Piemont

DOC for dry red wine in the Piemonte wine-growing region in Italy. The zone includes the town of Carema in the mountains, from which it derives its name, in the extreme north of the province of Torino. The vineyards are so steep they have to be terraced, the vineyard area totals around 40 hectares, with vineyards located above the town at an altitude of 350 to 700 metres above sea level, both harvesting the grapes and carrying them to the cellars is extremely hard work, as the vineyards are only accessible by ladder. The wine is one of the best in Piemonte, it is made from Chiavennasca = Nebbiolo (85-100%), and possibly from other permitted red varieties. If matured for at least four years (of which 30 months in oak barrels and one year in the bottle) it may be called Riserva.