Nizza (also Barbera d'Asti Superiore Nizza before 2014) is a
DOCG
The following four classifications of wine constitute the Italian system of labelling and legally protecting Italian wine:
* ''Denominazione di origine'' (DO, rarely used; ; English: “designation of origin”),
* ''Indicazione geografica t ...
red
Italian wine
Italian wine is produced in every region of Italy. Italy is the world's largest producer of wine, with an area of under vineyard cultivation, and contributing a 2013–2017 annual average of 48.3 million hl of wine. In 2018 Italy accounted for ...
produced in the
northern Italian
Northern Italy ( it, Italia settentrionale, it, Nord Italia, label=none, it, Alta Italia, label=none or just it, Nord, label=none) is a geographical and cultural region in the northern part of Italy. It consists of eight administrative region ...
region of
Piedmont
it, Piemontese
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. It is made from the
Barbera
Barbera is a red Italian wine grape variety that, as of 2000, was the third most-planted red grape variety in Italy (after Sangiovese and Montepulciano). It produces good yields and is known for deep color, full body, low tannins and high le ...
grape, and the zone of production is limited to the ''
comuni
The (; plural: ) is a local administrative division of Italy, roughly equivalent to a township or municipality. It is the third-level administrative division of Italy, after regions ('' regioni'') and provinces (''province''). The can also ...
'' (municipalities) of
Agliano Terme
Agliano Terme ( pms, Ajan) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Asti in the Italian region Piedmont, located about southeast of Turin and about southeast of Asti.
Agliano Terme borders the following municipalities: Calosso, Castel ...
,
Belveglio,
Bruno,
Calamandrana,
Castel Boglione,
Castelnuovo Belbo
Castelnuovo Belbo ( pms, Castelneuv Belb) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Asti in the Italian region Piedmont, located about southeast of Turin and about southeast of Asti.
Castelnuovo Belbo borders the following municipalitie ...
,
Castelnuovo Calcea
Castelnuovo Calcea is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Asti in the Italian region Piedmont, located about southeast of Turin and about southeast of Asti
Asti ( , , ; pms, Ast ) is a '' comune'' of 74,348 inhabitants (1-1-2021) lo ...
,
Castel Rocchero,
Cortiglione,
Incisa Scapaccino,
Moasca,
Mombaruzzo,
Mombercelli
Mombercelli is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Asti in the Italian region Piedmont, located about southeast of Turin and about southeast of Asti.
Mombercelli borders the following municipalities: Belveglio, Castelnuovo Calcea, ...
, Nizza Monferrato,
Rocchetta Palafea,
San Marzano Oliveto
San Marzano Oliveto is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Asti in the Italian region Piedmont, located about southeast of Turin and about southeast of Asti.
San Marzano Oliveto is located in a panoramic position above sea level. It ...
,
Vaglio Serra
Vaglio Serra is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Asti in the Italian region Piedmont, located about southeast of Turin
Turin ( , Piedmontese: ; it, Torino ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in Northern ...
and
Vinchio within the
province of Asti
The Province of Asti ( it, Provincia di Asti, Piedmontese: ''Provincia d’Ast'') is a province in the Piedmont region of northern Italy. Its capital is the city of Asti. To the northwest it borders on the Metropolitan City of Turin; to the so ...
.
[ Nizza DOCG Regulations, Consorzio Tutela Vini d'Asti e Monferrato, 29 October 2012] In this area Barbera is the leading grape variety grown, because the pedoclimatic conditions here are particularly favourable for its ripening.
The zone of production is centered on the town of
Nizza Monferrato
Nizza Monferrato (''Nissa dla Paja'' in Piedmontese) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Asti in the Italian region of Piedmont, located about southeast of Turin and about southeast of Asti.
Nizza Monferrato borders the follow ...
, from which the wine derives its name.
History
Nizza was promoted to DOCG status in 2014.
Ministero delle Politiche Agricole Alimentari e Forestali prot. 85456 del 19.11.2014 Before that date it had been a ''Superiore'' subzone of the Barbera d'Asti
Barbera d'Asti is an Italian red wine made from the Barbera grape. It is produced in the hilly areas of the provinces of Asti (67 municipalities) and Alexandria (51 municipalities). Barbera d'Asti was accredited with DOC status in 1970, and DOCG ...
DOCG.
DOCG regulations
Nizza production rules specify:
Environment
Nizza vines are sun-demanding and normally occupy the best-exposed slopes that face from southeast to west; the valleys are excluded. The production area is the focus of the so-called Tertiary Piedmont Basin, a hilly region that originated from the lifting of the seabed during the late Tertiary
Tertiary ( ) is a widely used but obsolete term for the geologic period from 66 million to 2.6 million years ago.
The period began with the demise of the non- avian dinosaurs in the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, at the start ...
epoch; the soils are calcareous
Calcareous () is an adjective meaning "mostly or partly composed of calcium carbonate", in other words, containing lime or being chalky. The term is used in a wide variety of scientific disciplines.
In zoology
''Calcareous'' is used as an a ...
, of medium depth, and characterized by sandy-clay marls and stratified sandstones.
References
External links
Association of Nizza Producers
{{wines
Italian DOCG
Wines of Piedmont
Province of Asti
Nizza Monferrato