316: Piemonte Sparkling Wines, Roero Nebbiolo and Visiting Alba with David Way

Unreserved Wine Talk

In northern Italy,  Alba, Barolo and Barbaresco have become wine tourist destinations. How can you make the most of your visit to these regions in Piemonte? Why should you try a Nebbiolo wine from Roero? Why is there so much excitement about the sparkling wines of Piemonte now?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with David Way, author of the terrific book The Wines of Piemonte.

You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks

Giveaway

Two of you will win a copy of his terrific new book, The Wines of Piemonte. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at [e-mail] and let me know that you’ve posted a review of the podcast. I’ll choose two people randomly from those who contact me. Good luck!

Highlights

What should you know about Gaja and the Barbaresco cooperative?

Why did David have to wait outside a Barbaresco winery for an hour past his appointment without any explanation?

How does Moscato d’Asti compare to Champagne, and why is it often undervalued?

What are the differences between how Moscato d'Asti and Prosecco are produced?

What is the history of sparkling wine production in Piemonte, including the pioneering work of Carlo Gancia?

What can you expect from the red sparkling wines of Piemonte?

Why should you try a Nebbiolo from Roero and what characteristics can you anticipate?

How can you plan a fascinating wine trip to Piemonte?

Key Takeaways

 David notes that Alba, Barolo and Barbaresco have beautiful landscapes, amazing wines, and incredible cuisine with lots of lovely small Michelin-starred restaurants. There are also boutique hotels that are relatively inexpensive.

There is a region called Roero, which is 20 minutes north of Alba. What people don't know about Roero, is that it's also an excellent source of Nebbiolo wines, at much lower prices.

Piemonte has both tank method and traditional method sparkling wines. Traditional method sparkling wine made in the bottle is typical of two areas outside Piemonte, Franciacorta and Trentodoc. But Piemonte is actually the pioneer of that style.

About David Way

David Way initially specialized in the wines of the Tuscan Maremma before broadening his interests to the rest of Italy and beyond. He works as Senior Researcher on the five textbooks for the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines. In his own name, David wrote The Wines of Piemonte . The book gives unparalleled coverage of one of Italy’s most important regions and includes 200 producer profiles. The book was honoured by the OIV at its award ceremony in Lisbon in 2024.

Bonus Interview – Jo Penn: Highlights

How can you legally protect yourself as a writer?

What can writers do to engage readers and especially book clubs?

What are some of my multiple streams of income as a writer?

About Jo Penn

Jo Penn is an award-winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of horror, thrillers, dark fantasy, crime, and travel memoirs, as well as short stories. She’s also an award-winning podcaster. Her latest novel is Blood Vintage, a folk horror story set in an English vineyard.

To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/316.