Ovada

Characteristic

Terroir

The Ovada area is located on the border between Piedmont and Liguria. A region renowned for its winemaking tradition, it boasts a wealth of diversity in terms of both crops and biodiversity, with woodlands, vineyards, and pastures. Nestled among medieval villages and ancient castles, it is blessed by the nearby sea breezes that characterize and enhance the unique flavors of its wines. Far removed from intensive farming, small and medium-sized wineries stand out, attentive to the terroir and responsible viticulture. The finest crus are destined for Dolcetto wine. Geologically, the Ovada DOCG terroir features diverse soil compositions that contribute to the unique characteristics of the wine and the landscape. The clayey soil of the vineyards extending toward the plains gives the wine structure and color, while the white, calcareous soil of the vineyards toward the Apennines provides the mineral component and favors the production of grapes with a high acidity level.
Some grape varieties have a combination of calcareous and clayey soil, making cultivation particularly complex.

Clime

The climate of the Ovada area is temperate with fairly marked continental characteristics. Winters feature heavy snowfall, with minimum temperatures often dropping below 0°C. The proximity to the Ligurian Sea ensures abundant precipitation, especially in the autumn months. Spring is breezy and moderately rainy.
Unlike the rest of Piedmont, summer in the Ovada area is the driest season thanks to the proximity of the Ligurian Sea, from which, for a few days each year, humid air—the Marin—blows, sometimes bringing a salty smell to these areas and mild temperatures even in winter. In autumn, the weather is often gray and rainy, and fog occasionally appears.

Grapes

The most important grape is Dolcetto that is used to produce Ovada DOCG. But there are also some international grapes as Chardonnay.