monferrato slide show ing.pps

Discovering Discovering

MonferratoMonferratowith the Enoteca Regionale del Monferratowith the Enoteca Regionale del Monferrato

A great wine “terroir” of the worldA great wine “terroir” of the world

Between twenty and two million years ago, huge tectonic pressures caused the rising of the Alps range. Today’s Piemonte, Northwest of Italy, is surrounded by high mountains, on the North (Swiss border), West (French border) and part of the South. Under the same huge pressures, the southern and western parts of the bottom of the sea, filling up today’s Padanian plain, rose, forming a system of hills named Piedmontese tertiary basin. These hills, whose light-coloured soils are essentially sea sediments, are one of the world’s best wine “terroir”. The Alps give Piemonte a protection against the “westerlies” (lowest rainfall in Northern Italy).

Maurizio Gily forEnoteca Regionale del Monferrato all rights reserved

In Piemonte the vineyards are only on the hills’ slopes, except for the north side, which is usually covered by the forest, or planted with hazelnut trees. The mountain is too cold, and the plain is too rich, to make really good wine.

Vignale Monferrato, site of the ‘Enoteca Regionale del Monferrato”


130 km South-West: the Monviso, the mountain where the Po River springs


110 Km North: Monte Rosa 4600 mFrassinello

maurizio gily


Treville

90 Km South: 90 Km South: the Mediterranean (warm) sea mitigates the Mediterranean (warm) sea mitigates

the Southern Piedmont’s climatethe Southern Piedmont’s climate


Terroir MonferratoCountry Italy, North-West

Region Piemonte (Piedmont)

Province Alessandria and (partially) Asti American standard

latitude 45° N 45° N

distance from the sea (warm sea) 90 km 62 m

Distance from the Alps Range 100 km 62 m

altitude 100-300 m slm 300-1000 feet

morphology: hills, vineyards on the slopes, excluding North face

main soils silty-clay-calcareous, light grey, 1-3 m deep

bedrock soft limestone from sea sediments

CLIMATIC DATA European standard American standard

DD Winkler 1700-1900 °C 3100-3500 F°

DD Huglin 2200-2400 °C 4200 °F

Average July Temperature 24 °C 77 °F

Average January Temperature 0 °C 32 °F

Annual Rainfall 700 mm 275 inches

dryest month January-July January-July

MAIN GRAPEVINES MAIN D.O.C.

Barbera Barbera d'Asti, Barbera del Monferrato

Ruché Ruché di Castagnole Monferrato

Freisa Monferrato Freisa

Grignolino Grignolino d'Asti, G. del Monferrato Casalese

Maurizio Gily“Terroir 2006” University of California, Davis, March 2006

The vine’s budburst occurs, usually, in the first days of April. Usual vintage time:Chardonnay:

First days of September

Ruché, Moscato:

- September 10

Grignolino, Malvasia di Casorzo: - September 20-25

Barbera, Freisa:

- end of September to October 10

Cabernet Sauvignon:

October 7-15


No “monoculture” in Monferrato: meadows, fields and a lot of forests share the territory with the vineyards, providing a lovely landscape, and a great reserve of “biodiversity”. (In the centre, the hill of Maria’s Holy Mountain of Crea, with its world known Sanctuary)


Monferrato has been an independent country, between the Xth and the XVIIth centuries, ruled by the Marquises of Monferrato, till it became part of the Savoy kingdom. Many castles and old settlements witness this ancient history. The main tower of the Camino castle dates back to XIth century.


Monferrato has quite a low annual rainfall for Northern Italy, about 700 mm (27 inches), mostly during fall and spring. The summer is usually hot and dry. But some storms, even hailstorms, can sometimes occur. There is no irrigation in the vineyards.


Fall is maybe the nicest season in Monferrato, with clear light and colours. And it is the season to find and taste the white truffles, this being maybe the world’s main production area. The cult of good food is a substantial element of Asti and Monferrato traditions.


The earth rests, under a misty sheet,

waiting for a new season and a new crop.


Ottiglio (Moleto)

The winter in Monferrato is quite mild for the latitude, the snow is uncommon, and usually not long lasting. This is the reason why, for many centuries, the shepherds from the Alps have been bringing their sheeps to graze in Monferrato in winter.


Olivola

The areas where the snow melts soonest are the best for The areas where the snow melts soonest are the best for winegrowing, perfect examples being the “sulìn” in winegrowing, perfect examples being the “sulìn” in

Monferrato. Monferrato.

Vignale Monferrato


Barbera

Grignolino

Ruché

Freisa

Monferrato: the GrapesMonferrato: the Grapes

Malvasia di Casorzo

Cortese


BarberaThe Barbera grape is a late ripening one, being harvested between the end of September and mid October. The vineyard has to be controlled through canopy management and bunch thinning, to avoid possible overcropping in some years.The bunch has medium size;the berry is slightly oval shaped, very rich in sugar, rich in colour, and has a medium or low quantity of tannic compounds.

The wine is fresh, dry, fruity (cherry, plum), with good acidity and no abstringent tannins. Ideal “food wine”, it matches very well with steaks, cured mead, medium aged cheeses, pasta with meat sauce, salt stored fish and many other foods. The most classic marriage: the “Bagna Cauda” Maurizio Gily for

Enoteca Regionale del Monferrato all rights reserved

The Southern Piedmont wine district is shared in different “terroir”: the Langhe, home of Barolo, Barbaresco and Barbera d’Alba wines, in the South-West; the Asti and Monferrato hills, in the centre; Gavi and Tortona hills in the South-East, the Monferrato Casalese in the North-East. The southern hills are higher, the northern ones lower and warmer. Here, in the northern and central hills, the main vine variety is Barbera, which needs much heat for a good ripening.


Courtesy of Gribaudo editore

Map from the book

“Piemonte Vigneto tutto DOC”

A.A. V.V. 2002

DOC Surface hectares

BARBERA D'ALBA, 13,86%

BARBERA D'ASTI, 45,67%

BARBERA DEL MONFERRATO,

18,20%

COLLI TORTONESI BARBERA, 2,20%

PIEMONTE BARBERA, 19,72%

altre DOC, 0,35%

Source:

2003. Source:Consorzio di Tutela Vini d’Asti e del Monferrato and

Bagna Cauda - Olive oil and anchovies came from the Ligurian shores to Piemonte along the “salt trail”, crossing the Appennino mountains, and met the garlic to make-up the most traditional sauce for fall vegetables. Bagna cauda should be eaten very hot (the pot is continuously heated by a small fire), drinking young Barbera, and sharing it with many friends. Maurizio Gily for

Enoteca Regionale del Monferrato all rights reserved

RuchéThe Ruchè grape is quite early ripening, being harvested about 10th of september. The vineyard has to be controlled through canopy management and bunch thinning, to avoid possible overcropping in some years.The bunch has medium to big size;the berry is very rich in sugar, medium in colour and tannic compounds, rich in terpyneol flavours (rose, violet, spices), pleasant to eat. The wine is usually dry, while other aromatic grapes in Piedmont are typically processed to have a sweet one (Moscato, Brachetto, red Malvasia of Casorzo)


Another side of Piemonte:The “little DOC” wines

Ruché diCastagnoleMonferrato:small production,big personality

Courtesy of

Gribaudo editore

Map from the book

“Piemonte

Vigneto tutto DOC”

A.A. V.V. 2002


GrignolinoThe anarchic of MonferratoDon’t call it “pink”, “rosé” or “blush”: it’s a light red wine. It is a red wine, while it is fermented with the skins and has a good tannic structure. The color is a light, bright red, without any violet nuance. The nose is not very strong at the first impression, but quickly increases into the glass. Some typical characters: raspberry, wild rose berry, strawberry leaf, spices (white pepper, clove), almond. Every Grignolino has, anyway, its own profile, depending on the place where it is grown.

In the mouth it looks much more “strong” than expected form the eye and from the nose, mostly at a final impression. The tannic fibre is tight, and the wine has often a good length, with hints of pepper and spices, and a good balance between sweetness and astringency.Luigi Veronelli, the greatest Italian wine-writer of the XXth century, defined it “anarchic”, the same definition he used to give for himself and his anti-conformist attitude: this explains very well how much he loved this wine.The main growing area of this indigenous grape is Northern Monferrato, on the left shore of the Tanaro river, with two DOC: Grignolino d’Asti (Western) and Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese (Eastern).The Enoteca Regionale del Monferrato in Vignale is located in the heart of the second area.


Grignolino

Courtesy of

Gribaudo editore

From the book

“Piemonte


A.A. V.V. 2002



Freisaa grape to discover

The growers plant Freisa in the medium part of the slopes, where exposure to light is still high but more water can be found in summer than at the top of the hills: in fact this grape is susceptible to drought and mould-resistant. The berry is small and the skin is thick, so that a big amount of colour and tannins are available in the must. DNA genetic studies have revealed that the grape is a close relative of the Nebbiolo (the grape used to make Barolo, Barbaresco, Ghemme etc.). In the Monferrato district Freisa is traditionally blended with other grapes during winemaking, but there is also a tradition for single grape wines, which are very intense, fruity and slightly astringent, due to the high content of tannins. The “vivace” (slightly sparkling) version is as traditional as the still version. The first is particularly recommended for serving with cured meat and fresh bread for an afternoon “merenda” (snack).

DOC: Monferrato Freisa, Freisa d’Asti


Malvasia di CasorzoMany Italian grapevines, both white and red, are called “Malvasia” (Malvasia di Candia, del Chianti, di Brindisi etc.) The name is supposed to come from the Greek port of Monemvasia, site for an ancient Venetian fortress and for a trading market between the West and the East. Tha Malvasia di Casorzo is a black berry grape, medium-late ripening, aromatic, usually processed with the double fermentation technique to have a sweat, aromatic, lightly sparkling wine, to serve chill, terrific to match with cakes and cookies. The “passito” (raisin wine) is the most precious version of the Malvasia wines: the grapes are dried on a straw bed to gain high sugar and aromatic concentration.

Then the grapes are pressed and put to ferment for a long time, at low temperature, until the yeasts’ activity naturally stops due to the high alcohol degree.The DOC Malvasia di Casorzo is grown in a small area, at the border between the Provinces of Alessandria and Asti, into the town limits of Casorzo, Grana, Grazzano Badoglio (Asti), Vignale Monferrato, Altavilla, Ottiglio, Olivola (Alessandria).


Another side of Piemonte:The “little DOC” wines

The two redMalvasia:sweatand delightfulwines

Courtesy of

Gribaudo editore

Map from the book

“Piemonte


A.A. V.V. 2002


THE OLD SCIENCE OF GRAPPA

Good fruit gives good Grappa. The noble grape spirit has been distilled for

centuries

in Monferrato. Nowadays it is still made by few, little, familiar companies

and it deserves to be considered among the best Grappa in Italy and in the

world.

Enoteca Regionale del

MonferratoPalazzo Callori

Piazza del Popolo 12

[email protected]

www.enotecadelmonferrato.it

+39 0142 933243

The main site of our Enoteca The main site of our Enoteca

Regionale is in Vignale Monferrato, Regionale is in Vignale Monferrato,

Palazzo Callori, now closed for works. Palazzo Callori, now closed for works.

We hope to welcome you very sooon We hope to welcome you very sooon

up there. up there.

The wine shop in Casale The wine shop in Casale

will be still working as well.will be still working as well.

Altavilla Monferrato, Casale Monferrato, Camino, Altavilla Monferrato, Casale Monferrato, Camino, Cella Monte, Frassinello, Fubine, Lu Monferrato, Cella Monte, Frassinello, Fubine, Lu Monferrato,

Murisengo, Olivola, Ozzano Monferrato, Murisengo, Olivola, Ozzano Monferrato, Pomaro, Ponzano Monferrato, Rosignano Pomaro, Ponzano Monferrato, Rosignano

Monferrato, Monferrato,

Sala Monferrato, San Giorgio Monferrato, Sala Monferrato, San Giorgio Monferrato,

Serralunga Di Crea, Terruggia, Ottiglio, Treville, Serralunga Di Crea, Terruggia, Ottiglio, Treville, Vignale Monferrato, VilladeatiVignale Monferrato, Villadeati

Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attentionfrom the wine growers of Monferratofrom the wine growers of Monferrato

and the town Councils of: and the town Councils of:

And the Province of Alessandria

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