Piedmont

Piedmont, the pre-eminent fine wine province of Italy since Roman times, an this was reinforced under the House of Savoy which lorded it over Europe during the Middle Ages from their base in Turin. Piedmont's fame increased too as this noble House secured their place in history as the driver for Italian Reunification in 1861. 

Located in the north-west of the country with a continental climate, Piedmont is influenced culturally and climatically by the surrounding Alps and Ligurian Apennines. Piedmont's most important fine wine regions are: Langhe, south of Alba, incorporating Barolo and Barbaresco; Monferrato, comprising the wines of Asti and Gavi; and Novara with its Colline Novaresi and Boca.

Nebbiolo is the grape of Piedmont, and arguably the whole country. It is planted in only the most favourable sites and is the power behind Barolo and Barbaresco. It is followed by Barbera d'Alba or Barbera d'Asti andDolcetto, an early ripening antipasti wine produced more seriously around Dogliani. For whites, Moscato is queen, responsible for copious amounts of frizzante more commonly known as Asti. A far more rewarding gently sparkling wine, made in an off-dry style, is labelled as Moscato d'Asti. 

A notable red version is also made: Brachetto d'Acqui. Cortese is the white grape behind the region's most popular dry white wine, Gavi, from vines south of Alessandria. Perhaps not surprisingly Piedmont has the highest proportion of DOC and DOCG wines even if it is responsible for only 7% of Italy's total production (2006).

Recommended Producers: Cigliuti, Giacomo Conterno, Giuseppe Mascarello, Luciano Sandrone, Antonio Vallana.