The ancient Greeks had a name for the land that would eventually be known as Italy: Oenotrua, “land of vines.” Piedmontese winemakers appear again and again throughout history while they attempted to perfect the craft that would become synonymous with their home; some of the earliest mentions of their efforts go back to the fourteenth century. Many prominent figures of Italian politics and culture, like prime minister Camillo Benso and general Giuseppe Garibaldi, were also vintners who advanced the techniques and style of Italian wine by applying wisdom gained from their travels abroad. 

Piedmont was particularly influential when it came to the unification of Italy in the mid-1800s. At the time, Austria controlled the neighboring regions of Lombardy, Emilia, and Veneto, and after an Austrian tariff on Piedmontese wines sent the wine industry into a tailspin, the Italians revolted. The fury of winemakers was a crucial thread in the fabric of a united Italy.

Neighbor to fellow regional titans of the Italian wine industry, Lombardy and Liguria, Piedmont is located in the northwestern-most corner of the country, directly below the Aosta Valley (Valle d’Aosta) in the alpine foothills between Switzerland and France. 

In Piedmont, there are 5 general winemaking regions: the Canavese, the Colline Novaresi, Coste della Sesia, the Langhe, and Monferrato, but 90% of the region’s wine production is concentrated in two main provinces—Cuneo and Asti:

- __Cuneo__: In the province of Cuneo, it’s the areas surrounding Alba (the celebrated home of the white truffle) that claim the lion’s share of the Piedmontese winemaking pride. Its vineyards atop the rolling hills of the Langhe and the Roero serve nearly 300 wineries spread throughout villages in the area, which produce DOC (*Denominazione di origine controllata*) and [DOCG](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-doc-and-docg-wine-differences-between-doc-docg-igt-and-vdt-on-italian-wine-labels) (*Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita*, the highest possible qualification) classified wines with a variety of grapes: The barolo and barbaresco made here are especially renowned. 
- __Asti__: Monferrato is home to both the regions of Asti and Alessandria. Asti lies in the plains along the Tanaro River and is best known for its DOCG production of both sweet sparkling wines made with the Moscato bianco grape and light red wines made with Barbera, Freisa, and Grignolino. Wine production in nearby Alessandria, along the Orba River, is dominated by Barolo. 

The proximity of Piedmont to France’s Burgundy region was highly influential for early Italian winemakers; as a result, Piedmontese winemaking practices tend to shy away from blending, favoring a clear expression of a single grape varietal, as is also the case with Burgundian wines. Piedmont’s reputation has been built on a smaller group of iconic grapes.

1. __Barbera__. At the beginning of the twentieth century, [barbera](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/learn-about-barbera-wine-a-guide-to-the-history-characteristics-and-pairings-for-the-italian-barbera-wine-grape) was the third most-planted red grape in Italy. Barbera wines are juicy, drinkable light-bodied red wines that can be thought of as the Italian answer to Beaujolais—it’s a traditional, workhorse wine of the people that is experiencing a minor renaissance as more well-made examples are reaching the market. Barbera d’Asti, a DOCG wine from the town of Asti, and Barbera d’Alba DOC, from the town of Alba and surrounding areas in the hills, are the quintessential barbera wines of Italy. 
2. __Nebbiolo__. Nebbiolo is a red wine grape native to Piedmont that produces iconic, highly regarded wines in Italy and grows almost nowhere else. The nebbiolo grape has thin skins that pack a punch, with high tannins and high acidity to match. It’s a study in contrasts: it smells of ethereal rose petals, but also of earthy tar. It takes longer to ripen than any Italian grape, and even longer to age and mellow. For [nebbiolo](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/learn-about-nebbiolo-wine-history-characteristics-and-pairings) devotees, this wait is worthwhile as no other grape compares with nebbiolo’s complexity and longevity.
3. __Dolcetto__. Italian for “little sweet one,” the Dolcetto grape has a soft, floral character with light notes of red fruit. It’s not sweet, however; it’s used to make fresh, low-tannin wines made to drink young, or without much aging, though some bottles will do well over long periods of time.
4. __Moscato Bianco__. It may not be the Piedmont’s top white grape but it’s certainly the best known: The lightly sparkling Moscato bianco (Muscat blanc) produced in Asti is what many people associate with the Moscato grape, thought to be one of the oldest varietals in the world. Asti spumante (also <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/writing-101-what-is-a-colloquialism-learn-about-how-colloquialisms-are-used-in-literature-with-examples' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/writing-101-what-is-a-colloquialism-learn-about-how-colloquialisms-are-used-in-literature-with-examples","linkCopy":"colloquially","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>colloquially</a> called Asti) made under the Moscato d’Asti DOCG classification brings flavors of peach, pear, and aromatic flowers like honeysuckle and rose. It’s undeniably sweet, but not cloying. 

Want to learn more about the culinary arts? The [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com/) provides exclusive video lessons from the world’s best chefs and wine critics, including James Suckling, Lynnette Marrero, Ryan Chetiyawardana, Gabriela Cámara, Gordon Ramsay, Massimo Bottura, and more. 
Ringed by the Alps on one side and the Mediterranean on the other, the wines of Italy’s Piedmont (*Piemonte* in Italian) region earned it multiple spots on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

Ringed by the Alps on one side and the Mediterranean on the other, the wines of Italy’s Piedmont (*Piemonte* in Italian) region earned it multiple spots on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. 


Piedmont Wines: Learn About the Northern Italian Wine Region

The ancient Greeks had a name for the land that would eventually be known as Italy: Oenotrua, “land of vines.” Piedmontese winemakers appear again and again throughout history while they attempted to perfect the craft that would become synonymous with their home; some of the earliest mentions of their efforts go back to the fourteenth century. Many prominent figures of Italian politics and culture, like prime minister Camillo Benso and general Giuseppe Garibaldi, were also vintners who advanced the techniques and style of Italian wine by applying wisdom gained from their travels abroad. Piedmont was particularly influential when it came to the unification of Italy in the mid-1800s. At the time, Austria controlled the neighboring regions of Lombardy, Emilia, and Veneto, and after an Austrian tariff on Piedmontese wines sent the wine industry into a tailspin, the Italians revolted. The fury of winemakers was a crucial thread in the fabric of a united Italy.

What Is the History of Winemaking in Piedmont?

Neighbor to fellow regional titans of the Italian wine industry, Lombardy and Liguria, Piedmont is located in the northwestern-most corner of the country, directly below the Aosta Valley (Valle d’Aosta) in the alpine foothills between Switzerland and France.

Where Is Piedmont?

In Piedmont, there are 5 general winemaking regions: the Canavese, the Colline Novaresi, Coste della Sesia, the Langhe, and Monferrato, but 90% of the region’s wine production is concentrated in two main provinces—Cuneo and Asti:<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Cuneo: In the province of Cuneo, it’s the areas surrounding Alba (the celebrated home of the white truffle) that claim the lion’s share of the Piedmontese winemaking pride. Its vineyards atop the rolling hills of the Langhe and the Roero serve nearly 300 wineries spread throughout villages in the area, which produce DOC (Denominazione di origine controllata) and <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-doc-and-docg-wine-differences-between-doc-docg-igt-and-vdt-on-italian-wine-labels' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-doc-and-docg-wine-differences-between-doc-docg-igt-and-vdt-on-italian-wine-labels","linkCopy":"DOCG","category":null}'>DOCG</a> (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita, the highest possible qualification) classified wines with a variety of grapes: The barolo and barbaresco made here are especially renowned. </li><li class="">Asti: Monferrato is home to both the regions of Asti and Alessandria. Asti lies in the plains along the Tanaro River and is best known for its DOCG production of both sweet sparkling wines made with the Moscato bianco grape and light red wines made with Barbera, Freisa, and Grignolino. Wine production in nearby Alessandria, along the Orba River, is dominated by Barolo. </li></ul>

What Are the Wine Regions in Piedmont?

The proximity of Piedmont to France’s Burgundy region was highly influential for early Italian winemakers; as a result, Piedmontese winemaking practices tend to shy away from blending, favoring a clear expression of a single grape varietal, as is also the case with Burgundian wines. Piedmont’s reputation has been built on a smaller group of iconic grapes.<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Barbera. At the beginning of the twentieth century, <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/learn-about-barbera-wine-a-guide-to-the-history-characteristics-and-pairings-for-the-italian-barbera-wine-grape' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/learn-about-barbera-wine-a-guide-to-the-history-characteristics-and-pairings-for-the-italian-barbera-wine-grape","linkCopy":"barbera","category":null}'>barbera</a> was the third most-planted red grape in Italy. Barbera wines are juicy, drinkable light-bodied red wines that can be thought of as the Italian answer to Beaujolais—it’s a traditional, workhorse wine of the people that is experiencing a minor renaissance as more well-made examples are reaching the market. Barbera d’Asti, a DOCG wine from the town of Asti, and Barbera d’Alba DOC, from the town of Alba and surrounding areas in the hills, are the quintessential barbera wines of Italy. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Nebbiolo. Nebbiolo is a red wine grape native to Piedmont that produces iconic, highly regarded wines in Italy and grows almost nowhere else. The nebbiolo grape has thin skins that pack a punch, with high tannins and high acidity to match. It’s a study in contrasts: it smells of ethereal rose petals, but also of earthy tar. It takes longer to ripen than any Italian grape, and even longer to age and mellow. For <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/learn-about-nebbiolo-wine-history-characteristics-and-pairings' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/learn-about-nebbiolo-wine-history-characteristics-and-pairings","linkCopy":"nebbiolo","category":null}'>nebbiolo</a> devotees, this wait is worthwhile as no other grape compares with nebbiolo’s complexity and longevity. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Dolcetto. Italian for “little sweet one,” the Dolcetto grape has a soft, floral character with light notes of red fruit. It’s not sweet, however; it’s used to make fresh, low-tannin wines made to drink young, or without much aging, though some bottles will do well over long periods of time. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Moscato Bianco. It may not be the Piedmont’s top white grape but it’s certainly the best known: The lightly sparkling Moscato bianco (Muscat blanc) produced in Asti is what many people associate with the Moscato grape, thought to be one of the oldest varietals in the world. Asti spumante (also <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/writing-101-what-is-a-colloquialism-learn-about-how-colloquialisms-are-used-in-literature-with-examples' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/writing-101-what-is-a-colloquialism-learn-about-how-colloquialisms-are-used-in-literature-with-examples","linkCopy":"colloquially","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>colloquially</a> called Asti) made under the Moscato d’Asti DOCG classification brings flavors of peach, pear, and aromatic flowers like honeysuckle and rose. It’s undeniably sweet, but not cloying. </li></ol>

Which Wines Come From Piedmont?

Want to learn more about the culinary arts? The <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a> provides exclusive video lessons from the world’s best chefs and wine critics, including James Suckling, Lynnette Marrero, Ryan Chetiyawardana, Gabriela Cámara, Gordon Ramsay, Massimo Bottura, and more.

Learn More

Ringed by the Alps on one side and the Mediterranean on the other, the wines of Italy’s Piedmont (Piemonte in Italian) region earned it multiple spots on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

Ringed by the Alps on one side and the Mediterranean on the other, the wines of Italy’s Piedmont (Piemonte in Italian) region earned it multiple spots on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. 
