December 22, 2008
Collina Torinese DOC Appellation Changes

The Consorzio Tutela Vini DOC Freisa di Chieri e Collina Torinese just approved changes to the official law, or disciplinare, for the Collina Torinese DOC—changes which were pushed for by regional authorities and local producers designed to better represent the territorio and make the appellation more in line with the current demands of the market.

By the original 1999 law the Collina Torinese DOC extends in the hills surrounding the city of Turin and includes the following wines: Rosso, Barbera, Bonarda, Malvasia and Pelaverga or Cari. The new law will see the addition of a Rosso Novello, which will follow the composition allowed for the Rosso—minimum 60% Barbera, 25% Freisa. The composition of the Malvasia, which until now meant a minimum 85% of Malvasia di Schierano, will include the use of Malvasia Nera Lunga also grown in the area and recognized in 2001 among the sub-varieties found in Piemonte. In addition, to ensure the overall quality of the wines produced within the appellation, the area of vinification, ageing and bottling has been extended to include the entire region of Piemonte, allowing producers to take advantage of the available resources and technologies outside of the defined Collina Torinese area of production. The same reasoning applied to the slight alterations to the general characteristics of the wines and labeling requirements.

What remained unaltered, of course, is the territorio or area of production of the grapes as traditionally defined to extend in the province of Turin, specifically in following communes: Andezeno, Arignano, Bandissero Torinese, Brozolo,Brusasco, Casalborgone, Castagneto Po, Castiglione Torinese, Cavagnolo, Chieri, Cinzano, Gassino Torinese, Lauriano, Marentino, Mombello di Torino, Moncalieri, Montaldo Torinese, Monteu da Po, MoriondoTorinese, Pavarolo, Pecetto Torinese, Pino Torinese, Riva (Chieri), Rivalba, San Raffaele Cimena, San Sebastiano da Po, Sciolze, Verrua and Savoia.