Alta Langa DOC

DOCG area for spumante (sparkling wine) in the Italian region of Piedmont; the high DOC classification was obtained in 2011 The extensive zone extends in the Langhe hills on the right bank of the River Tanaro and includes almost 150 municipalities in the three southern provinces of Alessandria, Asti and Cuneo. The defined area under cultivation is relatively small at around 80 hectares. If the grapes come from classified vineyards, Vigna followed by the name of the vineyard can be indicated on the bottle label.

Sparkling wine production with French grape varieties was established here around 1850 by Marchese Leopoldo Incisa, whose grandson Mario Incisa della Rochetta (1899-1983) created the famous Sassicaia in Tuscany. The sparkling wine is made from at least 90% Pinot Nero(Pinot Noir) and/or Chardonnay, and a maximum of 10% of other authorised varieties. It must be produced according to the Metodo classico(bottle fermentation) with at least 30 months of yeast ageing (36 months for the Riserva). There are four types of wine: Spumante, Spumante Rosato (or Rosa or Rosé), Spumante Riserva and Spumante Rosato Riserva (or Rosa or Rosé).