|
Langhe is the hilly sub-region around the Piedmont town of Asti, its name being the plural form of langa, the local word for a hill. Since its introduction in November 1994, the Langhe DOC has gained considerable repute for its innovative viticulture and use of international varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc are prime examples). The creativity this affords the local winemakers has led to a new generation of high-quality wines, many comparable to the prestigious 'Super Tuscans' from Tuscany.
Langhe is home to some of the most prestigious wines in Italy, including Barolo and Barbaresco, Asti and Dogliani. For wines which do not conform to the production criteria (production area, grape varieties or winemaking techniques) associated with these prestigious names, there is the Langhe DOC. This DOC covers a much wider area than most others and has more relaxed production restrictions, allowing winemakers to experiment with varieties and techniques not sanctioned under other DOCs. The most obvious effect of this advantage so far is the surge of Langhe Chardonnay being produced.
A Langhe DOC wine may be rosso, bianco or rosato (red, white or rose), a blend or a varietal. It can be still, frizzante (semi-sparkling), novello (an early-release, youthful style for reds) or passito (made from dried grapes). There is even a sub-DOC, Langhe Nascetta del Comune di Novello, for wines made from Nascetta grapes grown around the village of Novello, right at the southern edge of the Barolo zone.
The Langhe area has a long history of vinegrowing and many of the wines made here use traditional, well-established grape varieties such as Arneis and Favorita for whites, and Nebbiolo, Dolcetto and Freisa for reds. In 2011, the new DOCG Alta Langa Metodo Classico was forged in the fires of Italian wine bureaucracy, and at that time a new DOCG was in the works to bring together the Dolcetto delle Langhe Monregalesi DOC and the Dolcetto di Dogliani DOCG under a single banner.
|
