Custom search

The Great Reds: Protagonists of the Territory

Piedmont is recognised the world over for its great expressions of red wines from red grape varieties such as Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto. However, there are also lesser known but equally typical and important grapes, such as Freisa, Grignolino, Vespolina, Pelaverga Piccolo, Brachetto and Ruché. Each area of the region boasts its own peculiarities and the presence of typical grapes.

Piedmont's most famous red wines come to life in the Langhe, a hilly area on the orographic right of the Tanaro river, in the province of Cuneo, with Alba as its economic, historical and cultural centre. From Nebbiolo grapes come the great expressions of Barolo and Barbaresco in limited and prestigious territories, while Langhe Doc Nebbiolo is produced throughout the area. Barbera d 'Alba and Dolcetto d'Alba also have their own prominent position, along with Pelaverga di Verduno.

The Excellence of Dolcetto

The best expressions of Dolcetto are those of Diano d'Alba and Dogliani Docg. Moving to the left of the Tanaro river, we encounter the Roero, an area with a strong vocation for Nebbiolo. Monferrato Astigiano, on the other hand, is the realm of Barbera, which reaches excellence in the DOCGs of Barbera d'Asti and Nizza, but also in DOC versions such as Barbera Piemonte, a product particularly sought after for its aromatic nuances.

To the south, in the province of Alessandria, inAlto Monferrato, we find treasures such as Dolcetto Ovada Docg, Grignolino, Freisa, Barbera and the aromatic Bracchetto d'Acqui. In Canavese, an area of high hills, Nebbiolo expresses itself magnificently on the terraces of Carema, while on the hills of Vercelli, Biella and Novara, it is called Spanna, reaching qualitative peaks in robust territorial expressions such as Bramaterra, Lessona, Gattinara, Ghemme and Boca.

The Expression in White Wines of Piedmont

The region's whites do not yet enjoy the international fame of the reds, but they are experiencing an important qualitative turnaround. The Piedmont region is rich in native white grape varieties.Arneis is perhaps the best known white grape variety, an ancient and characteristic grape brought to the fore by historic producers such as Ceretto and Giacosa since the 1980s. Today it is the pride of Roero, with the famous Roero Arneis Docg.

The Triumph of Moscato

In the Asti area and on the border between the Langhe and Monferrato, Moscato Bianco di Canelli is very popular, vinified in both sparkling and semi-sparkling versions in the Asti Docg, a denomination known throughout the world and which has become synonymous with festivity and conviviality. Another white protagonist is Timorasso dei Colli Tortonesi, which produces a complex and characteristic white wine with extraordinary longevity.

In Alto Piemonte and Canavese, on the other hand, Erbaluce dominates, both in dry and passito versions, enhanced by the prestigious Erbaluce di Caluso Docg denomination.

The Region's Historical Producers

The history of Piedmontese wine dates back to ancient times, with the region having demonstrated a great vocation for quality production since Roman times. In the 19th century, thanks to the passion of Camillo Benso Conte di Cavour and the Marchesa di Barolo, the first Barolo wines were born. In the 20th century, mythological producers like Bartolo Mascarello and Giacomo Conterno left an indelible mark, followed by young winemakers like Elio Altare and Roberto Voerzio.

New Generations and Prestigious Winemakers

Angelo Gaja and Bruno Giacosa have brought prestige to Barbaresco, while many other producers have reached lofty heights of quality. Today, thanks to the enhancement of the territory, the most vocated areas, or Additional Geographical Mentions, have been defined: 66 for Barbaresco and 181 for Barolo.

Other historic Piedmont producers such as Coppo and Braida in Monferrato, the Produttori di Carema in Canavese, Tenute Sella and, in the southernmost part of the region, Walter Massa, have contributed to the revival of varieties such as Barbera, Nebbiolo, Erbaluce and Timorasso.

Discover the Great Wines of Piedmont on xtraWine

Enter xtraWine and discover a vast selection of Piedmontese wines on sale online and on offer at special prices, perfect for unique pairings that will enhance your every dish and excellent for any convivial occasion. Buy now and immerse yourself in the richness and diversity of the great reds and refined whites of Piedmont.