The Carema DOC includes the vineyards of a single municipality, Carema, in the province of Turin, at the far north of Piedmont, where the Dora Baltea valley enters the Aosta Valley. Recognised by the decree of 9 July 1967, it is a tiny appellation: about 9 hectares, with an output of 425 hectolitres. The vineyards lie between 300 and 600 metres above sea level.
The rules
Carema is made from at least 85% Nebbiolo, with other non-aromatic red grapes for the rest. Minimum alcohol is 12%. The Rosso ages for at least 24 months, 12 of them in cask, and may not be released before 1 November of the second year after the harvest. The Riserva ages for at least 36 months, again with 12 in cask, and is released from 1 November of the third year.
A mountain Nebbiolo
Compared with the Nebbiolo of the Langhe, Carema is slimmer and more vertical: the colour is a light garnet, the aromas are of rose, raspberry, mountain herbs and spice, acidity is high and the tannin fine. With ageing it develops notes of undergrowth, tobacco and liquorice, and it can evolve in bottle for many years.
Carema's fame is also partly due to the presence of Olivetti in the area, which often handed out bottles of this wine as gifts to customers and suppliers, making it known in Italy and abroad.
At the table
It goes with mountain cooking: polenta with cheese, carbonade, game, mushrooms, and aged alpine cheeses such as toma and fontina. Carema borders the Canavese DOC, which also includes other Nebbiolo wines of the area; further east, in Alto Piemonte, lies Gattinara.
