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The Piedmont Series - Beginner's Guide to Piedmont Wines

Written By: Dylan York on Thursday, June 12, 2008

Wines from Piedmont have a history of quality and every wine lover should be well acquainted with the region.

When I first started my studies of the wine regions of Italy back in February, I began on the areas that I needed to learn about the most and worked my way up the peninsula so that I could finish up with the northern regions. Today I have officially arrived in one of my favorite regions -- Piedmont. Located in the northwest corner of Italy, Piedmont is bordered by the Alps to the northwest and the Liguirian Sea to the south. This region is considered the second largest province in Italy and has two very different climate aspects. While the inland areas are subjected to a continental climate -- harsh winters and hot summers, the coastal areas have more of a Mediterranean climate -- warm summers and mild winters. Because of this diversity there is a wide selection of wines to choose from.

Currently there are 9 DOCG wines and 45 DOC wines produced in Piedmont making it the seventh largest production region in Italy. This region is home to some of the most popular Italian wines in the global market. Wines such as Barolo, Barbaresco, Dolcetto, Barbera, Moscato d'Asti, and many more are all from the Piedmont region. Throughout its long history of production, winemaking has remained very traditional. Unlike the rest of the Italian wine regions, Piedmont contains no IGT designated wines. Winemakers in the Piedmont region have not adapted to the IGT system which would allow them to produce wines with non-indigenous varietals that follow no traditional guidelines. The primary varietals found in Piedmont are Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, and Moscato. There are numerous secondary varietals that can be grown throughout the region but these are used only as minor additions, if even used at all. For example you will not find a wine from the Piedmont region that is labeled Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Shiraz, nor will you find any proprietary blends that contain these secondary varietals. Unlike the producers in Tuscany, whose love for Bordeaux-styled Super Tuscans paved the way for IGT wines, winemakers in Piedmont held true to their own styles and continued to produce wines from their noble varieties.

In the next series of articles I would like to take you on a tour of Piedmont which will covers all the DOCG wines and also the most important DOC wines. From the sweet and sparkling wines of Moscato d'Asti to the smoky and tannic-driven wines of Barolo, get ready to discover some new and exciting wines to savor and enjoy.

Interesting Note: the original recipe for vermouth was created by Benedetto Carpano in 1786 in the city of Turin, the capital of Piedmont. This recipe later became the brand we know of today as Martini & Rossi.

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