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Wines
The red wines of Piedmont have long been considered some of the best wines
of Italy and among the best in the world.
Probably the best wine produced in Italy is Barolo, made from Nebbiolo
grapes, in a small area of the Langhe hills just south of Alba, around 20
minutes drive from Asti. This is an intense wine with complex and deep
flavours, taking many years to mature. Its equally famous neighbour Barbaresco,
just to the north of Alba is marginally less intense, and not needing as many
years to age. Nebbiolo D'Alba is a lighter, affordable cousin, which can be
drunk young, and is produced in the Roero hills between Asti and Alba.
Barbera D'Asti is the queen of Piedmont wines. Not as well known outside
Italy, Barbera is rapidly gaining international fame and grows best in the
Monferatto hills to the north and south of Asti. This wine is flavourful and
zesty, and a good one can be wonderously smooth. Other good red wines of the
region include Grignolino D'Asti, a light pale and fragrant red; Freisa,
sometimes fizzy, with a hint of raspberries; and Brachetto D'Aqui, a unique
sparkling sweet red wine, tastes wonderful, especially with strawberries!
The best-known white wine from the region is Asti Spumante a sweet sparkling
wine made from Moscato grapes and exported in millions of bottles by the big
bottlers. Not as well known is the delicate and delicious Moscato D'Asti, made
from the better grapes grown high in the Langhe hills, low in alcohol with
natural fruit sweetness and a light fizz - absolutely delicious as an aperitif
or light desert wine, and the late-harvest Moscato Passito, which can hold its
own against German or French late harvest desert wines.
 Other whites produced locally include Cortese, a light
floral and elegant wine, sometimes sparkling, grown all over the Monferrato and
at its best from the town of Gavi; Arneis, a refined dry wine with a light
perfume, grown in the Roero formally for blending with Nebbiolo and now as a
delicious wine in its own right; and Chardonnay, although Piedmont is not a
classical zone for this wine, a number of wineries produced an excellent
version.
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