Italy | Piedmont

Piedmont (Piemonte) is regarded as one of Italy's most important wine regions and is considered to be among one of the finest in the world. Located in the north-west of the country, with a continental climate, Piedmont is influenced culturally and climatically by the surrounding Alps and Ligurian Apennines. Its most important fine wine regions are the Langhe, incorporating Barolo and Barbaresco; Monferrato, comprising the wines of Asti and Gavi; and Novara with its Colline Novaresi and Boca.

Wine production is dominated by two black grapes (Nebbiolo and Barbera) and one white (Moscato). The Nebbiolo grape reaches its zenith in the mist-shrouded hills of Barolo - the 'King of Wines' where it produces reds of immense power with great longevity and the elegant yet equally powerful Barbaresco. The Barbera grape is softer in tannin than Nebbiolo but has a zingy acidity; it excels around Alba and Asti.

White Asti, made from the Moscato grape is one of Italy’s most popular fine wines; light and succulently sweet it is arguably the world’s greatest dessert-style sparkling wine.

Finally, no tour of the region is complete without tasting the 'Courtly White' of Piedmont. Crafted from the Cortese grape, Gavi & Gavi di Gavi offers a steely, mineral-driven counterpoint to the powerful reds, perfect for the seafood of the nearby Ligurian coast.