Piedmont
Continental
The foothills of the western Alps, where Nebbiolo makes Barolo and Barbaresco alongside Barbera, Dolcetto and sparkling Moscato d'Asti.
Overview
About Piedmont
Piemonte means 'foot of the mountain', and the region sits under the Alps in Italy's north-west. Its red wines are led by Nebbiolo, which makes Barolo and Barbaresco in the Langhe hills around Alba and Gattinara and Ghemme further north, while Barbera and Dolcetto make more approachable everyday reds. Moscato Bianco gives the lightly sparkling, sweet Asti and Moscato d'Asti.
Barolo must be aged at least 38 months before release, including 18 in wood, and Barbaresco at least 26 months, including 9 in wood. The vineyard landscapes of Langhe-Roero and Monferrato were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2014.
Where is a grape grown?
Hover a marker to see what's grown there, and click it to open that place. On a touch screen, tap once to preview and again to open. Bigger markers have more grapes linked to them.
Italy
Shaded: Piemonte. Map units are states, provinces or départements, so a smaller place appears as the larger area that contains it.
The land
Climate & terroir
Climate
Continental
Continental, with hot summers and cold winters, and thick autumn fog (nebbia) that gives Nebbiolo its name. The Alps shelter the region from the north and allow a long, cool ripening season; Nebbiolo is usually picked in October.
Terroir & soils
What the vines grow in
In the Langhe, two main soil types shape Barolo: compacted grey-blue Tortonian marl in the west (La Morra, Barolo), which gives more perfumed and softer wines, and sandier Serravallian soils in the east (Monforte, Serralunga), which give firmer, more powerful ones.
Go deeper
Rules, years & producers
Piedmont has one of Italy's highest concentrations of DOCGs, and its greatest wines are named for their village.
Barolo and Barbaresco DOCG
Nebbiolo only, from the Langhe hills, with long ageing rules.
Other Nebbiolo DOCGs
Gattinara and Ghemme in the north, and Roero on the left bank of the Tanaro.
Barbera and Moscato DOCGs
Barbera d'Asti and Nizza for Barbera, and Asti and Moscato d'Asti for sparkling and semi-sparkling Moscato.
Regional DOCs
Langhe, Piemonte and others, covering everyday wines and blends.
Within Piedmont
Places within
Asti and Monferrato
The gentle hills around Asti, Barbera's heartland and the home of sweet, lightly sparkling Moscato d'Asti and Asti.
Gavi
A hilltop DOCG in south-east Piedmont making crisp, mineral dry white from Cortese, cooled by air from the Ligurian coast.
Langhe
The fog-wrapped hills around Alba: Nebbiolo's heartland, and home to Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera and white truffles.
Roero
Sandy hills across the Tanaro river from the Langhe, making lighter, perfumed Nebbiolo and Piedmont's benchmark fresh white, Arneis.
What's grown here
Grapes
Grapes linked to Piedmont or to a place within it. Each grape's page links back here.
Barbera
Barbera d'Asti and Barbera d'Alba, from fresh and fruity to oak-aged and rich.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
Moscato d'Asti and Asti: sweet, lightly sparkling and low in alcohol.
Arneis
Grown in Langhe and Roero.
Cortese
Grown in Gavi.
Nebbiolo
Grown in Roero, Barbaresco, and Barolo.