Colli Tortonesi DOC

Region: Piemonte

History: Established as a DOC in 1973
Vineyard Area: 185 ha / 457 acres (2013, V)
Production: 4,840 hl (total 2013/14, V); avg. 51,250 cases bottled annually
Principal White Grape Varieties: Barbera Bianca, Chardonnay, Cortese, Favorita, Moscato, Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Sylvaner Verde, Timorasso, Welschriesling (Riesling Italico)
Principal Red Grape Varieties: Aleatico, Barbera, Bonarda, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Croatina, Dolcetto, Freisa, Grignolino, Lambrusca di Alessandria, Merlot, Nebbiolo, Pinot Nero, Sangiovese
Styles and Wine Composition: 

WHITE WINES

• Bianco (Wh): Any proportions of Barbera Bianca, Chardonnay, Cortese, Favorita, Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Sylvaner Verde, Timorasso, and/or Welschriesling (aka Riesling Italico)
• Bianco from subzone Terre di Libarna only (Wh): Minimum 60% Timorasso + OANWG
• Cortese (Wh, WhFr): Minimum 95% Cortese + OANWG
• Favorita (Wh): Minimum 85% Favorita + OANWG
• Moscato (WhSw): 100% Moscato
• Timorasso (Wh): Minimum 95% Timorasso + OANWG
• Riserva (Cortese, Timorasso)

ROSATO WINES

• Chiaretto (Ro, RoFr, Rd, RdFr): Any proportions of Aleatico, Barbera, Bonarda, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Croatina, Dolcetto, Freisa, Grignolino, Lambrusca di Alessandria, Merlot, Nebbiolo, Pinot Nero, and/or Sangiovese

RED WINES

• Rosso (Rd, RdFr): Any proportions of Aleatico, Barbera, Bonarda, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Croatina, Dolcetto, Freisa, Grignolino, Lambrusca di Alessandria, Merlot, Nebbiolo, Pinot Nero, and/or Sangiovese
• Rosso from subzone Terre di Libarna only (Rd): Minimum 60% Barbera + OANRG
• Barbera (Rd): Minimum 85% Barbera + OANRG
• Croatina (Rd): Minimum 85% Croatina + OANRG
• Dolcetto (Rd): Minimum 85% Dolcetto + OANRG
• Freisa (Rd, RdSw): Minimum 85% Freisa + OANRG
• Novello (Rosso, Dolcetto)
• Superiore (Barbera)
• Riserva (Barbera, Croatina)

SPARKLING WINES

• Spumante (WhSp): Minimum 95% Cortese + OANWG
• Spumante from subzone Terre di Libarna only (WhSp): Minimum 60% Timorasso + OANWG

Subzones:

• Monleale (Barbera only)
• Terre di Libarna (Bianco, Timorasso, Rosso, and Spumante only)

Significant Production Rules: 

• Minimum alcohol level: 5.0% for Moscato (11.0% potential); 10.0% for Bianco, Cortese tranquillo, Favorita, Chiaretto, and Rosso; 10.5% for Cortese frizzante, Cortese Riserva, Dolcetto, and Terre di Libarna Spumante; 11.0% for Terre di Libarna Bianco, Freisa, Terre di Libarna Rosso, Barbera, and Novello; 11.5% for Terre di Libarna Timorasso and nonsubzone Spumante; 12.0% for Timorasso, Croatina, Timorasso Riserva, and Croatina Riserva; 12.5% for Barbera Superiore, Barbera Riserva, and Monleale Barbera
• Residual sugar: Spumanti can range from extra brut to extra dry
• Aging: For Timorasso, minimum 10 months (ERD = September 1, V+1); for Cortese Riserva, minimum 12 months (ERD = November 1, V+1); for Superiore, minimum 13 months, including 6 months in barrel (ERD = December 1, V+1); for Monleale Barbera, minimum 20 months, including 6 months in barrel (ERD = July 1, V+2); for Timorasso Riserva, minimum 21 months (ERD = August 1, V+2); for Barbera Riserva and Croatina Riserva, minimum 24 months (ERD = November 1, V+2)