Braquet

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Braquet
Also called:	Brachetto
Notable regions:	Piedmont, Bellet AOC (Provence)
Notable wines:	Brachetto d'Acqui DOCG Piemonte Brachetto DOC

Braquet (French) or Brachetto (Italian) is a grape variety found in Piedmont (Italy) and in Provence (France) which is used to make both red and rosé wines. At Canelli, on the border between the hills of Asti and the Lange proper, the grape is known as Borgogna. There is also a Brachetto cultivated in Argentina.

In France, within the territorial limits of the city of Nice, Braquet is used to make the red or rosé Bellet AOC wine ‘Le Braquet’.

In Italy’s region of Piedmont the grape is somewhat more widespread: production mostly falling within an area of the provinces of Asti and Alessandria between the rivers Bormida and Belbo plus various parts of the province of Cuneo. The most notable wine^[1] here is the red Brachetto d'Acqui DOCG which is made in both still and spumante (fully sparkling) versions. Piemonte Brachetto DOC, also a red wine, is made with a minimum of 85% Brachetto; it is usually still, but may be frizzante (lightly sparkling). The grape is also used for up to 10% of the blend for the Ruché-based Ruché di Castagnole Monferrato DOC.

Related Piedmontese grapes include Brachettone, with larger bunches, grown in Roero; Brachetto Migliardi or Brachetto di Montabone, present in the area between Nizza Monferrato and Acqui Terme. An non-aromatic version of the variety is grown as Brachèt in the Canavese, while in the Val di Susa the grape variety Lambrusca di Alessandria is called Brachetto.