Description
The Langhe PDO is reserved for the following types of wine: White, Red, Rosé, White Passito, Red Passito; Novello (only with specification of grape variety). The Designation also incorporates numerous grape variety and geographical specifications.
Production Area
The production area of Langhe PDO is within the territory of numerous municipalities in the Province of Cuneo, in the Piedmont region.
Description of product typologies
Langhe PDO Bianco is straw-yellow, varying in intensity; the nose is delicate and fine, intense and persistent, with woody and spicy hints; it is harmonious on the palate, with a fresh, slightly dry yet sapid flavour, offering good consistency and structure. Langhe PDO Rosso ranges from ruby red to garnet red; the nose is characteristic, intense and ample, with floral, fruity and balsamic hints; it is dry on the palate, with good body and a pleasant almondy note in the background. Langhe PDO Rosato is pink or light ruby red; the nose offers delicate hints of flowers, with traces of summer fruit, especially peach; it is dry, harmonious and velvety on the palate, with a smooth and pleasantly dry finish. Langhe PDO Passito Bianco ranges from golden yellow to amber-yellow, varying in intensity; the nose displays intense woody aromas; it is sweet on the palate, with a rounded, velvety, harmonious and sweet flavour. Langhe PDO Passito Rosso is deep ruby red with garnet red reflections; the nose bursts with intense, complex and characteristic aromas; it is surprising on the palate due to its balsamicity, with evident sweet, velvety and harmonious notes. Langhe PDO Passito Rosso and Langhe PDO Passito Bianco wines must have undergone a minimum ageing period of 10 months, commencing November 1st of the year in which the grapes were produced. The vinification method must involve the fermentation of grapes that have been dried on the vines, on trellises or in other suitable aerated and biologically healthy environments. Passito wines can be released for consumption from September 1st of the year following that of the grape harvest. The organoleptic properties of Langhe PDO Dolcetto Novello wines are typical of the grapes and terroir of origin.
Geographical and sub-area specifications
The Langhe PDO can be accompanied by the geographical sub-designation Langhe PDO Nascetta del Comune di Novello, or Langhe PDO Nas-cëtta di Novello, reserved for White and White Passito wines made exclusively from grapes originating from the Nascetta grape variety, and produced in the municipality of Novello and a few other areas in the municipalities of Barolo and Monforte d’Alba, in the Province of Cuneo. Langhe PDO Nascetta del Comune di Novello or Langhe PDO Nas-cëtta di Novello wines must undergo a minimum ageing period of 5 months, commencing November 1st of the year in which the grapes were harvested. The wines can be released for consumption from April 20th of the year following that in which the grapes were harvested. Langhe PDO Nascetta del Comune di Novello or Langhe PDO Nas-cëtta di Novello Passito wines must have been aged for a minimum period of 10 months, commencing November 1st of the year in which the grapes were harvested. They can be released for consumption from September 1st of the year following that in which the grapes were harvested.
Grape variety specifications
The Langhe PDO may display the following grape variety specifications. From white grape varieties: min. 85% Arneis, Chardonnay, Favorita, Riesling, Nascetta, Rossese Bianco, Sauvignon, pure or with the addition of similarly-coloured unaromatic grapes originating from other grape varieties suitable for cultivation in the concerned area, max. 15%. From red grape varieties: min. 85% Barbera, Nebbiolo, Dolcetto (incl. Novello), Freisa (incl. Semi-Sparkling), Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Nero, Merlot, pure or with the addition of similarly-coloured unaromatic grapes originating from other grape varieties suitable for cultivation in the concerned area, max. 15%. The characteristics of the colour, fragrances and flavour of each specification are those typical of the grape variety and terroir of origin.
Additional specifications
The Langhe PDO designation can be followed one of the following grape variety specifications: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Favorita, Freisa, Merlot, Nascetta, Pinot Nero, Riesling, Rossese Bianco, or Sauvignon, and by the sub-area Nascetta del Comune di Novello or Nas-cëtta di Novello, followed by the specification Vigna (Vineyard) with the relative toponym.
