Region: Lombardia
History: Established as a DOC in 1977
Principal White Grape Varieties: Riesling, Welschriesling (Riesling Italico)
Principal Red Grape Varieties: Groppello
Styles and Wine Composition:
WHITE WINES
- Bianco (Wh): Minimum 80% Riesling and/or Welschriesling (aka Riesling Italico) + OANWG
ROSATO WINES
- Chiaretto (Ro): 30–60% Groppello (di Mocasina, di San Stefano, and/or Gentile); 10–25% Sangiovese; 10–20% Barbera; 5–30% Marzemino (locally Berzemino); maximum 10% OAG
RED WINES
- Rosso (Rd): 30–60% Groppello; 10–25% Sangiovese; 10–20% Barbera; 5–30% Marzemino; maximum 10% OAG
- Groppello (Rd): Minimum 85% Groppello + OAG
- Novello (Rosso)
- Superiore (Rosso)
SPARKLING WINES
- Spumante Rosé or Rosato (RoSp): 30–60% Groppello; 10–25% Sangiovese; 10–20% Barbera; 5–30% Marzemino; maximum 10% OAG
Significant Production Rules:
- Maximum vineyard elevation: 350 m (1,150 ft)
- Spumante may be made by either the Metodo Classico (wines undergo second fermentation in bottles) or the Charmat method (fermented in pressurized tanks)
- 40% of grapes for Novello must undergo carbonic maceration and the wine must be bottled by December 31
- Minimum alcohol level: 11.0% for Bianco, Rosso, and Novello; 11.5% for Chiaretto and Spumante; 12.0% for Groppello and Superiore
- Residual sugar: Maximum 15 g/l (1.5%) for Spumante
- Aging: For Superiore, minimum 1 year (ERD = November 1, V+1)
