Region: Lombardy
Quality Level in EU/Italian Wine Law: Franciacorta DOCG, DOC in 1967 and elevated to DOCG in 1995
Primary Grape Varietals: Pinot Nero, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio
SPARKLING WINES - DOCG Level
SPARKLING WINES - DOC Level
RED WINES
ROSATO WINES
Pairs with: Strong cheese such as Pecorino, Barbecue Ribs, Grilled or Roasted Chicken, Hamburgers, Lamb
Characteristics: The wines are elegantly perfumed and well structured wines. Normally aged for only a few months with 10 months for a superiore version, these wines are usually drunk young. The wines are round with definitive blackberry fruit flavors and.....
Serve: Highly Chilled
Oltrepò Pavese is a wine region in the Lombardy or Lombardia region of Italy, where Milano is located. It has a very wide range of topographical diversity. Lombardia is bordered by the Alpine mountains in the north and the Appennine mountains in the South with the Po River valley running through it. The Po River vally is the only flat valley section in all of Italy and has this wine region in its name. A special note about the Italian language– The word, “OltrePò” has a simple meaning of over the Po which simplies defines where it is located. The wine region is over the Po in the hills around the City of Pavia – thus the name OltrePò Pavese. The accent on the word means that the O at the end is emphasized in the pronunciation.
Oltrepò Pavese is the largest sub zone of the region and has a broad set of wine styles and grape varieties. Croatina is the most planted in the area so we start there.
Croatina is the primary indigenous grape in this region and a red wine in the DOC or Bonarda Dell’Oltrepò Pavese is made with at least 85% Croatina. In other words, they are varietal blends of the Croatina varietal and can be blended with Barbara, Uva Rara or Vespolina. Within the wine laws of the DOC, there are no aging requirements but there are the normal minimums for Alcohol such as 9% for frizzante versions and 12% for Rosso Tranquillo – Still wine. The wines are fruity with minor floral notes and medium spice. Medium to light body with relatively rustic tannins and flavors of cherry, blackberry and black pepper. Medium to medium plus in intensity, these wines offer an interesting and somewhat complex wine that marries well with pasta, lasagna, salumi, pork and grilled meats. The uva rara adds the spice to the wine but the local area is said to add spice to Lombardia from a viticultural perspective.
Croatina is an ancient varietal that is said to have originated in this region and is highly resistant to mildew that can affect other varietals. It is most widely planted in Lombardia but appears in Emilia Romagna as a blending grape. Croatina is also known as Bonarda in some areas and thus the wine takes that name. However, it is not the same as a bonarda grape that can be found in Piemonte. There is a wide range of quality with this variety and is often used in bulk wines for Milan.
The Oltrepò region is also known for the plantings of Pinot Nero and it also enjoys the microclimate of the Po river that allows for the high altitude, steep slopes with warming effects from the plains and river. The region produces Classic Method sparkling wine with Pinot Nero and Chardonnay, Pinot Blanco and Pinot Grigio. The Oltrepò Pavese has an established DOCG for these wines - the Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG. The region is unique in that it concentrates on Pinot Nero as the base of the classic method sparklers as it also benefits from the limestone based soils. The wines must contain 70% Pinot Nero with the others blended as a group or individually up to the remaining 30%. Many producers prefer to use 85% Pinot Nero and can label the wine with the Pinot Nero name. Non vintage bottling spend at least 15 months on lees and it is extended to 24 months for vintage bottling. The area uses both modern and traditional tech The wines are vinified in both stainless steel with frizzante versions made with the charmat method.
The generic Oltrepò Pavese DOC was established in 1970 to cover the wide range of wine styles including those produced from Barbara, Malvasia and Moscato varieties. There are other DOC designations including the Pinot Nero dell'Oltrepò Pavese that focuses on the production of base wines for the sparkling production but is trending toward more still wine production. The initial clones, that produce higher yield and acid levels, are slowly being replanted with PN clones focused on quality still wine production. In this attempt to achieve a more balanced stylistic approach, the still wines are growing in popularity and receive excellent reviews for their red fruit, mushroom, forrest floor and spice aromas and flavors.
Quality Level in EU/Italian Wine Law: Franciacorta DOCG, DOC in 1967 and elevated to DOCG in 1995
Primary Grape Varietals: Pinot Nero, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio
SPARKLING WINES - DOCG Level
- Metodo Classico - Minimum 70% Pinot Nero blended with a maximum 30% Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, and/or Pinot Grigio
- Rosé Spumante or Rosé Crémant - same percentages as above
- Pinot Nero Spumante - Varietal wines with a minimum 85% Pinot Nero; maximum 15% Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, and/or Pinot Grigio
- Pinot Nero Rosé Spumante - Varietal wines with a minimum 85% Pinot Nero blended with a maximum 15% Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, and/or Pinot Grigi0
SPARKLING WINES - DOC Level
- Varietal Spumante - Can be made by a second fermentation of Chardonnay, Cortese, Pinot Nero (vinified as a white wine), Riesling, or Sauvignon
- Pinot Nero Rosato Spumante - Varietal wines with a minimum 85% Pinot Nero; maximum 15% Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, and/or Pinot Grigio
- Malvasia Spumante - Varietal wines with a minimum 85% Malvasia di Candia Aromatica, blended with other white varieties
- Moscato Spumante - Varietal wines with a minimum 85% Moscato and a maximum of 15% Malvasia
RED WINES
- Percentages allowed are 25–65% Barbera; 25–65% Croatina; maximum 40% Pinot Nero, Uva Rara, and/or Vespolina; maximum 15% OANRG
- Barbera (Rd, RdFr): Minimum 85% Barbera + OANRG
- Cabernet Sauvignon (Rd): Minimum 85% Cabernet Sauvignon + OANRG
- Riserva (Rosso, Barbera)
- Bianco (Wh): Minimum 60% Riesling and/or Welschriesling (aka Riesling Italico); maximum 40% Pinot Nero and/or OANWG
- Varietal wines with a minimum of 85% Chardonnay, Cortese, Malvasia, Moscato, Pinot Nero bianco, Riesling, and Sauvignon
- Superiore and Riserva versione of Riesling
ROSATO WINES
- Percentages allowed are 25–65% Barbera; 25–65% Croatina and a maximum 40% Pinot Nero, Uva Rara, and/or Vespolina and a maximum of 15% other grapes
- Pinot Nero rosato - Varietal wines of a minimum 85% Pinot Nero and a maximum 15% Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, and/or Pinot Grigio
Pairs with: Strong cheese such as Pecorino, Barbecue Ribs, Grilled or Roasted Chicken, Hamburgers, Lamb
Characteristics: The wines are elegantly perfumed and well structured wines. Normally aged for only a few months with 10 months for a superiore version, these wines are usually drunk young. The wines are round with definitive blackberry fruit flavors and.....
- Grapes must be hand harvested and whole-pressed, without destemming, except for Pinot Nero that is to be used in Rosé
- All wines must undergo a second fermentation in bottles (Metodo Classico), which cannot be started before February 1, V+1
- Rosé can be made by blending red and white wines after fermentation
- Satèn cannot exceed 5 atmospheres of pressure
Serve: Highly Chilled
Oltrepò Pavese is a wine region in the Lombardy or Lombardia region of Italy, where Milano is located. It has a very wide range of topographical diversity. Lombardia is bordered by the Alpine mountains in the north and the Appennine mountains in the South with the Po River valley running through it. The Po River vally is the only flat valley section in all of Italy and has this wine region in its name. A special note about the Italian language– The word, “OltrePò” has a simple meaning of over the Po which simplies defines where it is located. The wine region is over the Po in the hills around the City of Pavia – thus the name OltrePò Pavese. The accent on the word means that the O at the end is emphasized in the pronunciation.
Oltrepò Pavese is the largest sub zone of the region and has a broad set of wine styles and grape varieties. Croatina is the most planted in the area so we start there.
Croatina is the primary indigenous grape in this region and a red wine in the DOC or Bonarda Dell’Oltrepò Pavese is made with at least 85% Croatina. In other words, they are varietal blends of the Croatina varietal and can be blended with Barbara, Uva Rara or Vespolina. Within the wine laws of the DOC, there are no aging requirements but there are the normal minimums for Alcohol such as 9% for frizzante versions and 12% for Rosso Tranquillo – Still wine. The wines are fruity with minor floral notes and medium spice. Medium to light body with relatively rustic tannins and flavors of cherry, blackberry and black pepper. Medium to medium plus in intensity, these wines offer an interesting and somewhat complex wine that marries well with pasta, lasagna, salumi, pork and grilled meats. The uva rara adds the spice to the wine but the local area is said to add spice to Lombardia from a viticultural perspective.
Croatina is an ancient varietal that is said to have originated in this region and is highly resistant to mildew that can affect other varietals. It is most widely planted in Lombardia but appears in Emilia Romagna as a blending grape. Croatina is also known as Bonarda in some areas and thus the wine takes that name. However, it is not the same as a bonarda grape that can be found in Piemonte. There is a wide range of quality with this variety and is often used in bulk wines for Milan.
The Oltrepò region is also known for the plantings of Pinot Nero and it also enjoys the microclimate of the Po river that allows for the high altitude, steep slopes with warming effects from the plains and river. The region produces Classic Method sparkling wine with Pinot Nero and Chardonnay, Pinot Blanco and Pinot Grigio. The Oltrepò Pavese has an established DOCG for these wines - the Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG. The region is unique in that it concentrates on Pinot Nero as the base of the classic method sparklers as it also benefits from the limestone based soils. The wines must contain 70% Pinot Nero with the others blended as a group or individually up to the remaining 30%. Many producers prefer to use 85% Pinot Nero and can label the wine with the Pinot Nero name. Non vintage bottling spend at least 15 months on lees and it is extended to 24 months for vintage bottling. The area uses both modern and traditional tech The wines are vinified in both stainless steel with frizzante versions made with the charmat method.
The generic Oltrepò Pavese DOC was established in 1970 to cover the wide range of wine styles including those produced from Barbara, Malvasia and Moscato varieties. There are other DOC designations including the Pinot Nero dell'Oltrepò Pavese that focuses on the production of base wines for the sparkling production but is trending toward more still wine production. The initial clones, that produce higher yield and acid levels, are slowly being replanted with PN clones focused on quality still wine production. In this attempt to achieve a more balanced stylistic approach, the still wines are growing in popularity and receive excellent reviews for their red fruit, mushroom, forrest floor and spice aromas and flavors.
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