The Langhe is Piedmont’s most important winegrowing area. Located along the River Tanaro, the Langhe is shaped like a peninsula that includes all of the winegrowing municipalities of the province of Cuneo. This is where some of the most important Italian wines, like Barolo and Barbaresco are produced.
However, as often in similar cases, these important wines have overshadowed their minor siblings, even though the latter have enough character to win the praises of experts if only they were produced in a less crowded area.
The introduction of the Langhe D.O.C. appellation in 1994 offered a small group of wines, which are an expression of the local winemaking traditions, a chance to find their own niche of the market.
These wines are made with grapevines that have prospered for centuries on these hills, developing great character as demonstrated by Freisa, Arneis, and Favorita. Among the various grapevines allowed in this appellation, there is also the Chardonnay, a variety that has only recently been introduced in Piedmont amid heavy discussions and objections by some vintners. In the end, however, the Chardonnay has proved to be worthy of a major role in the future of winemaking both in the Langhe and in Piedmont.