Masterclass for professionals by Lucrezia Povero: Terroirs of Nebbiolo — Barolo, Barbaresco, Roero, and Terre Alfieri

Masterclass by Lucrezia Povero: Terroirs of Nebbiolo — Barolo, Barbaresco, Roero, and Terre Alfieri

Monday 25.11.2024 at 11:00

Collaboration with Winepartners

 

Nebbiolo is one of Italy’s most important and revered grape varieties, best known for producing world-class wines like Barolo and Barbaresco, and the less-known but equally high-in-quality Terre Alfieri and Roero.

Indigenous to the Piedmont region, Nebbiolo thrives in its unique microclimate, creating wines that are both powerful and elegant. Its importance lies in its ability to express terroir, with each vineyard imparting distinct characteristics to the wine. Nebbiolo-based wines are known for their complex aromas of roses, tar, and truffles, along with high tannins and acidity, giving them exceptional aging potential. These wines are celebrated for their depth, structure, and ability to evolve over decades, making Nebbiolo a cornerstone of fine Italian wine.

 

In this masterclass, we will discuss four of the most important DOCGs of Nebbiolo.

 

THE TERRE ALFIERI DOCG

Terre Alfieri DOCG lies between the provinces of Asti and Cuneo, closer to the Monferrato area, and was only recently elevated to DOCG status in 2020. It covers wines produced in 10 villages in the provinces of Asti and Cuneo (Antignano, Celle Enomondo, Cisterna d’Asti, Revigliasco, San Damiano, San Martino Alfieri, Tigliole, Castellinaldo, Govone, Magliano Alfieri and Priocca). It focuses on two grape varieties: Arneis for white wines and Nebbiolo for reds. The region is named after the renowned Italian poet Vittorio Alfieri, reflecting its deep cultural and historical roots. We are in a frontier land, capable of expressing the best of the neighboring territories in wines: the intense and floral aromas of Roero, the full fruit and freshness of Monferrato; and the elegance, power, and longevity of Langhe.

In the Terre Alfieri DOCG, you can find Cascina Vèngore, a natural amphitheater with 16 hectares of organic vineyards and 10 hectares of forest and meadows, producing 5 organic wines. As the wines of Cascina Vèngore are characterized by delicacy and elegance, they will be the first two of our tasting.

We will taste:

• Mignane Terre Alfieri Nebbiolo 2022 aged in amphora
• Belgardo Terre Alfieri Nebbiolo 2022 aged in oak barrels

2. ROERO DOCG

Officially recognized as a DOCG in 2004, the verdant Roero runs parallel to Langhe, to the left of the Tanaro River. The soils are younger and sandier than those of Langhe and give finesse, elegance, and intense aromas to the wines. It needs to be aged at least 20 months, of which 6 are in oak barrels.

On one of the highest hills of Roero, between Canale d’Alba and Cisterna d’Asti, Tenuta Laramè embodies a contiguous vineyard of 50 hectares organically cultivated. They are  the most ancient vineyards of my family.

We will taste:

• Tumlin Roero DOCG Loreto 2021

LANGHE (BAROLO DOCG AND BARBARESCO DOCG)

Langhe is the hilly area extending from the orographic right of the Tanaro river up to the Apennine mountains. The most planted area is near the town of Alba; to the west, there are the famous hills of Barolo, and to the east those of the equally renowned Barbaresco. Ancient marly and calcareous well-structured soils are the ideal birthplace for red wines of excellent structure.

BARBARESCO DOCG

Barbaresco comes from the hills around the villages of Barbaresco, Neive, Treiso, and a small part of the San Rocco Seno d’Elvio area of Alba. It needs to be aged 26 months, of which 9 are in oak barrels.The legends says that Barolo producers secretly used grapes coming from this 4 villages because the quality was so high. Barbaresco reached DOCG status in 1980. The average altitude of the Barbaresco appellation is slightly lower than Barolo and is also closer to the Tanaro River. These characteristics along with the maritime micro-climate can cause grapes to ripen slightly earlier, softening the tannins a bit.

We will taste:

• Batù Barbaresco DOCG 2021

BAROLO

Barolo comes from the best South-exposed slopes of 11 municipalities: Barolo, La Morra, Monforte, Serralunga d’Alba, and part of Castiglione Falletto, Novello, Grinzane Cavour, Verduno, Diano d’Alba, Cherasco and Roddi. It needs to be aged 38 months, of which 18 are in oak barrels. In the Barolo DOCG, the Nebbiolo expresses all its power and structure. Known as “King of Wines and the Wine of the Kings”, it was the favorite wine of the Savoy family, who unified Italy in 1861.

We will taste:

• Priore Barolo DOCG 2020

 

The masterclass will be presented by Lucrezia Povero. Her family has been making wine since 1837 with Cantine Povero and Borgo Lame. In 2012, she started Cascina Vèngore, a winery in Cisterna d’Asti, with her two sisters Maurizia and Letizia. The objective was to produce organic niche wines expressing the terroir of Terre Alfieri. In 2022, she got the Sommelier Diploma from AIS (Association of Italian Sommeliers).
Now Lucrezia is studying for WSET3 and focusing on the vineyard management and promotion of Cascina Vèngore.

 

Place: Suomen Sommelierit ry:n toimitila, Ruusulankatu 18, 00250 Helsinki

Time: Monday 25.11.2024 at 11:00

Represented by: Lucrezia Povero (Povero/Cascina Végnore)