16 / 126
Piemonte
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the isolated region’s dance with invasion has been her
most defining characteristic. Having been controlled by the Dukes of Savoy, Austria, Germany, the
Holy Roman Empire, and France, it would be an understatement to say that Piedmont has had many
different rulers. Each culture left an indelible mark on the region’s culture as well as its winemaking
practices. This occurred to such an extent that, thanks to its time under the control of Napoleonic
France, vineyards have multiple owners, each of whom own only 2.5 acres on average.
It cannot be overstated that the Piedmontese people take their food and wine seriously. An adequate
description would be that theirs is a culture based upon the art of haut-cuisine. Cafés and coffee
shops serve as morning meeting-places, pre-lunch or pre-dinner aperitifs are a cultural requisite (after
all, Vermouth originated in the Piedmont), and nearly all activity in the region stops for daily meals.
Similar to Spain’s siesta culture, shops and businesses typically close from 12:30 pm until 3:00 pm for
lunch. Culturally, lunch is the traditional main meal of the day and Sunday lunch a time for families to
gather and eat together.
8
WINES OF NORTHERN ITALY