There are now four denominations with controlled and guaranteed origin protected by the Consorzio Barbera d’Asti e Vini del Monferrato.
Costigliole d’Asti, December 2020 – After a 10-year process, which began in 2009 with the achievement of the DOC, from October 2020, Terre Alfieri is officially a DOCG.
Two typologies are considered by the disciplinary: Terre Alfieri Arneis and Terre Alfieri Nebbiolo, both characterized by possible evolutions. For the white variant, Terre Alfieri Arneis, the wine can boast the Superiore category after six months of aging. As for the red, Terre Alfieri Nebbiolo, it is possible to obtain the Superiore (with 12 months of aging, of which at least 6 in wooden barrels) or Riserva mention (with 24 months of aging, of which at least 12 in wooden barrels).
The production area includes 11 municipalities of which 7 are in the province of Asti: (Antignano, Celle Enomondo, Cisterna d’Asti, Revigliasco, San Damiano, San Martino Alfieri, Tigliole in the province of Asti) and 4 in the province of Cuneo (Castellinaldo, Govone, Magliano Alfieri and Priocca).
The denomination, named after the poet and playwright from Asti Vittorio Alfieri, lived between the XVIII and XIX century, represents an oenological niche of great importance. It expresses the history and vocation of an ancient territory, marked by precise morphological and ampelographic peculiarities, including the steep hills characterized by the presence of the so-called Asti sands, soils made up of marine sedimentary deposits from the Pliocene era.
Terre Alfieri joins Barbera d’Asti, Nizza and Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato, bringing to 4 the number of DOCGs protected by the Consorzio Barbera d’Asti e Vini del Monferrato, which can now welcome its first white wine and its first Nebbiolo-based wine with controlled and guaranteed denomination of origin.
As for the DOCG’s launching, the first bottles can be found on the market as early as 2020 as the mandatory minimum aging period of four months for Terre Alfieri Arneis has been eliminated and retroactivity is in force for those wines that are still in the cellar and that have observed the production criteria necessary to obtain the Superiore or Riserva type (Terre Alfieri Nebbiolo).
«This is a result that not only enriches the range of our DOCGs, but also our entire wine scene – comments Filippo Mobrici, President of the Consorzio Barbera d’Asti e Vini del Monferrato – We hope that Terre Alfieri can have the same success of the other denominations of controlled and guaranteed origin such as Barbera d’Asti, Nizza and Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato. The producers deserve a particular acclaim, determined as they are to achieve this goal – continues Mobrici – But this is just the beginning, now it is necessary to work to ensure that the value of a DOCG is concretely supported».
| TERRE ALFIERI ARNEIS Blend: Arneis from 85 to 100 %; other non-aromatic white grape varieties suitable up to 15%; Yield: A maximum of 100 quintals corresponding to a maximum of 70 hectoliters per hectare; Aging: Superiore type (6 months of aging) | TERRE ALFIERI NEBBIOLO Blend: Nebbiolo from 85 to 100%; other non-aromatic black grape varieties suitable up to 15%; Yield: a maximum of 85 quintals corresponding to a maximum of 59 hectoliters per hectare; Aging: Superiore (12 months of aging, of which at least 6 in wooden barrels) Riserva (24 months of aging, of which at least 12 in wooden barrels). |
