Dolcetto: Wine of the Year 2019
Posted on: 14-03-2019
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| Karina Imschoot
It has been announced several times and now it is official: 2019 will be the Year of Dolcetto. This was announced on Wednesday, February 20 in Turin by the regional councillor for agriculture, Giorgio Ferrero.
Despite the decisions of many producers, which have recently led to the abandonment of Dolcetto-based vineyards, this production sector as a whole remains important. There are three DOCGs (Dogliani, Diano d'Alba and Ovada), nine DOCs: Dolcetto d'Alba, by far the most widespread;...
Gattinara: the king of Alto Piemonte wines?
Posted on: 14-03-2019
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| Karina Imschoot
Gattinara DOCG is an appellation for red wine in the northwestern region of Piedmont. Like Ghemme, the wine must contain at least 90 percent Spanna - the local name for Nebbiolo. It can contain up to 10 percent of the Uva Rara grape variety (also known - confusingly - as Bonarda di Gattinara), and/or 4 percent of the Vespolina.
When we write the title "Gattinara, the king of Alto Piemonte Wines" we do refer to the Gattinara Riserva where 48 months of wood ripening takes place, th...
Nebbiolo, the pearl of Piedmont. Facts and figures in and outside the production area
Posted on: 20-02-2019
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| Karina karina imschoot
It is the jewel of Piedmont, but what most fascinates consumers, critics and producers is the ability to be so timid and so explosive, so sensitive and so understanding.
Nebbiolo is a medieval vine, already mentioned in 1272, the year in which Edward I, king of England and duke of Aquitaine, received it as a gift (from Rivoli and Alba). Then appreciated in 1575 (T. Berruti) by Charles V during a visit to Italy. Complex grapes that were studied on the tips of the toes by the ampelographs Fan...
Climate issues in Alto Piemonte: wine producers explain how they act to have a better climate
Posted on: 12-02-2019
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| Klimaatissues in Alto Piemonte: wijndomeinen verhalen hun klima
Climate and Piedmontese viticulture
You can't open an (online) newspaper or the climate truants of Anuna De Wever & Co will be discussed. But what about climate issues in Piedmontese viticulture?
The wine region around Alba might be the logical choice for interviews with a few winegrowers about their approach, because of the popularity of the Nebbiolo's of Alba region.
Today we focus on winegrowing in Alto Piemonte, where the other Nebbiolo produces a wonderful result, harve...
Conterno takeover of Nervi: confirmation of Alto Piemonte high qualitative Nebbiolo terroir
Posted on: 10-02-2019
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| Karina Imschoot
Roberto Conterno, owner of the world-famous Giacomo Conterno estate in Barolo, has acquired a 90% stake in Nervi, the historical producer of Alto Piemonte. The news of the acquisition of a majority stake in the 27-ha estate with interests in some of the main vineyards of Gattinara at a reported price of € 5 million came at an unexpected time, but not as a surprise.
Before Erling Astrupact acquired Nervi in 2011 in what was supposed to be a distressed sale, he had asked Conterno to in...
![Bocuse d\](images/blogimages/big/privelaciaudeltornaventofoto-fj.jpg "Bocuse d\")
Bocuse d\"Or Finals - Team Piemonte
Posted on: 17-01-2019
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| Karina Imschoot
It is no coincidence that Piedmont is the driving force behind the Italian brigade, led by Martino Ruggieri, during the world final of the Bocuse d'Or on 29 and 30 January in Lyon. According to Lonely Planet, the region number 1 in the "Best in Travel" 2019 ranking is an increasingly recognized international tourist destination, with a strong vocation for excellent food and wine. The link established between Piedmont and Bocuse d'or (the most important cooking competition in th...
Alto Piemonte: the other Nebbiolo region booming in 2019! Discover why
Posted on: 16-01-2019
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| Karina Imschoot
Nebbiolo's by Barolo and Barbaresco winegrowers get all the press attention but what about the Nebbiolo's from that other region: Alto Piemonte?
About that region, where it all started for the Nebbiolo grape, there is only little communication. Time to change this, that's our conviction. During various trips - from March 2018 to November 2018 - I have crossed this area from north to south, from east to west, tasted their range at winegrowers and saw differences in many areas. ...
Jancis Robinson: your smartphone is competing us, professionals
Posted on: 10-01-2019
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| Karina Imschoot
Jancis Robinson : when your smartphone competes with me and other expert tasters
Only once in my life I thought I knew everything there was to know about wine. It was in 1978, after completing a two-year course at the Wine & Spirit Education Trust. Thanks to a little luck and a certain diligence in high school I was the best student of my year, and I thought I could call myself an expert with that diploma in my pocket.
The following years I learned how much there is sti...
Dolcetto, between mindset and reality, a world of difference
Posted on: 06-01-2019
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| Karina Imschoot
Dolcetto: contrast between mindset and reality
Dolcetto d'Alba, the wine that locals mainly drink and is less accessible for export, compared to Barbera for example, is always the victim in meetings prior to a tasting. No, "dolce" is part of the name but does not stand for a dessert wine. On the contrary, Dolcetto tends to have quite a bit of acidity. Unless... also read the last paragraph but first some more content about the grape itself.
The W'questions:&...
Roero Arneis & Roero: the wine of the other side of the Tannaro river
Posted on: 02-01-2019
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| Karina Imschoot
Roero Arneis and Roero: the area along the Tanaro river in the spotlight
Roero Arneis
The Roero Arneis is an aristocratic wine with a complexity of scents that in recent centuries even justify the definition of white Nebbiolo with a straw yellow color, with greenish or golden reflections.
The aroma is soft and delicate, with a prevalence of peach and melon, aromas of dandelion and elderflower, with a finish of golden yellow apple.
The taste is full, warm and powerful,...
Nebbiolo: riping in your wine cellar or drinking straight
Posted on: 29-12-2018
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| Karina Imschoot
Nebbiolo, affordable storage wine or immediately drinkable.
All Barolo or Barbaresco, the more expensive versions of fine, elegant wines are of course from the Nebbiolo grape but today we are talking about the base, the Nebbiolo wine made from the grape of the same name.
What are the characteristics of the young Nebbiolo ?
In light of variables related to wine production and partly agronomic practices (see harvests from younger and more generous vineyards along with slightly...
Vespolina grape: 100% autoctono or as blend in Ghemme ea.
Posted on: 09-12-2018
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| Karina Imschoot
Vespolina is one of the authentic varieties that can be found in Alto Piemonte. One could already find writings in 1825 (Acerbi) and even in 1817 and 1839 (Gallesio) in which Vespolina was mentioned but then described as Vitis Vinifera Circumpadana.
When phylloxera was born, production was low. This was due to the fact that this grape had a very irregular ripening because it did not immediately adapt to the American vine. On the other hand also because the Vespolina was not ...
Drinken Grignolino young? Not really, also potential for your wine cellar
Posted on: 03-12-2018
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| Karina Imschoot
The name Grignolino is derived from the Piedmontese dialectic term grignolo which means pit.
Grignolino produces grapes abundant in pips, and thus tannins. However, the name gives no indication of the acidity of the grapes. The high tannin and acidity level may of course indicate that Grignolino could stand alongside Piedmont's two most successful red varieties, Nebbiolo and Barbera, whose tannin and acid structure is a key element in their success.
...
From little girl aged four years tot 50+ - From evening school Italian tot my own wine label Poesia della Terra
Posted on: 02-12-2018
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| Karina Imschoot
From little girl to tram 50 with "Italy" almost continuously present and own wine label Poesia della Terra
In my office is the picture of that little girl, me as a four-year-old just in front of me. Not on the desk, but the locker in front of it together with my Bialetti espresso machine and the diplomas in wine education I have acquired over the past six years in Piedmont. That bright red Bialetti is my best buddy but doesn't directly reflect my story in the time span betwe...
Piacere Barbaresco - 1200 bottles uncorked for 2500 winelovers
Posted on: 06-11-2018
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| Karina Imschoot
Piacere Barbaresco, an event organized by the regional Enoteca, ended with great success. Last month 13-14-15 October, 500 registrations were registered at the tasting desk, while more than 200 accredited participants took part in the tasting on Monday, and 100 in the seminars. In three days, about 1,200 bottles were uncorked and more than 2,500 people visited Barbaresco.
Piacere Barbaresco proposed a very rich tasting table, which offered the possibility to compare about a hundred labels, pr...