📜 Gabiano

Gabiano is a protected designation of origin (PDO) red wine from the province of Alessandria in Piedmont, Italy, with the traditional mention DOC. The EU register lists it as registered on 15 November 1996. The specification covers Gabiano and Gabiano Riserva.

The main grape varieties listed are Barbera, Freisa and Grignolino. The single document describes the colour as ranging from intense ruby red to garnet red with ageing. The aroma is vinous and characteristic, and the taste is dry and harmonious, with the right body.

The minimum total alcoholic strength is 12.00% vol, and 12.50% vol for Riserva. The minimum non-reducing extract is 22.00 g/l, and the minimum total acidity is 5.0 g/l expressed as tartaric acid.

The maximum yield is 8,000 kg of grapes per hectare for both Gabiano and Gabiano Riserva.

The demarcated area is the hilly part of the communes of Moncestino and Gabiano. The specification places it in the northernmost part of the province of Alessandria, on the last series of hills of Monferrato that descend towards the river Po.

For the link with the area, the specification describes a temperate-warm climate with low average rainfall, and shallow calcareous soils. It says these characteristics give a wine that takes from Barbera its characteristic sugar, together with the liveliness of Grignolino and Freisa. It adds that the wine is produced in limited quantities because the production area is very small.