Typical Products of the Langhe > Wine > Vines > Brachetto vine

The fine wines of the Langhe > Vines > Brachetto vine

It is called “Burgundy” in the area of Canelli. There are several homonymous names for Brachetto vine: large grape Brachetto vine or “Brachettone”, cultivated in Roero; Migliardi Brachetto vine or from Montabone, which is common between Acqui and Nizza Monferrato; a third Brachetto vine, which is always aromatic-fruited, is randomly present near Nizza Monferrato; among non aromatic Brachetto vines, there is a Brachet type in Canavese, a Susa Valley Brachetto (which is actually a Lambrusca of Alessandria) and, outside of Piedmont, a Braquet (which has almost disappeared) near Nizza Marittima.

Geographic location 

It is cultivated mainly in the provinces of Asti and Alessandria, in the area between the river Belbo and Bormida; it is also present in some areas of Cuneese. Brachetto vine is also cultivated in Argentina.

Morphological characters

Bud: yellowish green with slightly orange edges arachnoidal apex. Light green, with very slight copper shades, inferiorly arachnoid apex leaves (1-3). Green, inferiorly slightly arachnoid basal leaves (4-5). Its herbal shoot is green-coloured, with slight red shades on its dorsal part. 
Adult leaf: of medium size, orbicular, entire or (rarely) tri-lobed; a closed central womb, V-shaped; superior lateral wombs, when existing, are V- or U-shaped. Its border is thick, very bubbly, flat, of green colour with generally green nervations. Little pronounced teeth, large-based and convex margins. Its inferior page is practically glabrous. 
Ripened grape: of medium or medium-small size, cylindrical, winged (sometime with a peduncled wing), a little longed, not compact; medium length green peduncle. 
Acinus: of medium size (2,4 g), shortly ellipsoidal (d.e./d.l.=0,93), with a consistent peel, medium pruinose, of blue-black and purple-black colour; its taste is aromatic. 

Phenology

Germination: precocious (first decade of April). 
Flowering: medium-precocious (first decade of June). 
Turning to dark colour: precocious or medium-precocious (first decade of August). 
Grape maturation: precocious (first and second decade of September).

Cultural attitudes and utilization

Vigour: between medium and moderate, with short-internoded shoots. 
Fertility and production: regular but contained (depending also on the precarious health of the vine); unnoticeable on “femminelle”. 
Plant-culture and pruning: generally counter-espalier with Guyot pruning, with only one capo fruiting 8-10 gems; it is also cultivated through high and more expanded culture methods, with falling vegetation (central curtain, Casarsa) and with a shorter pruning (rammed cord). 
Multiplication behaviour: good, but inferior comparing with other Piedmontese vines. 
Susceptibility to adversities and phytopathy: it presents a modest spring development of the buds, non rarely accompanied by lack phenomena; this is certainly due to viral infections, which this vine is very sensible to. These grapes are generally immune from mould and rot attacks, also for its precocious maturation. 
Oenological attitudes: Brachetto grapes are the base for special sweet and aromatic wines, sparkling or champagne-like wines, which are characterized by a rose note; also rather aromatic intense passito wines are obtained. 

Clones:

Brachetto      CVT

DOC Langa wines which are produced from this vine:

Acqui Brachetto wine

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