16. North-East Italy Flashcards
What are the three main white varieties of Trentino?
1) Pinot Grigio
2) Chardonnay
3) Müller-Thurgau
Noth-East Italy can be separated into which three regions?
1) Trentino Alto-Adige
2) Friuli
3) Veneto
What are the three main black varieties of Trentino?
1) Teroldego
2) Merlot
3) Marzemino
The bulk of wine in Trentino (80%) and Alto-Adige (70%) is made by what type of producer?
Co-operatives
What is the climate of Trentino?
Trentino has a moderate, continental climate with cooling influences
Daytime summer temperatures can be high in Trentino. Why? (3)
1) The mountains providing protection from cold north winds
2) The moderating presence of Lake Garda to the south
3) Heat building up on the valley floor during the growing season
75% of Trentino’s plantings are red or white? What two varieties represent half of all plantings?
1) White
2) Pinot Grigio
3) Chardonnay
What are Trentino’s red/white yield limits?
1) 90hL/ha - red
2) 100hL/ha - white
Why are there are large day/night temperature differences in Trentino?
Due to cold air descending
from the mountains at night.
When do Teroldego, Marzemino and Lagrein ripen?
Mid- to late-ripening
The best quality Teroldego wines come from which appellation?
Teroldego Rotaliano DOC on sandy and gravelly soils in the far north of Trentino.
Outside the geographical area of Teroldego Rotaliano DOC Teroldego must be labelled as what?
Vini delle Dolomiti IGT
What two things is Marzemino susceptible to?
1) Botrytis
2) Powdery mildew
The best, ripest Marzemino wines come from where?
The Ziresi subzone of the Trentino DOC due to full sun exposure and rich calcareous/clay and basalt soils.
How is bitterness and harshness on the finish of Lagrein being addressed with two winemaking options?
1) Shorter maceration times
2) Oak ageing
Lagrein is susceptible to what?
Poor fruit set
Moscato Rosa makes what style of wine?
Rose-scented sweet wines.
What is Moscato Rosa susceptible to? (2)
1) Poor fruit set
2) Botrytis
How are Moscato Rosa wines made? (2)
1) Appassimento
2) Late harvest fruit.
What is the semi-dried fruit version of Nosiola called?
Vino Santo
What is Nosiola susceptible to? (3)
1) Spring frosts
2) Powdery mildew
3) Sour rot
What is the distinctive flavour of Nosiola?
Hazelnut
How are the majority of Trentino’s red wines made? (3)
1) 5–7 days fermentation
2) Moderate temperatures (17– 20°C)
3) Briefly aged in stainless steel or old, neutral wooden casks
Trentino’s more premium reds are made how? (3)
1) Aperiod of maceration after alcoholic fermentation
(additional 7–14 days)
2) Warm fermentation temperatures (26–32°C)
3) Typically aged in small oak barrels with a small proportion of new oak
The majority of Trentino-Alto Adige’s white wines are made how? (5)
1) Soft pressing
2) Fermenting in stainless steel vessels
3) Low temperatures (12–16°C)
4) May be briefly aged on the lees
5) Released promptly for their fruitiness.
Trentino DOC Bianco must be a minimum percent of what varieties?
Minimum 80 per cent Chardonnay and/or Pinot Bianco
What is Trentino DOC Rosso?
Single variety or blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Carmenère and Merlot
Single variety wines in Trentino and Alto-Adige must be a minimum of what per cent of the named variety?
85%
What has encouraged some of the most high quality growers not to use Trentino DOC?
It is questionable if Trentino DOC has promoted uniformly high quality as its yield allowances are high
What is the main business type in Trentino?
Co-ops (70%)
Describe the climate and growing environment of Alto-Adige
Mild Alpine continental climate. It is protected from cold winds by the
mountains to the north
At what altitude are vines planted in Alto-Adige?
300–700m
What four key weather conditions create very good growing conditions in Alto-Adige?
1) Warm air currents in the valleys
2) Nearly 300 days of sunshine a year
3) Large day/night temperature
differential
4) Even spread of rainfall
What training systems are used in Trentino and Alto-Adige?
Traditional pergola or Guyot for more modern, premium wines
What are three soil types found in Alto-Adige?
1) Volcanic porphyry
2) Quartz and mica rock
3) Dolomitic limestone
What are the two largest growing zones in Alto-Adige?
1) Bassa Atesina
2) Oltradige
All the main varieties are grown in Bassa Atesina except which?
Schiava
Which is warmer between Bassa Atesina and Oltradige
Bassa Atesina
What are the three key black varieties of Alto-Adige?
1) Schiava
2) Lagrein
3) Pinot Noir
What are the five key white varieties of Alto-Adige?
1) Pinot Grigio
2) Gewurztraminer
3) Pinot Blanc
4) Chardonnay
5) Sauvignon Blanc
What is Schiava typically grown on pergolas?
To cope with its natural vigour and the vines produce high yields
In which DOC might Schiava be blended with 15% Lagrein and why?
1) Santa Magdalena DOC
2) To intensify the colour
Explain the regulations of Alto-Adige Bianco
Minimum 75 per cent Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco or Pinot Grigio – two of these varieties must be present but no single variety can exceed 70 per cent of the whole blend
Where and in which two outlet types are most Trentino-Alto Adige wines sold?
1) Restaurants
2) Specialty wine stores
3) Domestically (within the province)
What is the climate of Friuli?
Warm maritime climate where warm air from the Adriatic Sea meets cooler influences from the Alps
Why is organic viticulture problematic in Friuli?
Due to its high rainfall (1,200mm) and humidity
What are two key DOCs on the plains of Friuli?
1) Grave del Friuli DOC
2) Friuli Isonzo DOC
What are two higher quality hillside DOCs of Friuli?
1) Collio DOC
2) Collio Orientali del Friuli DOC
What is ponca and where is it found?
1) Compacted calcareous marl with excellent drainage
2) The hillside DOCs of Friuli
Name Friuli’s four local white varieties
1) Ribolla Gialla
2) Malvasia di Istria
3) Verduzzo
4) Picolit
Name Friuli’s four local black varieties
1) Refosco
2) Schiopettino
3) Pignolo
4) Tazzalenghe
What is the most planted variety in Friuli?
Pinot Grigio
What are the two most planted black varieties in Friuli? Hint: international
1) Merlot
2) Cabernet Franc
What are Friuli’s three speciality varieties? 2 white1 Red
1) Friulano
2) Refosco
3) Ribolla Gilla
What is the most significant difference between Collio DOC and Friuli Collio Orientali DOC in terms of plantings?
A higher percentage of black varieties are planted in FCO DOC
What makes Friulano a popular variety in Friuli?
It has good disease resistance, important in a region with high rainfall
Why is Ribolla Gialla only planted in Collio and Colli Orientali?
It needs hillside sites to prevent it growing too vigorously
What are the main characteristics of Ribolla Gialla wines?
The wines have citrus and pepper notes and high acidity.
Where is Refosco best planted?
When grown on hillside sites with lower fertility
When does Refosco ripen?
Late
What is Refosco susceptible to?
Botrytis
What style of white wine is most commonly associated with Friuli?
Clean, mainly unoaked, white wines
Name a prominent producer of orange wine in Friuli
Joško Gravner
Orange wine producers in Friuli share a commitment to what seven practices?
1) Organic methods in the vineyard
2) The use of local varieties (especially Ribolla Gialla)
3) Long maceration on the skins
4) Fermentation with ambient yeasts with no temperature control
5) Long maturation in large format oak or other wood
6) No fining or filtration
7) Low or no added SO2.
What are the two sweet wine DOCGs of Friuli?
1) Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit DOCG
2) Ramandalo DOCG
How are Friuli’s sweet wines made?
Using air-dried grapes
What is the variety used in the production of Ramandalo?
Verduzzo
What is the climate of Veneto?
Warm and moderately continental, with moderate rainfall
Veneto’s cooling influences may come from which three factors
1) Altitude
2) Exposing the vineyards in the foothills to a large diurnal temperature range
3) Breezes from Lake Garda that cool the vineyards in the west of
the region.
What contributes to the varied quality of Soave and Valpolicella?
Vineyards are planted both on the plains and into the hillside areas
What disease has become a threat in Veneto and why?
1) Esca
2) Moist air and fog from the River Adige and the broad Po River valley
What are the two most grown white varieties (excluding Glera) in Veneto?
1) Garganega
2) Pinot Grigio
What are the two most grown black varieties in Veneto?
1) Merlot
2) Corvina
What are the two distinct viticultural areas of Soave?
1) Foothills to the north
2) Flat plain in the south, near the River Adige
What are the soils of Soave and Valpolicella’s hillside sites?
Naturally cool limestone and clay and/or volcanic rocks
When does Garganega ripen?
Late
What three things is Garganega sensitive to?
1) Winter cold
2) Mildew
3) Botrytis
Can Garganega age?
Yes - developing almond and honey
Soave’s quality producers will typically employ what three winemaking techniques?
1) Short cold maceration period
2) Cool fermentation at 16–18°C
3) A few months of ageing on the lees before bottling
Soave DOC must be a minimum what per cent Garganega?
70%
Besides Garganega, what two other varieties are permitted in Soave DOC/Soave Classico DOC/Soave Superiore DOCG
1) Trebbiano di Soave aka Verdicchio
2) Chardonnay
What are the four Soave appellations and their yields?
1) Soave DOC - 105
2) Soave Classico DOC - 98
3) Soave Superiore DOCG - 70
4) Recioto di Soave DOCG - 36
When is Soave Superiore DOCG permitted to be released?
On 1 September of the year after harvest
When is Soave Classico DOCG permitted to be released?
1 February of the
year after harvest
What is Recioto di Soave DOCG? (3)
1) Grapes from a delimited hilly zone
2) Semi-dried grapes
3) Rich, floral, honeyed, sweet wines with high balancing acidity
How has the Soave Consorzio attempted to re-position Soave as a higher quality wine?
Classification of single vineyards across Soave as a whole following a
detailed study of soils, aspect and elevations
The foothills in the north of the
Valpolicella have what soils and what impact does this have?
1) Limestone and clay or volcanic soils
2) Cooler than those in the south, which slows down ripening
Is most Soave sold domestically or exported?
Exported to UK and Germany (85%)
The southern sites of Valpolicella have what soils and what impact does this have?
1) Gravel and sand, which are warmer.
2) The grapes are fruitier with less acidity and lower concentration
What are the leading four varieties in Valpolicella?
1) Corvina Veronese
2) Corvinone
3) Rondinella
4) Molinara
Why is Corvina well suited to pergola training? (2)
1) Vigorous
2) The shade prevents sunburn to which the variety is prone
When does Corvina ripen?
Mid to late
What three things is Corvina susceptible to?
1) Downy mildew
2) Botrytis
3) Esca
Why is Corvina suitable for appassimento?
Its thick skins
What is Corvinone prone to?
Downy mildew
What is the principal problem in growing Corvinone?
The berries do not ripen uniformly and therefore the fruit must be picked over bunch by bunch at harvest
Describe what the main four varieties of Valpolicella contribute to a blend
Corvina - violet, plum
Corvinone - tannin
Rondinella - cherry
Molinara - acid and red fruit
Why is Rondinella suitable for Recioto?
It accumulates sugar quickly
Why is Rondinella suitable for drying?
It is disease resistant
Why is Molinara being grown less?
Due to the pale colour of the wines, with producers (and the market) preferring deeper coloured wines.
Prior to fermentation, what happens to the fruit destined for appassimento?
The grapes are picked stored for 3–4 months in well-aerated drying lofts.
Why might fruit destined for appassimento be picked early? (2)
1) To maintain acidity
2) To ensure perfect bunches.
Approximately how much of their weight do grapes lose when undergoing drying for passito?
1/3
What contributes to a softer, fuller
mouth-feel in passito wines?
More glycerol is produced
Corvina and/or Corvinone must be what per cent of a blend?
45-95%
What are the four key DOCs of Valpolicella?
1) Valpolicella DOC
2) Valpolicella Classico DOC
3) Valpolicella Valpantena DOC
4) Valpolicella Ripasso DOC
What are the two key DOCGs of Valpolicella?
1) Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG
2) Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG
Name two significant producers of Valpolicella whose wines are generally made with a proportion of semi-dried grapes even at the base level
1) Quintarelli
2) Romano dal Forno
What are three requirements of Valpolicella Superiore?
1) Marginally higher minimum alcohol level
2) Often aged in large oak vessels for one year
3) Must be aged for one year after 1 January of the year after the harvest.
Recioto & Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG fruit must be dried for how long?
Off the vines for 100–120 days
What is the final yield for Amarone and Recioto?
48hl/ha after drying and pressing the dried grapes
What is the minimum ABV and general r/s of Recioto?
1) 12%
2) 50g/L
What is the minimum ABV and maximum r/s of Amarone?
1) 14%
2) 9g/L
How long must Amarone be matured in barrel?
A minimum of two years in large casks or barriques
How long must Amarone Riserva be matured in barrel?
4 years
Valpolicella Ripasso DOC must have a minimum what per cent ABV?
12.5
Besides intense fruit and spice, what two other characters might premium Amarone have depending on a winemaking choice?
Nutty, VA if aged oxidatively/not topped up
Explain the ripasso method (4 steps)
1) Unpressed grape skins with some residual sugar are taken from the end of the fermentation phase of Amarone or Recioto.
2) Newly made Valpolicella wine, having been pressed off its own skins, is then added to these grape skins for a second maceration.
3) Yeasts, which are also transferred in this process, ferment the remaining sugar, during which time the grape skins give more colour, flavour and tannins to
the wine.
4) 15 per cent of Amarone wine may also be added
What are the four other key appellations of Veneto?
1) Bardolino DOC
2) Bardolino Superiore DOCG
3) Bianco di Custoza DOC
4) Lugana DOC
The grapes for Pinot Grigio delle Venezie DOC can come from a large region that includes the whole of Italy’s north-east except for which two appellations?
1) Alto Adige
2) Lugana
What is the main topographical feature of Bardolino?
Lake Garda
Why might Merlot might be used in Bardolino blends?
To boost the red fruit character and to reach the minimum alcohol level
What style of wine from Valpolicella has seen significant growth?
Amarone
Where is Bianco di Custoza DOC situated?
Between Verona and Lake Garda
What four varieties are found in Bianco di Custoza DOC?
Trebbiano Toscano, Garganega,
Friulano and optionally Cortese
Where is Lugana DOC?
South of Lake Garda
What is the principal variety grown in Lugana DOC?
Turbiana (Verdicchio)
