| Your guests will enjoy your next wine tasting | | | | features the best planting sites with Nebbiolo, the |
| event all the more if you provide a look at the | | | | noble grape of Piemonte, which reaches its |
| winery producing the wine you serve. As you | | | | highest expression in the Barberesco and Barolo |
| pour the wine, take the moment to share a story | | | | appellations. Although farmers have grown grapes |
| about the winery and the region so your guests | | | | in the Roero district since ancient times, it only |
| can appreciate not only the distinctive taste | | | | received DOC status in 1990 and each year it |
| produced by different wineries, but can also | | | | gains more respect for its wines. Cascina Chicco |
| picture the area and history. Your guests will | | | | crafts fruity, approachable wines a favorite of |
| welcome the education you provide them with in | | | | many Italian wine clubs, including white Arneis, |
| addition to the wine. This article looks at the | | | | Nebbiolo d'Alba, Roero, Barbera d'Alba, Favorita, |
| Piemonte region of Italy and three of the fine | | | | and Brachetto. They receive the highest award |
| wineries that call this area home. | | | | possible from the wine guide, Gambera Rosso, for |
| The Piemonte Region Of Italy | | | | their Barbera d'Alba Bric Loira, Nebiolo d'Alba |
| Almost half of Piemonte, which means "foot of | | | | Mompissano and the dessert wine Arcass Passito. |
| the mountain," lies in the great arc of the Alps | | | | Azienda Agricola Icardi Winery |
| and the Apennines from which the Po River flows | | | | Perched on the Alba hills in Castiglione Tinella of |
| east through its broad valley to the Adriatic Sea. | | | | the Piemonte region of Italy between the famous |
| Bordering Switzerland and France, Piemonte and | | | | viticultural appellations, the Langhe and |
| the smaller Valle d'Aosta to the north were part | | | | Monferrrato, Azienda Agricola Icardi is a family |
| of the French-speaking principality of Savoy | | | | winery. Azienda Agricola Icardi has a reputation |
| between the 11th and 18th Centuries. They | | | | for making distinctively drinkable wines upon |
| played a key role in the Risorgimento, the | | | | release that embody both an international style |
| movement that united Italy under a Savoy king in | | | | and old-world character. The family has grown |
| 1859. | | | | grapes in the area since 1914, but in the early |
| Famous ski resorts and the wild Parco Nazionale | | | | 1960s, Piereno Icardi chose to make his own wine |
| del Gran Paradiso draw visitors to the majestic | | | | instead of selling his fruit to others. After almost |
| mountains in the north while in the south, vine | | | | 50 years, Pierino Icardi is still in charge today and |
| covered hills around Barolo and vast fields of grain | | | | his wines remain a favorite of Italian wine clubs |
| and rice in the Po Valley continue a rich agricultural | | | | worldwide. |
| tradition. Torino, the region's capital, is a crowded | | | | Quinto Chionetti Winery |
| industrial city home to the Fiat car company, but | | | | Gambero Rosso calls Quinto Chionetti the "grand |
| it also offers Baroque buildings, palazzo, and | | | | old man of Dogliani," a zone just a few kilometers |
| museums, including a world-renowned museum | | | | south of Alba known for Dolcetto wines with |
| housing an Egyptian collection gathered during the | | | | extraordinary structure and strength. Quinto's |
| Napoleonic Wars. | | | | grandfather founded the 14-hectare estate in |
| The ancient Liguri tribes who dominated the region | | | | 1918 and over time, the family has produced |
| probably first cultivated the wild vines of the | | | | some of the greatest Dolcetto in Italy. The family |
| Apennines, but they learned winemaking from the | | | | makes only this one varietal, but from three |
| Greeks around 600 B.C. The Celtic Taurini, who | | | | different vineyards, Briccolero, Vigna la Costa, and |
| gave their name to Torino, also grew vines in the | | | | San Luigi. Known as a viticulturist and winemaker, |
| region. Although the Romans planted vines, they | | | | Dolcetto is a staple of Italian wine clubs not only |
| didn't favor the wines. Finally in the 19th Century, | | | | because of the taste, but also because Quinto |
| the wines of Piemonte gained distinction when the | | | | has never compromised in his winemaking. |
| Savoy and others began to use French methods. | | | | Learning a little about the region and the winery's |
| Today, Piemonte has 52 DOC and DOCG zones, | | | | involved in Italian wine clubs or your next wine |
| more than any other region. | | | | tasting event will ensure you get the most |
| Cascina Chicco Winery | | | | enjoyment from the wines of Piemonte as |
| Owned by the Faccenda family and located in the | | | | possible. |
| Roero district of Piemonte, Italy, Cascina Chicco | | | | |