Piedmont: The Wine and The Region

piedmont
Best wine regions in Europe
Piedmont – Italy

Along with Tuscany, Piedmont is the most famous wine region in Italy and has been valued since ancient times. The 55,000 hectares of vineyards stretch across the provinces of Alessandria, Asti, Cuneo, Torino and Vercelli. Almost only quality wines and most of the frontrunners are produced here in Tuscany. The sunny slopes offer winemakers the perfect basis for their wine. Around 2.4 million hectoliters from over 100 approved grape varieties are bottled annually in Piedmont. The three different landscapes, from the Alpine region in the north to the fertile Po Valley to the hilly region in the southeast, offer the opportunity to grow a variety of individual wines.

The region is protected by the Alps can be aptly translated as “at the foot of the mountains”. Piedmont is located in the extreme north-west of Italy, borders on Switzerland and France and is a neighbor of Liguria, Lombardy, Emilia Romagna and the Aosta Valley. When it comes to the best wine in Italy, the big competitor Tuscany is almost in sight.

Italy’s wine-growing regions do not take much away from tradition and winegrowing history. In Piedmont, however, it was the Ligurian-Celtic Taurines before the Romans who sought the wine lovers of antiquity. French winemakers and oenologists – such as Louis Oudart – exerted particular influence in modern times, which is why Piedmont is often called “Italian Burgundy”.

Barolo and Barbaresco from Piedmont

One focus is on the Langhe region near the city of Alba. It is known for great Italian wines such as the Barolo or Barbaresco. However, the region’s lush red wines are popular everywhere. The Dolcetto vine is currently experiencing an upswing in quality and profile. Barbera vines are particularly valued for their diverse use in everyday wines. Winegrowers from Piedmont rely on Arneis and Moscato Bianco, classic Italian wines, for their white wine. The influence of French varieties is increasing in Piedmont, so that Merlot and Chardonnay are now also grown.

More about Barolo and Barbaresco? Here is the story of two brothers.

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