Alta Langa: Italy's Sparkling Wine from Piedmont
Paired with La Tur and Aperitivo Hour
Everyone knows Prosecco but head into the higher elevations of Piedmont, Italy and you find something special: Alta Langa.
Made in the traditional method similar to Champagne, this wine sparkles with fine bubbles, structure, and a light touch of brioche flavors from long aging.
What Makes Alta Langa Unique
Alta Langa is a DOCG, which is the highest classification tier in Italy. The rules for making it are strict, which keeps the quality high.
It’s made exclusively from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Vineyards have to be at higher elevations. This keeps the temperatures cooler, preserving the acidity you need for good sparkling wine.
The wine has to age on the lees (the spent yeast) for at least 30 months.
Typical tasting notes are citrus, green apple, pear, and toast.
Every bottle has to be vintage dated.
Most producers bottle it as Brut or Pas Dosé (no sugar added), so you can expect very dry, lean, and mineral-driven wines.
Suggested food pairings
Because of its high acidity and clean finish, Alta Langa would pair well with:
Oysters or a full raw bar
Crudo and sushi
Fritto misto or any fried seafood
Soft, creamy cheeses, such as La Tur, the soft-ripened cheese also from Alta Langa
Classic Piedmont dishes such as Vitello Tonnato
Situational Pairing: Aperitivo Hour!
Aperitivo hour is the early evening ritual found throughout Italy where friends gather for a light drink and small bites before dinner. It is not meant to be a full meal. Instead it sets the tone for the night with a spritz, a glass of sparkling wine, or a low-alcohol cocktail paired with olives, chips, or a simple cheese and salumi plate.
Aperitivo is about slowing down, sharing something easy and salty, and giving your palate a gentle warm up before the main meal.
Aperitivo hour is Italy’s early evening ritual that bridges the time between the end of the workday and dinner between 5-7pm.
The purpose is to gently stimulate the appetite, not replace dinner.
Drinks are typically light and low in alcohol, such as a spritz, vermouth on the rocks, a glass of Prosecco or Alta Langa, or a classic cocktail like the Americano.
Small bites are served to complement the drink. Common options include olives, chips, focaccia, small cheeses, salumi, or simple crostini.
Piedmont has a strong connection to aperitivo culture because Turin was an early center of vermouth production.
Northern Italian cities like Milan, Turin, Verona, and Venice have the most robust aperitivo traditions, but it is found across the entire country.
The Last Drop
Alta Langa is one of Italy’s finest sparkling wines. Since they don’t make much of it, they don’t export much of it either to the US. Find a bottle if you can, or head for aperitivo hour in Piedmont!
To learn more about the wines of Italy, check out these posts from the Italina Food, Wine & Travel #italianfwt writers:
Deanna of Wineivore talks about Alta Langa: Italy’s Sparkling Wine from Piedmont
Jennifer of Vino Travels shares A Classic Tuscan Pairing: Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico Riserva with Ribollita
Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm asks A Favorite Italian Wine? How do I begin to choose?
Linda My Full Wine Glass suggests we Follow the orange thread: Biodynamic Pecorino from Abruzzo
Camilla of Culinary Cam writes about Two of My Favorite Things: Cucina Povera and a Bottle with My Name on It