Behind the Cork™ - Riva Leone Barbaresco

2017 Riva Leone Barbaresco ($24.99)

Riva Leone was a man of unique character and personality who was an ambassador for the special wines of the Langhe all throughout Europe in the early 20th Century. His legacy lives on in the Riva Leone wines which uphold the winemaking traditions of Piedmont for a new generation of wine lovers across the world.

Barbaresco wines come from the Piedmont region of Italy and are produced from the Nebbiolo (Nebby-oh-low) grape.

This Barbaresco is aged at least two years including one year in American and French oak barrels.

This wine is medium garnet in color with delicate cherry aromas. On the palate it is medium-bodied with flavors of black cherry, firm tannin and balanced acidity that leads to a nice finish. A classic Barbaresco!

The Riva Leone wines are imported by Mack & Schühle and distributed throughout the U.S.

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Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Sample Provided by Donna White Communications

The White Wines of Piedmont Italy

Piedmont may be best known for its red wines but this famous wine region in Italy also produces several white wines of note.

The Moscato Bianco (moe-ska-toe bee-an-ko) grape is most notably from the Asti region of Piedmont. This grape is used in the production of Moscato d’Asti which is a sweet, semi-sparkling wine and Asti Spumante which is a refreshing, slightly sweet, sparkling white wine. This grape is also used to produce still wine (i.e., not a sparkling wine) and sweet dessert versions.

But the top white grapes of Piedmont are Cortese and Arneis.

Cortese (kort-tay-zay) is the white grape that is most famous for producing Gavi which is named for the town of Gavi in the southern part of Piedmont. Bright acidity, apple, peach and honeydew flavors are commonly associated with wines produced from this grape, along with lime, almond and light herbal or grassy aromas.

Arneis (Ar-NAYZ) is yet another grape that has recently been brought back from near extinction. Wines produced from the Arneis grape are known for their minerality along with flavors of peach, apple and hazelnut. The best Arneis wines are from the sub-regions of Roero and Langhe.

Finally, there are two other white wine grapes grown in Piedmont - Erbaluce and Nascetta. Neither of these grapes are are widely planted outside of northern Piedmont.

Erbaluce is used in the production of dry wines that are light-bodied with crisp apple flavor. Sparkling wines exhibit minerality, bold acidity and fresh, fruity flavors. Along with dry table wines, Erbaluce is used to make sweet wines with deep golden coloring, such as Passito.

Nascetta was also revived in the mid-1990s. It produces crisp wines with apple and citrus flavors along with notes of honey.

So, there’s a short overview of the variety of white wines produced in Piedmont. Next time, we’ll continue our wine tour of Italy. Until then, Salute!

Piedmont: Another Top Wine Region in Italy

We’ve recently been exploring Italian wines (Borolo, Barbaresco, Barbera, Montepulciano, Soave and Super Tuscans), grapes (Sangiovese and Nebbiolo) and regions (Tuscany and Chianti).

So, now let’s take a closer look at another of Italy’s great wine regions - Piedmont (or Piemonte, pronounced pee-ay-MON-tay).

Piedmont is located in the western-most part of northern Italy. With the Swiss Alps to the north and the Mediterranean Sea to the south, it is yet another perfect region for wine. It is the home of more DOCG wines than any other Italian region.

In Piedmont, Nebbiolo is not the region's most widely planted grape, but it is the grape that is most notable. Nebbiolo grapes are prominent in four of Piedmont's DOCGs: Barolo, Barbaresco, Gattinara and Roero.

It is Barbera that is Piedmont's primary grape and the most widely planted. Piedmont's best Barbera wines are from Barbera del Monferrato, Barbera d'Asti and Barbera d'Alba. Barbera is thought to have originated in the hills of central Piemonte, where it has been known since the 13th century.

The third major grape of Piedmont is Dolcetto (Dol-CHET-oh). The top sub-regions of Piedmont for Dolcetto are Dogliani, Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba and Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore. Meaning the "little sweet one," Dolcetto produces dry red wines that are generally made to be enjoyed young. Unfortunately, Nebbiolo and Barbara steal the show in Piedmont and seem to leave these wines a distant third. But, Dolcetto certainly should not be overlooked. 

So, that’s just a very quick overview of Piedmont and its three most notable red wine grapes. Next time we’ll take a look at some of the white wines of Piedmont. Cheers!

Ever Wonder About Nebbiolo Wine?

Nebbiolo is a grape that is grown almost exclusively in Italy. In the Piedmont region. And, most famously in Barolo and Barbaresco.

The Nebbiolo grape is named for the Italian word for fog which is “nebbia.” This grape thrives in the cool and foggy climates of Piemonte where altitudes can reach up to 1500 feet. Whether the grape is named for the foggy climate or the thick white bloom of yeast that forms on the grapes when ripe is the subject of debate.

The Nebbiolo grape was first documented in the fourteenth century but is believed to have been grown in the area long before that time.

Nebbiolo wines are known for their lighter color that is often described as brick red-orange or pale garnet, their delicate aromas, and their powerful tannins and pronounced acidity.

The classic Barolos are famous for their "tar and roses" aromas, their bright ruby color (which becomes garnet over time), their bold tannins, elevated acidity, and relatively high alcohol (a minimum of 13% but often above 15% ABV). Barolos must be aged at least 38 months with a minimum of 18 months in the barrel. Riserva Barolos must be aged for at least 5 years.

Barbaresco has a slightly warmer, drier and milder climate than Barolo. This means its Nebbiolo grapes tend to ripen earlier than those in Barolo. Thus, the wines tend to be lower in tannin and a bit more drinkable at an earlier age. But there is still plenty of acidity and tannins to make Barbaresco wines age-worthy. Barbaresco is characterized by its rich, spicy flavors and perfumed sweetness and is often considered a bit more elegant and refined than the more robust wines from Barolo. The wines of Barbaresco must have a minimum alcohol content of 12.5 percent and undergo two years of aging, one of which must be spent in wooden barrels. Barbaresco Riserva must be aged for four years, with one of those years in wood.

While the Nebbiolo wines of Barolo and Barbaresco are best known, they can be expensive. It is said that the neighboring region of Roero within Piemonte produces wines of equal intensity and structure at a fraction of the price. While the wines of Barolo and Barbaresco must be 100% Nebbiolo, the wines of Roero must include a minimum 95 percent Nebbiolo. They must also be aged for 20 months, of which at least six must be in oak barrels. A further 12 months is added to this minimum if the winemaker is seeking Riserva status.

If you love the delicacy of Pinot Noir and the robustness of a Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah, try a Barolo or a Barbaresco. But, you might want to give the younger ones a good hour or more in a decanter before serving. Cheers!

Barbera - A Wine Originally from Italy

Last time we took a look at Barbera, a wine that hasn't gotten the respect it deserves. And, I mentioned that my first exposure to Barbera was a real eye-opening experience.

Unfortunately, in California, the Barbera grape has predominately been used in the production of mass-produced jug wines in the past. So, it's no surprise that Barbera has gotten a bad reputation.

But, that's changing. Regions throughout California are now producing some very nice Barbera wines, especially the Sierra Foothills, Amador County, Shenandoah Valley and El Dorado Counties in northern California.

But, Barbera has its origins in another famous wine region of the world - Italy.  Barbera is actually one of the most widely planted grapes in Italy. It is a common table wine in the Piedmont region, where it is often referred to as the "wine of the people" because it is plentiful and, yes, cheap.

Even in the famous Piedmont wine region of Italy, Barbera is overshadowed by the Nebbiolo and Dolcetto wines. But, Italian Barbera has a lot of very positive traits. So much so that it's even been referred to as the "poor man's Pinot Noir." That's because Barbera from Italy has traditionally been lighter in body with bright fruity flavors of cherry, strawberry and raspberry. Sound familiar? It should, because if you know Pinot Noir, you know that it too has those same red-fruit flavor profiles.

So, look for Barbera from Italy. You're likely to see it from various regions labelled as Barbera d' Asti, Barbera d' Alba and Barbera del Monferrato. But don't confuse these great Italian Barbera wines with Barbaresco. It may sound similar, but that's a wine made from the Nebbiolo grape.

Whether it's from Italy or California, or any other region of the world, give a Barbera a try. It's well worth it. Cheers!