Region: Piemonte
History: Established as a DOC in 1994
Vineyard Area: 1,371 ha / 3,386 acres (2013, V)
Production: 118,400 hl (total 2013/14, V); avg. 1,254,000 cases bottled annually
Principal White Grape Varieties: Arneis, Chardonnay, Favorita, Nascetta, Riesling, Rossese Bianco, Sauvignon Blanc
Principal Red Grape Varieties: Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Dolcetto, Freisa, Merlot, Nebbiolo, Pinot Nero
Styles and Wine Composition:
WHITE WINES
- Bianco (Wh): Any proportions of authorized nonaromatic white grapes
- Arneis (Wh): Minimum 85% Arneis + OANWG
- Chardonnay (Wh): Minimum 85% Chardonnay + OANWG
- Favorita (Wh): Minimum 85% Favorita + OANWG
- Nascetta (Wh): Minimum 85% Nascetta + OANWG
- Riesling (Wh): Minimum 85% Riesling + OANWG
- Rossese Bianco (Wh): Minimum 85% Rossese Bianco + OANWG
- Sauvignon (Wh): Minimum 85% Sauvignon Blanc + OANWG
ROSATO WINES
- Rosato (Ro, RoSw): Minimum 60% Barbera, Dolcetto, and/or Nebbiolo + OANRG
RED WINES
- Rosso (Rd): Any proportions of authorized nonaromatic red grapes
- Barbera (Rd): Minimum 85% Barbera + OANRG
- Cabernet Sauvignon (Rd): Minimum 85% Cabernet Sauvignon + OANRG
- Dolcetto (Rd): Minimum 85% Dolcetto + OANRG
- Freisa (Rd, RdFr, RdSw, RdFrSw): Minimum 85% Freisa + OANRG
- Merlot (Rd): Minimum 85% Merlot + OANRG
- Nebbiolo (Rd, RdSw): Minimum 85% Nebbiolo + OANRG
- Pinot Nero (Rd): Minimum 85% Pinot Nero + OANRG
- Novello (Dolcetto)
- Riserva (Rosso)
DESSERT AND SPECIALTY WINES
- Passito Bianco (WhSw): Minimum 60% Arneis, Chardonnay, Nascetta, and/or Riesling + OANWG
- Passito Arneis (WhSw): Minimum 85% Arneis + OANWG
- Passito Nascetta from subzone Nascetta del Comune di Novello only (WhSw): 100% Nascetta
- Passito Rosso (RdSw): Minimum 85% Barbera, Dolcetto, and/or Nebbiolo + OANRG
Subzone:
- Nascetta (or Nas-cëtta) del Comune di Novello (Nascetta and Passito Nascetta only): 100% Nascetta
Significant Production Rules:
- Maximum vineyard elevation: 800 m (2,625 ft)
- Minimum alcohol level: 10.5% for Bianco, Arneis, Chardonnay, and Favorita; 10.5% for Passito Bianco (15.5% potential); 11.0% for Rosso, Barbera, Dolcetto, and Novello; 11.0% for Passito Arneis (15.5% potential); 11.5% for Nascetta, Riesling, Rossese Bianco, Sauvignon Blanc, Rosato, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Nebbiolo, and Pinot Nero; 11.5% for Rosso Passito (16.0% potential); 12.0% for Nascetta del Comune di Novello (12.5% if a vineyard is named); 12.0% for Nascetta del Comune di Novello Passito (16.0% potential)
- Aging: For Nascetta del Comune di Novello, minimum 5 months (ERD = April 20, V+1); for all Passito versions, minimum 10 months (ERD = September 1, V+1)
