27 - Northern Italy Flashcards by Emily Zhao

Where are the vineyards of Northern Italy located?

foothills of the Alps and on plain of River Po

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what is the climate of Northern Italy? What effect do Alps and river Po have on vineyards in terms of weather?

moderate with dry, short summers
Alps extend along length of north Italian border and shelter vineyards from rain.
River Po and glacial lakes provide moderating influence and areas near can have higher levels of rainfall so fungal disease can be a problem.

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What is a complex trellising system in which the vine canopy is trained high with fruit hanging down below canopy? What are its benefits?

pergola.
benefits: grapes protected from sunburn and allow air to circulate so rot risk is low.
used often for sparkling wine grapes (because high acidity and low sugar) and wines made from dried grapes due to low risk of rot

pergola not as common as higher density plantings using VSP

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What is Italy’s most northerly wine region?

Alto Adige

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What is the aspect and location of vineyards of Alto Adige?

centered around town of Bolzano in foothills of Alps.

Aspect is south east and south west facing (sides of River Adige)

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What is the climate of Alto Adige

like overall Northern Italy, Alto Adige moderate climate, short dry summers. has low rainfall during growing season.

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T/F: Alto Adige has a low diurnal range

False. Alto Adige has a high diurnal range which results in aromatic whites and elegant, light-bodied reds.

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What is the most notable style of white wine in Alto Adige? What are its key characteristics?

What are other important white grapes?

Pinot Grigio
Dry, light to medium body, high acidity
citrus and green fruit flavors

other grapes: Gewurtztraminer, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc

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What variety dominates red wine production in Alto Adige?

Schiava, Italian variety
produces light fruity wines, low to medium tannins
raspberries and plums

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What regional name are nearly all wines from Alto Adige labelled under?

Alto Adige DOC

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Where is Trentino located in relation to Alto Adige?

directly to the south

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How does climate in Trentino compare to Alto Adige

Like Alto Adige, dry summers and low rainfall. Slightly warmer climate because Trentino more southerly latitude and more of its vineyards have lower altitude. The mountains to the west protect it from Lake Garda’s cooling influences

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What are the main varieties of Trentino in Northern Italy?

Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio

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In Trentino, how do wines made valley floor differ from those made from grapes grown at higher altitudes?

Valley floor: medium bodied, medium acid, ripe stone fruit
higher altitudes: similar to Alto Adige whites (Dry, light to medium body, high acidity
citrus and green fruit flavors)

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What are the most common black varieties in Trentino in Northern Italy? Where are they grown, and what are their characteristics?

Merlot
Italy variety Teroldego: deep color, medium to high tannin, high acid, medium to full body. aromas of black fruit. normally oak matured.

both grown mainly on mid-slopes and valley floor

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How are most wines in Trentino labeled?

under regional name of Trentino DOC

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Where is the wine region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia located?

northern Italy’s eastern corner. its most northerly vineyards are in foothills of Alps

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what is the climate in Friuli-Venezia Giulia? How does the climate of overall region differ from vineyards in the south of the region?

moderate continental. It is cooled by cold air from Alps.

in the south of the region, vineyards are based on flat plain near Adriatic sea. Climate here is warm and maritime.

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What are most prevalent grape varieties in Friuli-Venezia Giulia?

Pinot Grigio and Merlot

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What are key characteristics of Pinot Grigio from Friuli-Venezia Giulia?

some of richest Pinot Grigio in Italy
medium to full bodied
peach and tropical fruit

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What are key characteristics of Merlot from Friuli-Venezia Giulia?

medium body
medium acid and medium tannin
ripe red fruit
hint of spice from oak

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What are key characteristics of Friulano from Friuli-Venezia Giulia?

Friulano, native white grape to Italy.
medium to high acid
medium body
pear, red apples, herbs

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In Friuli-Venezia Giulia: How are wines from the plain labelled?
How are wines from the hills labelled?
What are characteristics of each?

Plain: Friuli Grave DOC. White wines, simple and fruity
Hills: Collio DOC and Colli Orientali DOC. premium, concentrated white wines. Colli Orientali also noted for its reds.

True/False: Veneto is one of the smallest wine-producing Italian regions

False. It is one of the largest wine-producing regions

What are varieties Veneto is known for?

Soave and Valpolicella

What is the climate in Veneto?

warm, with moderate rainfall. Due to high altitude there is moderating cooling influence that causes The vineyards in the foothills to have a large diurnal temperature range. .sprays are needed to combat disease and rot because River Po gives moist air and fog.

True/False: flat fertile plain in Veneto provides fruit for cheap high volume brands that make wine from Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Merlot and Italian grapes like Corvina Garganega and Trebbiano?

true. high yields produce wines that are simple and fruity under label Veneto IGT

What is the soil of Soave in Northern Italy like?

limestone, clay, some volcanic rocks. These soils are naturally cool which slows down ripening

What is the main grape variety of Soave? What are the key characteristics?

Garganega. it is the main variety and is sometimes blended with small amounts of other grapes. medium to high acid medium body pears, red apple, stone fruit, white pepper no new oak. best examples develop almodns and honey tertiary

How are wines using grapes from the foothills of Soave labelled, compared to those made from grapes from entire region?

foothills only: Soave Classico DOC | entire region: Soave DOC

What is the region where Corvina is the main grape?

Valpolicella

what are Corvina's key characteristics?

thin skin moderate color low to medium tannin high acidity sometimes blended with local varieties to increase color and tannins. yields simple fruity lightly tannic and red cherry flavors

How are wines made in the foothills of Valpolicella called?

Valpolicella Classico DOC. wines made from grapes from entire region are labelled Valpolicella DOC

Where is the passito method commonly used?

Veneto in Northern Italy

True/False: passito is used to make wine sweet

False. Passito is used to increase structure and flavor concentration (and color, for reds)

What is the method of picking grapes early, drying them indoors to concentrate sugars and flavors?

passito

What are the two styles of passito wine in Valpolicella

``` Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG: dry or off-dry. full-body, high alcohol medium to high tannin red berry and spice flavor aged in large oak casks ``` Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG: made from very sweet grapes so that fermentation stops naturally. intense red fruit, high alcohol, full body, medium to high tannin.

What is the ripasso method? What are wines made using this method called and what are their key characteristics?

uses grape skins from Amarone della Valpolicella before fermentation finishes, Amarone drained off skins the skins are added to vat of Valpolicella that has finished fermenting the grape skins give more color, flavor and tannins to the wine they have been added to. Valpolicella Ripasso DOC key characeristiccs: medium to full body medium to high tannin stewed red cherries and plums

Where is Piemonte located?

Northern Italy, north-west corner of Italy

What is the climate of Piemonte?

moderate and continental long, cold winters protected by mountains in the north that protect from winds and rain. moderating influences from Po River in southern part f region, and Lake Maggiore in the north.

What are the main varieties for Piemonte?

black: Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto white: Cortese and Moscato

What are the most notable DOC and DOCG wines in Piemonte?

Barolo Barbaresco Asti and Alba Gavi

What is the only grape variety permitted in Barolo DOCG? What are its characteristics?

``` Nebbiolo black grape high acid high tannin little color perfumed aromas of sour cherries, herbs, dried flowers ``` the best nebbiolo is full bodied,high acid and high tannin, can develop in bottle

What is the key topographical factor of Barolo that influences its wine's style?

very steep, south-facing slopes. Due to altitude, grapes ripen slowly and develop perfumed aromas.

True/False: the wines in Barolo are sourced from a single village

False. Wines are often made from grapes sourced from different villages. The name of the village may appear on label.

how many years does Barolo DOCG need to be aged prior to release?

3 years, at least 18 of which has to be in oak.

True/False: Barolo is matured exclusively in larger old oak casks

false. some barolo is matured in new oak or smaller barrels too.

What tertiary aromas does Barolo develop? Does all Barolo benefit from bottle ageing?

truffles, tar, and leather. all barolo benefits from further bottle ageing.

Besides Barolo, what other wine region is known for growing Nebbiolo? What is the main difference in topography from Barolo? How does this impact the styles?

Barbaresco Barbaresco has lower altitude than Barolo. It has south-facing slopes. The lower altitude means higher temperatures and therefore Nebbiolo ripens earlier. It is fruitier and less perfumed. It has similar tannin and acidity to Barolo and can also age in bottle.

Does Barbaresco need to be aged before release?

Yes. At least 2 years before release, with 9 months in oak.

What are the 3 main grapes planted in the wider area around Asti and Alba?

Barbera Dolcetto Nebbiolo

What are the key characteristics of Barbera d'Alba DOC and Barbera d'Asti DOCG? What are the two styles these wines are made in? Which of these two is higher quality?

late ripening grape. medium to deep color. low to medium tannin, high acid. red cherries, plums, black pepper styles: youthful fruity with no oak, and barrel-aged with spicy flavors Barbera d'Asti is regarded as higher quality than Barbera d'Alba. can be drunk young but best examples capable of age

True/False: Dolcetto is later ripening than Nebbiolo and Barbera. Therefore it is often planted in hotter sites.

false. Dolcetto is an early ripening variety and is planted in cooler sites.

What are the key characteristics of Dolcetta d'Alba DOC

Dolcetto d'Alba DOC tends to produce many of finest dolcetto. deep sometimes purple color medim to high tannin medium acid black plums, red cherries, dried herbs can be drunk young but best examples capable of age

What wine region is located in south-eastern Piemonte and is known for white grape Cortese with high acidity and floral character?

Gavi

What are the wines of Gavi made from Cortese labelled as? Key characteristics?

``` Gavi DOCG or Cortese di Gavi DOCG pale light-bodied high acidity and aromatic citrus, green apple, pear ``` protective winemaking is norm to preserve aromas (cool fermetnation, stainless steel) but sometimes lees stirring or old oak used mostly drunk young, but best can age in bottle