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WSET Level 3 Award in Wines > 27. Northern Italy > Flashcards

27. Northern Italy Flashcards

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1
Q

Describe the climate and geography of Northern Italy. What offers protection?

A
  • Moderate
  • Dry, short summers
  • Foothills of the Alps, plains of the River Po
  • Alps form barrier to protect from rain
  • Local river (Po) and glacial lakes (Lake Garda) provide a moderating influence
  • Closer to sea: higher rainfall, more fungal diseases
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2
Q

What is pergola? Where is this method still used? What method is more common now?

A

Traditional, complex trellising system (for high yield, low density vineyards) where the vine canopy is trained high with the fruit hanging down below a horizontal canopy of leaves

  • Protects grapes from sunburn
  • Allows air to circulate (decrease risk of rot)

Still used when high acidity, low sugar levels are required (e.g. sparkling wine grapes) OR when wines are to be made from dried grapes

More common: higher density plantings using VSP training

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3
Q

What is Italy’s most northerly wine regions? Where are the vineyards located here? Describe the climate.

A

Alto Adige

  • Southeast and southwest facing valley sides of the River Adige
  • moderate climate with short, dry summers
  • large diurnal range
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4
Q

Where are the vineyards located in Alto Adige? Describe the climate. What types of wines thrive here?

A
  • Southeast and southwest facing valley sides of the River Adige
  • Moderate climate w/ short, dry summers
  • Low rainfall during growing season
  • Large diurnal range due to altitude
  • Wines: aromatic whites, light-bodied reds
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5
Q

What is the most notable white wine of Alto Adige? Describe this wine style.

A
  • Pinot Grigio
  • Dry
  • Light-to-medium body
  • High acid
  • Citrus, green fruit
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6
Q

What are other common white and red grapes of Alto Adige?

A

White:

  • Gewurztraminer
  • Chardonnay
  • Pinot Blanc

Red:
-Schiava (light fruity wines, low to medium tannins, raspberries & plums)

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7
Q

What are almost all wines of Alto Adige labels?

A

Alto Adige DOC

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8
Q

Where is Trentino located? How does the climate and vineyard location differ from Alto Adige?

A

Directly to the south of Alto Adige

  • Climate: similar but warmer than AA
  • Vineyards: planted on valley floor and valley slopes, lower overall altitudes
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9
Q

What are the main white varieties of Trentino? How do the styles of wines differ when the grapes are planted on the valley floor vs. at higher altitudes?

A

Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio

  • Valley floor wines: medium body, medium acidity, rope stone fruit
  • Altitude wines: more like Alto Adige
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10
Q

What are the main black varieties of Trentino? Where are these grapes typically grown

A

Merlot and Teroldego

-mid-slopes, valley floor

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11
Q

Describe Teroldego wines.

A
  • Deep color
  • Medium to high tannins
  • High acidity
  • Medium to full body
  • Black fruit
  • Best are matured in oak
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12
Q

What are most Trentino wines labelled?

A

Trentino DOC

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13
Q

Which region is located in Italy’s most northeastern corner?

A

Friuli-Venezia Giulia

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14
Q

Describe the climate and vineyards of Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

A
  • Moderate, continental climate
  • Cooled by cold air from mountains
  • Foothills of the Alps or flatter plain near the Adriatic sea (warm, maritime climate)
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15
Q

What is the top white grape in Friuli-Venezia Giulia? Describe the style.

A

Pinot Grigio

  • Richest PG in Italy
  • Medium-to-full body
  • juicy peach, tropical fruit
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16
Q

What is the top black grape in Friuli-Venezia Giulia? Describe the style.

A

Merlot

  • Medium body
  • Medium acid
  • Medium tannins
  • Ripe red fruit
  • Hint of spice from oak
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17
Q

What native white grape is commonly grown in Friuli-Venezia Giulia? Describe the style.

A

Friulano

  • Medium to high acid
  • Medium body
  • Pear, red apples, herbs
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18
Q

What are wines from the plain in Friuli-Venezia Giulia labelled? Describe these wines.

A

Friuli Grave DOC

-white, simply, fruity

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19
Q

What are the common regions of wines from the hills of Friuli-Venezia Giulia? Describe the style.

A

Collio DOC, Colli Orienti DOC

  • Premium, concentrated whites
  • Colli Orienti: some reds
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20
Q

Describe the climate and geography of Veneto. What problems do the flat plains see?

A

Climate: warm, moderating rainfall, cooling influences from altitude
Geography: foothills of Alps, plains of Po
-Issues in plains: moist air and fog rom River Po, increasing number of sprays needed to combat disease and rot

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21
Q

What grape varieties (international and local) are common in the flat, fertile plains of the Veneto? Describe the wines. What are they typically labelled?

A 
Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Merlot
Corvina, Garganega, Trebbiano
-inexpensive, high volume
-high yields
-simply, fruity

Veneto IGT

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22
Q

What sparkling wine DOC is part of Veneto?

A

Prosecco

23
Q

Where is Soave located?

A

Veneto

-east of Verona

24
Q

What are the two distinct parts of Soave? Describe the soils and geography and how they affect the wines.

A
  1. Foothills to the north
    - limestone, clay, volcanic rock soils
    - naturally cool
    - high altitude
    - slow ripening
    - full flavor, high acidity grapes
    - can age
  2. Flatter plains to the south
    - sandy, alluvial soils
    - aid ripening
    - fruitier wines, medium acidity
    - drink young
25
Q

What is the main grape variety of Soave? Can other varieties be added to the blend? Describe the wines. How are these wines labelled?

A

Garganega

  • Yes
  • medium to high acid
  • medium body
  • pear, red apple. stone fruit, white pepper
  • best can age: almonds, honey

Labelling

  • Soave DOC for wines made from grapes from the entire region
  • Soave Classico DOC for wines made using grapes from the foothills
26
Q

Where is Valpolicella located?

A

Veneto

  • northwest of Verona
  • similar topography to Soave (foothills in north, plains in south)
27
Q

What are the two distinct parts of Valpolicella? Describe the soils and geography and how they affect the wines.

A
  1. Foothills to the north
    - limestone, clay, volcanic rock soils
    - naturally cool
    - high altitude
    - slow ripening
    - high acidity grapes
  2. Flatter plains to the south
    - gravel, sand
    - warmer
    - aid ripening
    - fruitier, less acidity
28
Q

What is the main grape of Valpolicella? Describe the wines.

A

Corvina

  • thin skin
  • moderate color
  • low to medium tannins
  • high acidity
  • simple, fruity
  • light tannins
  • red cherry flavors
  • rarely oaks
  • drink immediately
29
Q

How are Valpolicella wines labelled?

A

Valpolicella DOC: wines made using grapes from the entire region
Valpolicella Classico DOC: wines made using grapes from the foothills

30
Q

What is the passito method? Where is it used? Why?

A
  • Used widely in Veneto to increase structure and flavor concentration (and color for red wines)
  • Grapes picked early when they are still high in acidity
  • Dried indoors, concentrating the sugars and flavors
  • Fermentation doesn’t begin until winter
31
Q

What are the two types of passito wine in Valpolicella?

A

Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG

  • dry or off-dry
  • full bodied
  • high alcohol
  • medium to high tannins
  • intensely concentrated
  • red berry, spicy
  • aged in large oak casks

Recioto della Valpolicella

  • made from grapes that are so sweet the fermentation stop naturally
  • sweet wines
  • intense red fruit
  • high alcohol
  • full body
  • medium to high tannins
32
Q

What sweet wine from Soave uses the same method as Recioto della Valpolicella?

A

Recioto di Soave DOCG

33
Q

What is the ripasso method? What wine is made in this method? Describe this wine.

A

Valpolicella Ripasso DOC

  • Uses grape skins from a fermenting Amarone della Valpolicella
  • Shortly before fermentation finishes, the Amarone is drains off skins
  • Skins remain unpressed and are added to a vat of Valpolicella that has finished fermentation
  • Yeasts ferment the reming sugar on the Amarone grape skins
  • medium to full body
  • medium to high tannins
  • stewed red cherries, plums
34
Q

Where is Piemonte located? Describe the geography and climate.

A

Northwest corner of Italy

  • Mountains to north (rain shadow)
  • Foothills: 150-160 meters
  • Climate: moderate continental, long cold winters and summers subject to thunderstorms, hail and fog
  • Moderating influences: Po River, Lake Maggiore
35
Q

What are the main black grapes of Piemonte?

A

Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto

36
Q

What are the main white grapes of Piemonte?

A

Cortese, Moscato (Muscat)

37
Q

What wines are made in Piemonte of IGT/IGP status?

A

None! They all achieve other DOC or DOCG status.

38
Q

Describe the geography and vineyard sites of Barolo.

A
  • Horseshoe shaped valley
  • Spans several villages
  • Steep south facing slopes (300-500 meters)
39
Q

What grape must Barolo DOCG be made entirely of? Describe the grape and the wines

A 
Nebbiolo
Grape:
-high acid
-high tannin
-little color
-ripens slowly

Wines:

  • perfumed aromas: sour cherries, herbs, dried flowers
  • full body
  • high acid
  • high tannins
  • can age in bottle
40
Q

Describe labelling in Barolo.

A

Barolo DOCG: Made from grapes sources from different villages
Barolo + village name DOCG: Made from grapes sourced purely from that village.
Cru: best vineyards

Other grapes: Alba DOC

41
Q

What are the aging requirements of Barolo DOCG?

A
  • Must be aged for 3 years before release

- 18 months of those 3 years must be in oak

42
Q

How was Barolo traditionally aged? How has that changed?

A

Traditionally: aged for several years in large oak barrels to soften harsh tannins
Today: improvements in vineyard management and gentler methods of extraction result in wines with smoother, riper tannins - shorter maturation period required
-small barrels (often some new oak)
-larger casks
-All Barolos benefits from further bottle aging - soft tannins, adds complexity, adds aromas of truffles, tar, and leather

43
Q

Describe Barbaresco and how it compares with Barolo.

A
  • South-facing slopes at lower altitudes (200-400 meters)
  • smaller region
  • lower altitude, local river influence
  • ripens earlier
  • fruitier, less perfumed
  • similar acidity and tannin
  • can age in bottle
44
Q

How long, by law, must Barbaresco be aged before release?

A
  • Age 2 years before release

- 9 months of those 2 years must be in oak

45
Q

How are wines typically labelled in Alba and Asti?

A
  • grape variety + nearest town

- Example: Barbera d’Asti DOCG

46
Q

What is the most widely planted black variety in Alba and Asti? How are these wines labelled? Which is typically higher quality?

A

Barbera

  • Barbera d’Alba DOC
  • Barbera d’Asti DOCG (higher quality)
47
Q

Describe Barbera wines. What two styles are common?

A
  • late ripening grape
  • medium to deep color
  • low to medium tannins
  • high acid
  • red cherries, plums, black pepper
  • drink young, best can age

Styles:

  1. youthful and fruity, no oak
  2. barrel-aged, spicy flavors
48
Q

Describe Dolcetto wines. Where are the best from?

A 
-earlier ripening (can be planted in coolest sites)
Dolcetto d'Alba DOC
-finest Dolcetto wines
-deep, purple color
-medium to high tannins
-medium acid
-black plums, red cherries, dried herbs
-drink young, best can age
49
Q

What three grapes are most prominent in Asti and Alba?

A

Barbera
Dolcetto
Nebbiolo

50
Q

What sparkling wines from Asti and Alba are most famous?

A

Moscato

51
Q

Where is Gavi located? Describe the geography.

A
  • Southeastern Piemonte
  • vines grown in hills
  • altitude, seabreeze = long, slow ripening
52
Q

What is the grape varietal of Gavi? Describe the grape and wines. What are the two styles?

A 
Cortese
Grape:
-high acid
-floral
-slow ripening

Wines:

  • pale
  • light body
  • high acid
  • citrus, green apples,

Styles:

  1. stainless steel: fresh, fruity
  2. old oak, lees stirring: complexity

-drink young, some can age in bottle

53
Q

How are Gavi wines labelled?

A

Gavi DOCG or Cortese di Gavi DOCG

-If the wines are from the town of Gavi itself, they may be labelled Gavi di Gavi DOCG

WSET Level 3 Award in Wines (41 decks)

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