RedLead grape in 2
Freisa
A Piedmontese red with high acid, hard tannin and a strong raspberry and rose perfume, traditionally made frizzante and often with some sugar left in. That combination divides people sharply. Made dry and still it is a serious wine and a difficult one, and the growers who persist with it tend to be the ones who also make good Nebbiolo.
Worth knowing
DNA work put it in a parent and offspring relationship with Nebbiolo. Once you know that, the perfume and the tannin stop being surprising, and the frizzante style starts to look like a way of hiding a structure nobody wanted to wait out.
Where it is allowed17 appellations
Piedmont17
- AlbugnanoDOCStill hunting
- Barbera d'AstiDOCGStill hunting
- Barbera del MonferratoDOCStill hunting
- Barbera del Monferrato SuperioreDOCGStill hunting
- CanaveseDOCStill hunting
- Collina TorineseDOCStill hunting
- Freisa d'AstiDOClead grapeStill hunting
- Freisa di ChieriDOClead grapeStill hunting
- GabianoDOCStill hunting
- Grignolino d'AstiDOCup to 10 percentStill hunting
- Grignolino del Monferrato CasaleseDOCup to 10 percentStill hunting
- LangheDOCStill hunting
- Malvasia di Casorzo d'Asti (Casorzo)DOCStill hunting
- Malvasia di Castelnuovo Don BoscoDOCup to 15 percentStill hunting
- MonferratoDOCStill hunting
- PineroleseDOCStill hunting
- Rubino di CantavennaDOCStill hunting