The name Piedmont is a contraction of the Italian “Ai piedi del monte”, meaning “At the base of the mountain”. As such, it has fantastic terroir for strong, hearty grapes and is known for some of the finest red wines in Italy, or the world for that matter. The three most famous wines are Barolo, Barbaresco and Moscato d’Asti. Both the Barolo and Barbaresco wines are made from Nebbiolo grapes. In addition to Nebbiolo, the two other true grapes of Piedmont are Dolcetto and Barbera.

The capital of the Piedmont region is Turin; recently home to the 2006 Winter Olympics and the headquarters for Italian automaker FIAT. Piedmont is surrounded on three sides by the Alps, including the Monviso (Mont Vis), where the Po rises, and the Monte Rosa. It borders with France, Switzerland and the Italian regions of Lombardy, Liguria, Emilia-Romagna and Aosta Valley. There are 56 different national or regional parks including the Gran Paradiso National Park (Grand Paradis).

The vineyards of the Barolo DOCG zones are not extensive, but they are the most carefully grown and nurtured vines anywhere in Italy.  Driving to the town of Barolo from Alba gives one an idea of the terrain, the gently rolling hills, and the vineyards surrounding picture postcard pretty villages. The roads are narrow and winding, a result of turf wars, road construction and other political vicissitudes throughout the centuries.  Barolo, the town, located less than ten miles south of Alba, is small in size, but big in reputation.

The Barbaresco has for many years been a less expensive substitute for Barolo until Angelo Gaja improved the production process to create a truly outstanding product. This has led to increased production from other wineries as well as an overall improvement in quality from the region as a whole. Small producers like Moccagatta, Sottimano and others have worked intensely in order to restore Barbaresco’s reputation and standing in both Italian and international markets.

With 46 different DOC and four DOCG areas, Piedmont is the region that produces the largest number of best known, noble, and world-appreciated prize-winning Italian wines.
Most of its wines are produced on family estates made up of relatively small parcels of land. The production of strong reds is predominant in this landlocked, mountainous region and are the perfect complement to the rich and hearty cuisine featuring white truffles, fonduta.

Despite being red-wine centric, there is a white wine that has fought its way into regional prominence. Asti Spumante, a sparkling wine made in the Champagne method with local Moscato grapes has become known around the world. This wine is a perfect match for the local pastries and fine chocolates including spumone piemontese, panna cotta, the lingue di gatto, (cats tongue), and the baci di dama (ladys kisses).

Two books that might help you develop a better understanding of the region are Edward Steinberg’s “The Vines of San Lorenzo”, which tells the story of Barbaresco pioneer Angelo Gaja through his Sori San Lorenzo vineyard. Also, Matt Kramer’s “A Passion for Piedmont”, interweaves the history of the region with recipes and insight into Piedmontese wines.