Valli Ossolane gained its DOC title in 2009, in the period of 2009–2010 when several DOC titles were added to the already impressive wine portfolio of Piedmont, north-western Italy. It covers red and white wines from the Verbano–Cusio–Ossola province in the far northern reaches of Piedmont.
The Valli Ossolane is home to some of the most dramatic landscapes of any Piedmont vineyard area – more so than the Aosta Valley region 40 miles (65km) to the south-west, and on a par with the mountainous Valtellina, on the other side of lakes Maggiore and Como, where similar styles of fresh Nebbiolo-based red wine is produced. The communes covered by the Valli Ossolane DOC are Beura Cardezza, Bognanco, Crevoladossola, Crodo, Domodossola, Masera, Montecrestese, Montescheno, Pallanzeno, Piedimulera, Pieve Vergonte, Premosello, Ornavasso, Trontano, Viganella, Villadossola and Vogogna. Crodo, the most northerly and highest seated, perches at an altitude of 1750ft (535m) and is towered over by peaks reaching 10,000ft (3050m). This is a truly alpine, cool-climate wine region.
There are four tipologie (categories) of wine covered by the Valli Ossolane title: three rosso (red) and a standard bianco (white). The bianco is based on a minimum 60% Chardonnay, whose popularity continues to increase in Italy as it does around the world, complemented by other white Piedmontese grapes. The rest of the Valli Ossolane portfolio comprises a standard rosso and two varietals made from Nebbiolo: Valli Ossolane Nebbiolo, and its more powerful counterpart Valli Ossolane Nebbiolo Superiore. The standard rosso also employs Nebbiolo, this time in conjunction with Croatina (also known as Bonarda) and Merlot.
To earn a superiore mention, the Nebbiolo must come from vines whose yield is capped at 49hL/ha (as opposed to a more relaxed 56 hL/ha for the other wines). It must also achieve an extra 0.5% alcohol, a rule imposed to encourage producers to pick riper grapes which will naturally have more alcohol-creating sugars and therefore more flavor. The final requirement for Valli Ossolane Superiore is that it undergoes 13 months' ageing prior to release, of which six months must be spent in barrel.
A typical red wine made under this DOC is brightly colored and mid bodied with pronounced tannins and a tangy, fruit-driven bouquet of cherries and berry fruits. The famous 'tar and roses' scent, which characterizes Nebbiolo originating from further south in Piedmont (such as Barolo and Barbaresco), is also detectable in wines from warmer vineyards or vintages.
