Exploring the World of Italian Sparkling Wines from Piedmont

The Italian sparkling wines gained considerable appreciation in the last decades, with more wine enthusiasts “thirsty” to explore beyond classic offerings. We can attribute their success to the distinctive characteristics of Italian sparkling wines, varieties, and diversity. More and more wine lovers are starting to recognise that the world of Italian sparkling wine is vast, with Piedmont playing a pivotal role in shaping its identity.

Sparkling Wines from Piedmont

Piedmont, located in the northwestern part of Italy, is bordered by the Alps and is known for its diverse landscapes and winemaking heritage. This region is first famous for its robust reds like Barolo and Barbaresco and its exceptional sparkling wines. The northerly continental climate, characterised by cold winters and warm summers, combined with predominant fertile soils, creates excellent grape-growing conditions perfect for sparkling wine production. These conditions slow down grape ripening, resulting in refreshing acidity, essential for sparkling styles, especially those with some residual sugar.

The region’s commitment to quality and authenticity is reflected also in its sparkling wines, which continue to gain recognition on the world stage. Some succeed more in the domestic market, while others find more esteem abroad. The best example is Alta Langa, well-known and highly reputed in Italy. At the same time, Asti and Gavi are mainly exported. Regarding Gavi, almost 90% is allocated in the UK market, with its sparkling category still unknown in the British market.

When discussing Italian sparkling wine, Prosecco often takes the spotlight. Wines from Piedmont offer a different dimension due to diversity of grape varieties, as well as styles. While Prosecco’s approachable nature has contributed to its global popularity, Piedmont’s sparkling wines offer a more sophisticated tasting experience.

Piedmont’s Sparkling Wine Appellations and Grape Varieties

Piedmont produces several sparkling wines that rival the best Prosecco, Franciacorta, Trentodoc and Oltrepò Pavese, offering unique tasting experiences. These wines are crafted by showcasing the region’s diverse grape varieties and winemaking techniques. Here are a few notable examples.

Asti DOCG

Asti Spumante is perhaps the most famous sparkling wine from Piedmont. Made from the Moscato Bianco grape, this wine is known for its aromatic profile, sweet touch, and lower alcohol content. Due to its refreshing and lively bubbles, it is often enjoyed as a dessert wine or a celebratory drink. The wine’s aromatics are pronounced, with hints of orange blossom, acacia, lavender, wisteria, linden, sage, grapey, lemon, peach, apple, and pear.

The production area ranges between Langhe, Roero, and Monferrato, and it involves 51 municipalities in Asti, Alessandria, and Cuneo, with over 3,000 producers.

Two categories, Asti Spumante DOCG and Moscato d’Asti DOCG, account for approximately 100 million bottles, sold almost entirely (about 90%) abroad.

Asti wines are made using a variation of the Tank method, which preserves the aromatic profile of the grape variety. It is similar to the Tank (called also Charmat) but does not include the second fermentation. The grapes are fermented without adding sugar, so it takes place by consuming only those naturally present in the grape.

The fermentation is stopped by cooling the grape must when the desired pressure and level of sweetness are obtained. Usually, the production takes place in two phases, where the grape juice is kept apart before being subjected to single fermentation. Asti DOCG and Moscato d’Asti DOCG denominations are realised by this method. For Moscato d’Asti DOCG, the final alcohol is between 4.5–6.5%, and the pressure must not exceed 2.5 atmospheres. Therefore, it is a Frizzante in style and not a Spumante with higher pressure. This results in sweeter wines than Asti Spumante DOCG (around 130g/L residual sugar).

For Asti DOCG, the final alcohol was traditionally between 6-8%, resulting in a sweet wine with around 100g/L of residual sugar. However, recent changes to the Asti DOCG regulations now allow the style to range from Pas Dosè (Brut Nature) to Dolce (sweet) and permit Asti Metodo Classico, a traditional method of sparkling wine with a minimum of 9 months on the lees in the bottle, pranging from Pas Dosè to Dolce (sweet).

Asti’s approachable style and versatility make it popular for various occasions.

Producers to explore: Ca’ D’Gal, Paolo Saracco, Attilio Ghisolfi

Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG

For those who enjoy a hint of sweetness and aromatic wines, Brachetto d’Acqui is also a delightful choice. There are three styles of Brachetto d’Acqui, including red wine, spumante and passito. The most well-known is a sparkling version: vibrant red ruby-coloured wine from the Brachetto grapes, which offers a balanced profile and is a perfect match for fruit-based desserts.

Brachetto variety is cultivated in the provinces of Asti, Alessandria, and some areas of Cuneo. We also find it in Argentina. It has several names and comes in aromatic and non-aromatic versions. The non-aromatic ones include Brachèt in Canavese, a Brachetto from Val di Susa, outside Piedmont, and around Nizza Marittima.

Brachetto dì Asti sparkling wine is sweet and aromatic, with distinctive floral notes of rose, wild strawberries, raspberries, and strawberries. The production method utilised for almost all Brachetto d’Acqui (except for some niche producers) is Charmat.

The perfect serving temperature is 8-12°C, slightly higher than whites. Excessive cooling will cover its aromatic intensity. Thanks to its moderate alcohol content, this wine is often enjoyed as an aperitif or dessert wine, sublime with fresh strawberries or ripe peaches. Brachetto d’Acqui is an excellent accompaniment for desserts and fruit, regaling even less sophisticated palates with delicious sensations. Brachetto d’Acqui is a fantastic ingredient in mixology. Its versatility and fruitiness make

Brachetto d’Acqui is a standout choice for those exploring the diverse world of Piedmont’s sparkling wines. Its consumption has significantly declined in the last few decades, and it primarily targets the mass market with few very good quality examples.

Producers to explore: Bersano, Cocchi, Braida

Alta Langa DOCG

Alta Langa is another noteworthy sparkling wine from Piedmont, a young denomination and DOCG from 2011. It is produced using the traditional method with the same ageing requirements as Champagne and is made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. Alta Langa is celebrated for its complexity, with flavours ranging from citrus and apple to brioche and hazelnut, making it a sophisticated choice for special occasions. The extended ageing process on the lees imparts a creamy texture, adding depth to the wine’s character, as the minimum ageing on lees in the bottle during the second fermentation required by law is 30 months for basic Alta

Langa and 36 months for the Riserva.

The Alta Langa DOCG represents the excellence of Piedmont’s sparkling wine production, with regulations ensuring the highest quality standards. Alta Langa offers a refined alternative to traditional Champagne, appealing to wine geeks and enthusiasts and, therefore, more high-involvement consumers.

Producers to explore: Enrico Serrafino, Coppo, Contratto (For England Blanc de Noirs’s Pas Dosé), Cocchi (esp. Extra Brut Bio), Ettore Germano

Outside of Alta Langa: Focus on Nebbiolo

A range of producers switched their focus to sparkling wines made by Traditional Method sparkling wine made from Nebbiolo grapes. These high-quality wines cannot be labelled as Alta Langa, first of all, because of the grape variety. There are some outstanding examples with great complexity, quite pronounced aromatics and a good balance between Nebbiolo expression and autolytic character.

Producers to explore: Ettore Germano, Erpacrife

Other smaller sparkling denominations

Erbaluce di Caluso

Erbaluce is a white grape variety known since 1600, thanks to a book of chronicles by G.B. Croce, who at the time was the trusted jeweller of Duke Carlo Emanuele I, and was the first DOC of the white grape variety in Piedmont, established in 1967 and modified in 1998.

The Production Area of ​​the Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG Wine is located in 3 provinces of Turin, Vercelli, and Biella. The cultivation technique is the Calusi pergola formed by an inter-row of over 5 meters with about a thousand vines per hectare. Erbaluce di Caluso Spumante must be from 100% Erbaluce variety, made by

Traditional method, with a minimum period of 15 months on the lees during the second fermentation in the bottle. It is also produced as a still wine, Erbaluce di Caluso Passito and Passito Riserva.

Producers to explore: Cieck, Tenuta Roletto

Gavi DOCG

The Gavi DOCG denomination includes 11 municipalities in the Province of Alessandria, and “Gavi” (or “Cortese di Gavi”) refers to four styles of white wine – still, sparkling, and Riserva from 100% Cortese white grape variety. Sparkling versions include both Frizzante (with less pressure) and Spumante (fully sparkling) styles, made by Tank, Ancestrale (Pet Nat) or Traditional Methods, with a minimum of 9 months on lees. Riserva Spumante ranges from Brut Nature to Extra Dry, and the base wine is sometimes aged in wooden barrels, generally oak.

Producers to explore: Il Poggio (L’Ape Traditional Method organic or Ancestrale), Magda Pedrini, La Scolca

Nebbiolo d’Alba DOC

Nebbiolo is cultivated here on the northern and southern banks of the Tanaro River and extends throughout 25 communes. Wines come entirely from Nebbiolo, which is well-known for its tannic structure and floral profile. It can produce from early drinking wines to age-worthy outstanding examples; even the colour briefly turns pale with orange hints. Its aromas and flavours include raspberries, wild strawberries, geranium, and spices such as cinnamon and vanilla. Nebbiolo d’Alba

DOC sparkling wines include white or rosè versions made by Charmat or Traditional Methods.

Producers to explore: Sara Vezza, 460 Casina Bric (Nebbiolo d’Alba DOC Metodo Classico Brut Nature)

Roero Arneis Spumante DOCG

Made from a native white grape variety, DOCG wines must be at least 95% (but typically pure) Arneis. The appellation is best known for still wines, primarily for reds, but some very good quality whites and even sparklings are made by Charmat and Traditional methods.

Producers to explore: Malvirà (Rive Gauche), Tibaldi

Conclusion: Exploring the diversity of Piedmont’s sparkling wine

Italian sparkling wines from Piedmont offer a unique journey into the world of bubbles. Whether you are a wine geek or just curious, these wines provide a delightful experience that rivals the best sparkling appellations. From the sweet and grapey Moscato d’Asti or Brachetto to the complex and sophisticated Alta Langa,

Piedmont’s sparkling wines are a testament to the region’s winemaking prowess and dedication to quality. Their vibrant bubbles and fruity profiles make them suitable for casual sipping and special occasions.