📜 Ghemme

Ghemme is an Italian protected designation of origin with DOCG status (controlled and guaranteed designation of origin) for red wine from the province of Novara in Piedmont. It has been in the EU register since 18 September 1973.

The wine is made from Nebbiolo (also known as Spanna), Uva rara and Vespolina (Ughetta). The single document names these three varieties and gives no percentages.

The grape production area lies in the province of Novara and straddles the territory of two communes, Ghemme and Romagnano Sesia. The specification links the wine to hilly moraine ridges left by the Monte Rosa glaciers, with clay surface soils rich in dissolved mineral salts.

Two types are described. Ghemme is ruby red, sometimes with garnet hints, dry, with a distinctive, fine and complex aroma and a pleasantly bitter aftertaste. Ghemme Riserva is ruby red tending to garnet, dry and velvety. Both may carry the Vigna indication.

Ghemme must have a minimum total alcoholic strength of 12.00% vol and a minimum sugar-free extract of 23 g/l. Ghemme Riserva requires 12.50% vol and 24.0 g/l. Minimum total acidity is 4.5 g/l as tartaric acid.

The maximum yield is 56 hectolitres per hectare for both types. Wines must be bottled in dark Bordeaux- or Burgundy-shaped glass bottles, with capacities from 0.375 to 18 litres, excluding 2-litre bottles; crown caps, screw caps and glass stoppers are not allowed.