Figure1. Selected Alto Piemonte provinces (Source:fassinomobilaire.com map; author modification) |
Figure 2. Piemonte wine regions with Vercelli-Novara red-wine regions at the top. |
Table 1. Selected characteristics of the Vercelli-Navara wine zones.
Wine Zone
|
Province
|
Coverage
|
Status Year
|
Size (ha)
|
Boca DOC
|
Novara
|
Boca plus parts of communes:
-
Maggiora
-
Cavallirio
-
Prato
-
Sesio
-
Grignasco
|
1969
|
N/A
|
Gattinara DOCG
|
Vercelli
|
1990
|
100
|
|
Ghemme DOCG
|
Novara
|
1997
|
65
|
|
Sizzano DOC
|
Vercelli
|
Sizzano
|
1969
|
40
|
Bramaterra DOC
|
Vercelli
|
Communes of:
-
Masserano
-
Brusnengo
-
Curino
-
Roasio
-
Villa del Bosco
-
Sostegno
-
Lozalo
|
1979
|
28
|
Fara DOC
|
Novara
|
Fara
|
1969
|
N/A
|
Lessona DOC
|
Biella
|
Commune of Lissano
|
1976
|
N/A
|
Colline Novaresi DOC
|
Novara
|
Ghemme
DOCG; Fara and Boca DOCs
|
1994
|
N/A
|
Costa della Sesia DOC
|
Biella-Vercelli
|
Gattinara, Lessona, and Bramaterra DOCs
|
1996
|
N/A
|
In general, the zones experience cold, dry winters; mild, rainy springs; and hot summers. Their locations in the foothills of the Alps places them at the intersection of the temperate climate of continental Europe and the Mediterranean climate to the south while also providing protection from the cold north winds. The presence of neighboring Lakes Maggiore and Orta also provides a moderating influence on climate. High diurnal temperature variation between mid-August and mid-October is a key contributor to the acid retention that is a hallmark of the wines of the region.
The vineyards are situated on Ice-Age-origin morainic hills that stretch from the Alps almost to the Po Valley along the courses of the Ticino and Sesio rivers. These soils are rich in iron and other elements important for vine growth. Most of the greater Piemontese soils are alkaline but not so the soils of this region, thanks to the presence of porphyritic rock within the moraine. In general, the soils of Gattinara, Boca, and Bramaterra -- located, as they are, on the west side of the river -- are a mix of mostly acidic, porphyritic rock along with sand, clay, and iron deposits. East of the river, the soils of Ghemme, Boca, Sizzano, and Fara are primarily glacial moraines.
The Spanna-based wines produced in the region are detailed in Table 2 below. The DOC Costa della Sesia is a fallback appellation for the zones west of the Sesia River while Colline Novaresi is the fallback appellation for the zones to the east of the river.
Table 2. Spanna-based wines of the Vercelli-Novara region.
Wine
|
Style
|
Varieties
|
Minimum Alcohol (%)
|
Minimum Total Aging (Mths)
|
Min. Barrel Aging (Mths)
|
Min. Bottle Aging (Mths)
|
Boca DOC
|
Rosso
Riserva
Single-vyd
|
Sp (50-80%), UR and/or V
(max 20%), C (max 30%)
do.
do.
|
12
12.5
12.6
|
34
46
|
18
24
|
NS
NS
|
Gattinara DOCG
|
Rosso
Riserva
|
Sp
(min 90%), UR (max 10%), V (max 4%)
do.
|
12.5
13
|
35
47
|
24
36
|
NS
NS
|
Ghemme DOCG
|
Rosso
Riserva
|
Sp (min 85%), UR and/or V(max 15%)
do.
|
12
12.5
|
34
46
|
18
24
|
6
6
|
Sizzano DOC
|
Rosso
Riserva
|
Sp
(50-70%), UR and/or (30-50%), OA (max 10%)
do.
|
12
12
|
22
34
|
16
24
|
NS
NS
|
Bramaterra DOC
|
Rosso
Riserva
|
Sp (50-70%), UR and/or V
(max 20%), C (max 30%)
do.
|
12
12
|
24
36
|
18
24
|
NS
NS
|
Fara DOC
|
Rosso
Riserva
|
Sp
(50-70%), UR and/or (30-50%), OA (max 10%)
do.
|
12
12.5
|
22
34
|
16
24
|
NS
NS
|
Lessona DOC
|
Rosso
Riserva
|
Sp (min 85%), UR and/or V(max 15%)
do.
|
12
12
|
22
46
|
12
30
|
NS
NS
|
Colline Novaresi DOC
|
Rosso
Rosato
Nebbiolo
Single-vyd
|
Sp
(min 30%), UR (min 40%), V and/or C (30%)
Sp
(min 50%) plus OA
Sp
(min 85%) plus OA
do.
|
11
11
11
11.5
|
NS
NS
NS
NS
|
NS
NS
NS
NS
|
NS
NS
NS
NS
|
Costa della Sesia DOC
|
Rosso
Rosato
Spanna
Single-vyd
|
Sp (min 50%) plus OA
do.
Sp (min 85%) plus OA
do.
|
11
11
11
12
|
NS
NS
NS
NS
|
NS
NS
NS
NS
|
NS
NS
NS
NS
|
The most well-regarded of the wines listed above are from Gattinara, Ghemme, and Boca. The wines from Gattinara are lighter than Barolos and Barbarescos but with pronounced tannins and acidity. Ghemme wines have similar characteristics to Gattinara wines but with higher tannin levels. The wines of Boca are "firm-bodied and structured with violets, sweet spices and notes of pomegranates on the finish." Similar to the other wines of the region, it displays high levels of acidity.
In addition to the wines listed above, the two region-wide appellations -- Colline Novaresi and Costa della Sesia -- allow Biancos that are 100% Erbaluce plus Croatina and Vespolina varietals which, by law, must contain a minimum of 85% of the named grape. Further, Colline Novaresi also allows varietal wines labeled Barbera and Uva Rara and Rosso and Rosato Novellos which adhere to the varietal mix in place for the DOC Rosso and Rosato wines.
©Wine -- Mise en abyme
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