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Langhe is broad regional wine designation covering the hilly subregion east of the Tanaro river and south of Alba, in the Cuneo province of Piedmont (Piemonte). Its area encompasses some of the great appellations of Piedmont and numerous top producers of Barolo and Barbaresco also make wines under the Langhe label. The name "Langhe" is the plural form of "langa" – a local word for a long, low-lying hill.
Wine styles
A Langhe DOC wine may be rosso, bianco or rosato (red, white or rosé), a blend or a varietal with the name of the grape variety on the label. It can be still, frizzante (semi-sparkling), novello (an early-release, youthful style for reds) or passito (made from dried grapes).
Grape varieties and subregions
The Langhe area has a long history of vinegrowing and many of the wines made here use traditional, well established grape varieties such as Arneis and Favorita (Vermentino) for whites, and Nebbiolo, Dolcetto and Freisa for reds.
The DOC covers a much wider area than most others; within its boundaries can be found some of the most famous DOCG wines in Italy, including the great Nebbiolo centers of Barolo and Barbaresco, plus Asti and Dogliani. Numerous producers of such wines also produce an early-drinking Langhe Nebbiolo made under the less-strict production stipulations of the latter title.
Production
Indeed, for wines which do not conform to the production criteria (production area, grape varieties or winemaking techniques) associated with many of the prestigious names within the area, the Langhe DOC has more relaxed stipulations, allowing winemakers to experiment with varieties and techniques not sanctioned under other DOCs.
These include being able to blend grape varieties (Nebbiolo, for instance) grown across multiple sites and the ability to produce varieties not otherwise accepted under the smaller regional labels. The most obvious effect of this advantage so far is a surge in production of Langhe Chardonnay wines.
Since its introduction in November 1994, the Langhe DOC has gained considerable repute for its innovative viticulture and use of international varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc are prime examples). The creativity this affords the local winemakers has led to a new generation of high quality wines, many comparable to the prestigious "Super Tuscans" from Tuscany.
Langhe subtitles
The Langhe DOC laws include the more specific title "Langhe Nascetta del Comune di Novello", exclusively for white Nascetta wines from Novello, a village at the very southwestern corner of the Barolo viticultural area. The village's vineyards are located at an altitude of just under 460 meters (1500ft), and are blessed with the same clay-marl soils and southern aspect as Barolo.
In 2011, the new DOCG Alta Langa Metodo Classico was forged in the fires of Italian wine bureaucracy, and at that time the former Dolcetto delle Langhe Monregalesi DOC was dissolved, and its viticultural area transferred under the now broader Dogliani DOCG banner.
