The Canavese DOC covers the hilly Canavese area north of Turin, and also extends to parts of the provinces of Biella and Vercelli, in Piedmont. The vineyards lie between 200 and 600 metres above sea level. The rules were adopted by the decree of 12 September 1996; today the appellation has about 64 hectares and an output of 3,350 hectolitres.
A broad appellation
It is an appellation with broad rules, covering every colour: they provide for whites, rosés, reds, a Novello, a Riserva and two sparkling wines. Minimum alcohol is 10% and there are no minimum ageing periods.
The styles
The Bianco and the Spumante are made from Erbaluce alone, the typical white grape of the Canavese. The Rosso, the Rosato and the Spumante Rosato require at least 60% of local grapes, alone or together: Barbera, Bonarda, Freisa, Nebbiolo, Neretto di Bairo and Uva Rara, here called Bonarda di Cavaglià. There are also two varietal reds, Barbera and Nebbiolo, with at least 85% of the grape.
Erbaluce gives fresh whites, with aromas of white flowers, apple and citrus and high acidity, which also makes it suitable for sparkling wine. The reds combine the structure of Nebbiolo, the acidity of Barbera and the fruit of the local varieties: medium-bodied wines with a scent of cherry and small berries.
At the table
The Bianco and the Spumante go with starters, lake fish and risottos; the reds with cured meats, carne cruda all'albese, boiled meats and the cheeses of the valleys. On the same hills, on the border with the Aosta Valley, lies the Carema DOC, with its mountain Nebbiolo; further east, in the Biella area, the Bramaterra DOC.
