Focus Class: Wines of Piedmont, Italy – 10/14/23 (Daytime US, Evening UK/EU)

This class will follow my week-long trip to Piedmont. I’ll share the basics of the region and add details and nuances I learn. The classes are always full of great anecdotes and new info right after a trip, so please join!

Piedmont, known as Piemonte in Italian, is home to famous reds of Barolo and Barbaresco made from the Nebbiolo grape, but it also contains fascinating whites and other reds that are full of surprises. Located in the northwest corner of Italy, this hilly, fog-covered area is one of the most complex and diverse winegrowing regions on earth. The rolling hills everywhere mean there are different sun exposures within meters, and the geologic machinations of time have made the soils a patchwork that the locals are just beginning to formally map. Add to this the different philosophies in handling the grapes in the winery, and surrounding areas that are often forgotten (and are hidden gems at lower prices), and you have a place that can provide a lifetime of study!

In this class we will discuss the details of Piemonte, and taste through the whites of Gavi and Arneis, and the reds of Barbera, Dolcetto, and Nebbiolo. We’ll cover everything from the differences between the top Barolos to often overlooked Nebbiolo of Roero, and we’ll talk about Moscato d’Asti, Freisa, Grignolino, and other grapes you can find in this incredibly diverse area. I love Piemonte and after this class, you will too (if you don’t already!).