From Insult to Influence: The Birth of a Sparkling Wine Appellation in Piedmont, Italy

The Piedmont region in northwestern Italy is famously known for its dry red wines like Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera, and Dolcetto, as well as the low alcohol sweet sparkling white wine, Moscato. However, it is also noted for producing dry sparkling wines with a rich history.

In the early 1600s, Giovanni Battista Croce, a jeweler turned winemaker, produced a sparkling wine from red Nebbiolo grapes, known for its unique combination of sweetness and sharpness. Thomas Jefferson, before his presidency, enjoyed a red Nebbiolo in 1787, describing it as sweet and reminiscent of both Madeira and Champagne. Similarly, Stendhal referred to a celebrated sparkling wine in his novel, while in the early 1900s, Piedmontese sparkling wine was showcased at the Universal Exhibition in Paris.

During the 1930s, Asti Spumante gained popularity for its sweet white sparkling wine, crafted using a more economical method involving autoclaves, distinct from the classical method of fermentation in bottles. This spumante even graced royal weddings, solidifying its status.

Today, a specific appellation for high-quality sparkling dry white and rosé wines exists in southern Piedmont, known as Alta Langa, established under the Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG). These wines must use Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes grown above 250 meters in elevation, aged on their lees for at least 30 months, and labeled with the harvest year.

The inspiration behind Alta Langa’s creation stemmed from a 1990 phone call among wine industry professionals who felt slighted by a statement from other Italian regions that excluded Piedmont from classical sparkling wine production. This ignited a series of meetings that led to a collaborative effort among seven prominent producers to cultivate vineyards and develop the region’s wine identity. By 2001, the Alta Langa consortium was formed, leading to the formal recognition of the DOCG in 2002 for wines from the 2008 vintage onward.

The establishment of this appellation has significantly influenced Piedmont’s wine landscape. Wines from Alta Langa are noted for their quality, with flavors and aromas ranging from tropical fruits to decadent bread dough notes. They pair excellently with a variety of rich dishes.

Overall, Alta Langa exemplifies Piedmont’s continuing charm and complexity in both its cuisine and wine legacy. Visitors to the region should consider starting their meals with an Alta Langa sparkling wine before indulging in the renowned reds and concluding with Moscato.

For more detailed tasting notes and evaluations of Alta Langa wines, visit Vino Voices.

About the Author: Chris Lehoux

Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored!