Brachetto d'Acqui (Italy)
Brachetto is a red Italian wine grape from Piemonte.
In Piemonte, the grape is vinified as semi sparkling red wine (Frizzante), much like Lambrusco, a sparkling wine (Spumante), a Rosé wine, and as a dessert wine (Passito).
This card describes the Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG Rosso (Sweet).
Typical Flavors
 Wild Strawberry |
 Pomegranate |
 Peach |
 Roses |
Strawberry flavors are typical for Brachetto.
Profile
Brachetto d’Acqui is Sweet, Fresh and Flavorful:
| SUGAR | Sweet | ||
| BODY | Light | ||
| FRUIT | Medium | ||
| ACIDITY | Medium | ||
| |||
Food Pairing
 Meditation Aperitif |
 Strawberries |
 Fruit |
 Dried Fruit |
 Biscuits |
 Fruit Cakes |
 Red Fruit Pie |
 Chocolate |
Brachetto d’Acqui can be served as a light apertif.
In Piemonte it is served with fruit and Dolci (the dessert).
Pairing Suggestions
Not too sweet desserts:
Strawberries !!!
Fresh Fruit. Dried Fruit.
Fruit Cake. Red Fruit Pie. Panettone.
Biscuits. Cantucci.
Other Excellent Pairing:
Chocolate. Spicy Asian Sweet and Sour.
Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG
Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG is produced around Acqui Terme in Piemonte.
Brachetto got the DOCG status in 1996 (DOC in 1969).
Rosso, Spumante, and Passito must contain a minimum of 100% Brachetto grapes
Rosso must have an alcohol level of 11.5%.
Spumante cannot exceed 2.5 atmospheres pressure.
Passito grapes must be dried to achieve a potential alcohol level of 15.5%
The Ideal Glass
The Bordeaux glass is perfect for a bodied red wine.
It is taller than other red wine glasses, and has a slimmer bowl.
The large size of the glass allows the bouquet to develop. It smooths out rough edges, plays down tannins, and allows the wines to achieve balance.
The slimmer bowl sends the wine directly to the back of the mouth for maximum taste.
Piemonte (Piedmont)
Piemonte has been an important wine province since Roman times. The area is influenced both culturally and climatically by the Alps in the north, and the Ligurian coast in the south.
Red Wines:
Barbaresco
Barbera
Barbera Superiore
Barolo
Brachetto
Dolcetto
Dolcetto Dogliani
Nebbiolo
Nizza
Gattinara
Ruchè
Terre Alfieri
Vespolina
White Wines:
Arneis
Cortese di Gavi
Favorita
Langhe Rossese
Roero Arneis
Terre Alfieri Arneis
Timorasso
Rosé Wines:
Sparkling:
Piemonte
Nebbiolo (the power of the Barolo and Barbaresco) is the most famous grape of Piemonte, followed by the red grapes Barbera and Dolcetto.
For whites, Cortese and Arneis are the most popular grapes.
For dessert, the off-dry, sparkling Moscato d'Asti is the queen.
The most important wine regions are:
- Asti (Barbera d'Asti)
- Langhe (Nebbiolo, Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera di Alba, Dolcetto, Roero)
- Monferrato (Barbera del Monferrat, Nizza, Cortese di Gavi)
- North (Gattinara, Ghemme)
Piemonte's DOCG regions:
- Alta Langa (Metodo Classico)
- Asti (100% Moscato)
- Barbaresco (100 %Nebbiolo)
- Barbera d'Asti (Min. 90% Barbera)
- Barbera del Monferrato Superiore (Min. 14 months storage)
- Barolo (100% Nebbiolo)
- Brachetto d'Acqui (100% Brachetto)
- Gavi (100% Cortese)
- Dogliani Superiore (100% Dolcetto)
- Ovada Superiore (100% Dolcetto)
- Diano d'Alba (100% Dolcetto)
- Erbaluce di Caluso (aka Caluso)
- Gattinara (Min 90% Nebbiolo)
- Ghemme (Min 85% Nebbiolo)
- Nizza (100% Barbera)
- Roero (100% Arneis)
- Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato (90% Ruchè)
- Terre Alfieri (Arneis and Nebbiolo))