Description
The Piemonte PDO is reserved for the following types of wine: White, Red, Rosé, White Spumante, Red Spumante, Rosè Spumante, White Passito and Red Passito. The Designation also incorporates numerous grape variety specifications.
Production Area
The production area of Piemonte PDO is within the territory of numerous municipalities in the provinces of Alessandria, Asti, Cuneo, Turin, Novara, Biella, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola and Vercelli, in the Piedmont region.
Description of product typologies
Piemonte PDO Bianco is straw-yellow; the nose is pleasantly intense, with fruity and floral hints; it is fresh on the palate and very drinkable. It can also be produced as a semi-sparkling wine. Piemonte PDO Rosso is vivid red; the nose is elegant and intense, with floral and fruity notes; the palate corresponds with the nose. It can also be produced as a semi-sparkling wine. Piemonte PDO Rosato ranges from light pink to cherry pink, varying in intensity; it is fresh on the nose, with hints of rose and pansy and notes of red fruit; it is pleasantly sapid, fairly smooth and agreeably fresh on the palate. It can also be produced as a semi-sparkling wine. Piemonte PDO Spumante Bianco is straw-yellow with a fine and persistent perlage; the nose is fresh with pleasantly intense floral and fruity notes; it is medium-structured and well-balanced on the palate, characterised by the same aromas found on the nose, ranging from pas dosè to dry depending on the type of wine. Piemonte PDO Spumante Rosso is red with light, persistent foam; the nose is pleasant and delicate; it is smooth on the palate and harmonious in the wines ranging from pas dosè to sweet. Piemonte PDO Spumante Rosè varies from light pink to cherry red, varying in intensity; the nose is pleasant and delicate; it is smooth on the palate and harmonious in the wines ranging from pas dosè to dry. Piemonte PDO Passito Bianco is straw-yellow, varying in depth and at times with golden reflections; the nose is intense and complex; it is dry on the palate and harmonious in the wines ranging from dry to sweet. Piemonte PDO Passito Rosso is ruby red, varying in intensity and tending towards garnet red with ageing; the nose is intense and complex; it is smooth on the palate and harmonious in the wines ranging from dry to sweet. Piemonte PDO Passito wines with the specification of Moscato, Brachetto or Barbera have the organoleptic properties that are typical of aromatic grapes and the terroir of origin. The gasification of Piemonte PDO Spumante wines, with or without specification of grape variety, must be done through fermentation in autoclaves or in the bottle; the addition of carbon dioxide is not permitted.
Grape variety specifications
The Piemonte PDO may display the following grape variety specifications. From white grape varieties: min. 85% Cortese (including Semi-Sparkling, Spumante, with specification of the Marengo geographical area), Bussanello, Viognier, Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay (including Semi-Sparkling, Spumante), 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%. Moscato (including Passito): 100% Moscato Bianco. From two white grape varieties (including Semi-Sparkling, Spumante): reserved for wine obtained from similarly coloured must and wine cuts from the Cortese, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Bussanello, Favorita, Moscato, Pinot, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Riesling Italico, Riesling Renano, Viognier, Pinot Nero (white or rosé vinified) grape varieties. Wines obtained in this way must derive entirely from the two specified varieties; the minor variety must be at least 15% of the total and must follow the name of the prevailing variety in the presentation and designation of the product. From red grape varieties: min. 85% Barbera (including Passito, Semi-Sparkling), Grignolino, Bonarda (including Semi-Sparkling), Brachetto (including Spumante, Passito), Albarossa, Dolcetto (including Semi-Sparkling), Freisa, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Croatina, Merlot, Pinot Nero, Syrah, 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 two red grape varieties (including Semi-Sparkling, Spumante): reserved for wine obtained from similarly coloured must and wine cuts from the Albarossa, Barbera, Bonarda, Brachetto, Cabernet, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Croatina, Dolcetto, Freisa, Grignolino, Merlot, Nebbiolo, Pinot nero, Syrah grape varieties. Wines obtained in this way must derive entirely from the two specified varieties; the minor variety must be at least 15% of the total and must follow the name of the prevailing variety in the presentation and designation of the product. Spumante with specification of grape variety: min. 85% Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Nero, Pinot, Chardonnay, Cortese o Cortese Marengo o Marengo, Brachetto, Albarossa Rosato, with the possible addition of Pinot Bianco and/or Pinot Grigio and/or Pinot Nero and/or Chardonnay, max. 15%. The characteristics of the colour, fragrances and flavour of each specification are those typical of the grape variety and terroir of origin. Piemonte PDO Moscato Passito and Piemonte PDO Brachetto Passito wines must be aged for 12 months, commencing January 1st of the year following that in which the grapes were produced; Piemonte PDO Albarossa wine must be aged for 12 months, commencing November 1st of the year in which the grapes were produced. Piemonte Freisa PDO wines must be aged for a period of 4 months, commencing November 1st of the year in which the grapes were produced. After being released for consumption, Piemonte Brachetto and Piemonte Moscato PDO wines can be characterised by a development of carbon dioxide when opened, originating exclusively from fermentation.
Additional specifications
The Piemonte PDO designation can be accompanied by the specification “Vigneti di montagna” (Mountain vineyards), reserved for wines produced with grapes originating from determined areas in the production area found at an altitude equal to or higher than 500 m.a.s.l., and which meet at least one of the following conditions: the gradient is equal to or greater than 30% in respect to the average vineyard; the vineyard is on either either slopes or terraces. A description of the ampelographic base (together with the grapes varieties cultivated in a determined area) may be indicated on the label of Piemonte PDO Bianco, Piemonte PDO Rosso, Piemonte PDO Rosé, Piemonte PDO Bianco Frizzante, Piemonte PDO Rosso Frizzante and Piemonte PDO Rosato Frizzante wines with the specification “Vigneti di Montagna”. The acronym Pinot may be used for Piemonte PDO Spumante wines obtained from Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio and Pinot Nero grapes. The synonym Pinot Noir may be used for Piemonte PDO Pinot Nero wines. Piemonte PDO Spumante Cortese Marengo or Piemonte PDO Spumante Marengo can be accompanied by the specification "Storico" if produced with grapes cultivated within the administrative territory of a few municipalities in the provinces of Asti and Alessandria. For Piemonte PDO reds, with the exception of aromatic wines, “Novello” may be indicated on the label, according to current regulations for Novello wines.
