15 - Intro to Italy Flashcards

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1
Q

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

A
  • 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
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2
Q

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

A
  • 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
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3
Q

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

A

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.
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4
Q

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

A
  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
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5
Q

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

A

~48mn hL - second largest after France

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6
Q

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

A

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

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7
Q

Outline trends in domestic consumption and exports.

A

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

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