15 - Intro to Italy

Question 1

Briefly outline important trends in Italian wine production since the 1960s

Answer 1

• Improvement in quality
• Increased value of exports
• Use of SST and temp control in Friuli in 1960s
• BDX blends in Tuscany in 1970s
• Emphasis on local grapes recently
• Commercial success of Prosecco recently

Question 2

How has vineyard management and winemaking changed since the 1950s (4)

Answer 2

• Training systems: widespread Pergola and bush vines replaced by trellising (although still practiced in some regions)
• Monoculture: planting vines alongside olive trees, veg and grainless common
• Adoption of SST and temp control for whites (Germany influence)
• Use of small, new oak in place of large Savonian oak –> reversal towards large, old oak and concrete

Question 3

Outline Italy’s system of wine regulation / PDOs including defined terms.

Answer 3

No GI - Vino

PGI - Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT)

• Introduced in 92 with large geographic areas and wider choice of variety and style, higher yields
• Incorporated as an EU PGI in 2008

PDO - Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC)

• Introduced in 67
• Similar to French AOC and incorporated into EU as a PDO in 2008

PDO - Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG)

• Used from 1980s onwards
• Stricter controls on yields, wine must pass tasting panel

Defined terms:

• Classico – Wines made exclusively from grapes grown within a defined historical area of a DOC or DOCG e.g. Chianti
• Superiore – Wines with a higher minimum alcohol level, typically an additional 0.5% abv
• Riserva – Wine with at least 2 years for red wines, 1 year for white wines. Some individual DOC/DOCG specify that this ageing or part of it must be in oak.

Question 4

Give two examples of HQ wines that didn’t qualify for DOC status

Answer 4

1. Super Tuscans e.g. Sassicaia produced an area not covered by DOC - Bolgheri DOC later introduced
2. Wine not following DOC rules e.g. Montevertine estate using 100% Sangiovese so didn’t qualify as Chianti Classico - now uses an IGT

Question 5

How much wine does Italy produce? What proportion is Vin, IGT, DOC/DOCG?

Answer 5

~48mn hL - second largest after France

Question 6

What is the average vineyard holding in Italy? What is Italy’s largest wine-producing company?

Answer 6

Small <2ha –> growers usually sell to co-ops and merchants

Caviro - giant co-op that operates across several regions and processes >10% of Italian grapes

Question 7

Outline trends in domestic consumption and exports.

Answer 7

Domestic consumption in long-term decline - down 1/3 in 100 years

40% of wine exported - 50/50 still/sparkling by volume, still accounts for more value

Most important markets are US, Germany then UK, Canada, Switzerland