Langhe Wines
Langhe Wines
The wines of the Langhe come from a hilly area between the provinces of Cuneo and Asti, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its beautiful landscape and extraordinary winemaking tradition. We are talking about some of the most prestigious and famous expressions of the Italian wine scene: above all, great red wines for ageing, but also sparkling, white, sweet and aromatic wines. Barolo and Barbaresco are the most prominent names, along with other more recent DOCGs such as Dogliani and Dolcetto di Diano d'Alba, not forgetting the famous Barbera d'Alba DOC. While Nebbiolo is the star of the area, among the white grape varieties, Arneis and Moscato Bianco are also gaining increasing attention, not to mention Chardonnay, the basis of the Metodo Classico Alta Langa. While remaining attached to the fame of its great reds from Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto, today local producers are promoting a vast range of grape varieties and traditions, demonstrating great vitality.
The Wine of the Langhe, from DOC to DOCG
The great wine-growing fortune of the area is due to the centuries-old ability of wine-growers to identify and exploit the most suitable micro-areas, relying on particularly favourable soil and climate conditions. In fact, the most renowned Piedmontese wines produced here are the result of the unique synergy between vine, soil and climate. By mapping each district, each cru and each vineyard, it has been possible to understand in which particular plots of land the grape varieties can best express themselves, obtaining the best from each of them. The most famous expressions have been awarded, over the years, the Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG), with additional geographical mentions.
The most famous and prestigious wines of the Langhe are undoubtedly Barolo and Barbaresco, both produced from Nebbiolo, an indigenous vine grown in the most suitable areas of the province of Cuneo. Barbaresco is produced in the hills of the municipalities of Barbaresco, Neive and Treiso, as well as in the small hamlet of San Rocco Seno d'Elvio; the territory of Barolo extends over 11 municipalities: Barolo, Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga d'Alba, La Morra, Monforte d'Alba, Roddi, Verduno, Cherasco, Diano d'Alba, Novello and Grinzane Cavour. More simple expressions of Nebbiolo are instead found in the Langhe and Nebbiolo d'Alba DOCs. Other strictly territorial DOCGs are those of Dogliani and Dolcetto di Diano d'Alba, both obtained from the Dolcetto vine and falling within the municipalities of the same name. The other expressions of the same vine produced in the Langhe hills fall under the more generic DOC of Dolcetto d'Alba. Also closely linked to a restricted production area is Pelaverga di Verduno, produced in the municipality of the same name. One of the most famous and widespread names is Barbera d'Alba, made from the most widespread vine in the whole area, traditionally used for the production of reds for daily meals.
Not Only Great Red Wines
Langhe wine is not only red and, today, more and more producers are trying to spread and enhance the value of native white varieties as well. In addition to Moscato, traditionally cultivated for the production of sweet and aromatic bubbles, there are also: Arneis, Favorita and Nascetta, vinified dry and still. International varieties are also gaining ground, and some producers now dedicate small parts of their vineyards to Riesling, Chardonnay and Viognier. Much more often these vines are also used for the production of sparkling wines, among which the area of Alta Langa stands out, which has become the reference point for Piedmont's Metodo Classico or Classic Method, starting with the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines.
Climate and Soil: the Climatic Characteristics
The quality of Langhe wine is the result not only of virtuous production traditions but also of particularly favourable soil and climate characteristics. The territory is located in the southern part of Piedmont, in close proximity to the Maritime Alps and the Ligurian Apennines. The whole area is immersed in a temperate subcontinental climate, with many variations due to the heterogeneous presence of valleys and hills with different altitudes. For this reason, the micro-areas are diversified in terms of exposure, temperature and windiness. The home of Dolcetto, for example, which can be found in the Dogliani area, is made up of high, narrow ridges of hills facing the cold Cuneo plain; the Barolo area, on the other hand, is milder and more temperate, influenced by both the Alpine winds and the warm humidity of the Tanaro valley.
From a geological point of view, these hills are made up of stratified rocks, formed 12 million years ago through several geological eras. Among the most common formations, the Marne di Sant'Agata play an important role. They characterise the soils in which Barolo and Barbaresco are produced today and are responsible, along with many other factors, for the elegance and typicality of these wines.
If you are looking for the excellent wines of this territory, on the Callmewine store you can find the best Langhe wines on sale online and on offer at great prices. Discover all the different varieties, the most famous labels and the wines of the producers who have made the history of this territory.