greatest wines; and when in Piedmont, the Nebbiolo is right at home where it belongs. It produces 12 DOC & DOCG wines on its own including the world-famous ‘Barolo’. The other oldest grape variety found in Piedmont is the Moscato Bianco responsible for the region’s white and sparkling wine production including the prominent ‘Asti Spumante’.
The workhorse grape of the region on the other hand is the Barbera which is responsible for most of the region's everyday red wines, while the Dolcetto provides for the region's fruity red wines and other sweet or dessert wines.
Wine the heart of Piedmont’s culture
Wine is one of the most important parts of Piedmont’s culture. There are over 18000 wineries and 14 regional wine cellars recognised by UNESCO for having cultural significance. The multisensory Wine Museum in Barolo set in the halls of a castle in the Langhe region is an innovative experience. Piedmont is also famous for its 7 distinct Wine Routes, such as the famous ‘Barolo Route’, which offers an unrivalled experience into the wine culture with an itinerary along the region’s finest sites through wineries to cellars and from traditional family inns to modern Michelin starred restaurants. The experience includes wine education, wine tasting, notes and shades of wine, pairing of the local food with the wine and interactive workshops.
If you want to experience Italian wine, there is no better choice than Piedmont! In Vino Veritas!
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