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WSET Level 3 Notes > 27 - Northern Italy > Flashcards

27 - Northern Italy Flashcards

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1
Q

Describe the geography of Northern Italy’s vineyard regions.

A

Located in the foothills of the Alps and the extensive plain of the River Po.

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2
Q

Describe the climate of Northern Italy and it’s moderating influences.

A

Northern Italy has a moderate climate with short, dry summers.

The Alps extends the length of Northern Italy and shelters the vineyards from rain.

The River Po and glacial lakes such as Lake Garda provide a moderating influence to inland areas.

Areas close to the sea have higher rainfall and are more prone to fungal disease.

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3
Q

How were the vineyards in Northern Italy traditionally planted?

A

Pergola trained, low density.

High yielding vines.

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4
Q

What is pergola training?

A

High trained vine canopy with the fruit hanging down below a horizontal canopy of leaves.

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5
Q

What is the advantage of pergola training?

A

It protects the berries from sunburn and allows air circulation, minimising the risk of rot.

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6
Q

Where is pergola training still used?

A

For sparkling wines, where high acidity and low sugar levels are required.

Or where wines from dried grapes are made, which need to be free of damage and disease.

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7
Q

What is a more common planting style in N. Italy nowadays?

A

High density using VSP training.

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8
Q

Describe the geography and climate of Alto Adige?

A

Italy’s most northerly wine region
Centered around the town of Bolzano
Foothills of the Alps
Vineyards on terraces of SE and SW facing valley sides of the River Adige

Moderate climate. 
Short dry summers
Low rainfall during growing season. 
Large diurnal range due to altitudes. 
Perfect for aromatic white and elegant light-bodied reds.
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9
Q

What types of wines are made in Alto Adige?

A

Aromatic, elegant whites and light-bodied reds.

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10
Q

What is the most notable white wine of Alto Adige?

Describe it’s style

A 
Pinot Grigio
Typically dry
L-M body
H acid
 Citrus and green fruit flavours.
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11
Q

What are the next most important grapes after Pinot Grigio in Alto Adige?

A

Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay and Pinto Blanc

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12
Q

What red grape dominates in Alto Adige and what style of wine does it make?

A

Schiava

Light fruity wine
L-M tannin
Flavours of raspberry and plum

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13
Q

How does Trentino and Alto Adige differ

A

The valley is wider and vines are planted on the valley floor as well as the slopes. Overall the climate is slightly warmer than Alto Adige.

Trentino has dry summers and low rainfall during growing season.

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14
Q

What factors make Trentino a slightly warmer climate than Alto Adige

A

More southerly latitude
More plantings on the valley floor at lower altitudes
Mountains to the west of the valley that protect it from cooling influences from Lake Garda.

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15
Q

What are the main varieties of Trentino and what are the wines like?

A

Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio

Valley floor wines tend to be
M-bodied
M-acidity
Ripe Stone Fruit

Higher Altitude wine are similar to those from Alto Adige

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16
Q

What are the 2 main red grapes in Trentino and where are they grown?

What kind of wines does Teroldego produce?

A

Merlot and Teroldego
Mid-slopes and valley floor.

Deep colour
M-H Tannin
H-Acid
M-F Body
Aromas of black fruit
Normally matured in oak
The best can age.
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17
Q

What regional name are wines from Alto Adige normally labelled under?

A

Alto Adige DOC

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18
Q

What regional name are wines from Trentino normally labelled under?

A

Trentino DOC

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19
Q

Where is Fruilia-Venezia Giulia?

What is the climate and it’s moderating factors?

A

In N. Italy’s Eastern Corner.

The climate is moderate and continental, cooled by cold air from the mountains.

Vineyards in the south of the region lie on the flat plain near the Adriatic sea and experience a warm maritime climate.

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20
Q

What are the most prevalent red and white grapes of Trentino?

Describe their wines

A

Pinto Grigio and Merlot

Some of the richest Pinto Grigio in Italy
M-F body
Juicy peach and tropical fruit flavours.

Merlot:
M body
M acid
M Tannin
Ripe red fruit and hint of spice from oak
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21
Q

What other local white grape is widely planted in Friuli Venezia Giulia and what style of wine does it make?

A

Friulano

M-H acid
M-body
Aromas of Pear, Red Apples and Herbs

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22
Q

What DOC do wines from the plains of Friuli Venezia Giulia get labelled with?

What style of wine do they tend to be?

A

Friuli Grave DOC

White, with a simple fruity style.

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23
Q

What are the DOC’s in Friuli Venezia Giulia that are known for producing premium, more concentrated wines than Friuli Graves DOC?

A

Colli DOC

Colli Orientali DOC

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24
Q

How do Colli DOC and Colli Orientali DOC differ?

A

Orientali is known for reds as well as whites.

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25
Q

Describe the geography of The Veneto region

A

It extends from the southern end of Lake Garda in the west to Venice in the east and from the foothills of the Alps in the North to the flat plains of the River Po in the south.

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26
Q

What 2 wines is Veneto most famous for?

A

Valpolicella and Soave

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27
Q

What is the climate of Veneto like?

What climatic influences does it experience?

A

Warm with moderate rainfall.

Cooling influences come from altitude, exposing vineyards int eh foothills to a large diurnal range. Breezes from Lake Garda cool the vineyards in the west of the region.

The flat plain is affected by moist air and fog from the River Po, increasing the amount of spraying that is needed to combat disease and rot.

28
Q

What grapes are used in the flat plains of the River Po what styles of wine are made?

What GI label do they get?

A

High volume fruit for wines from popular grapes like Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Merlot as well as Italian varietals like Corvina, Garganega, Trebbiano.

Usually simple and fruity.

Labelled Veneto IGT

29
Q

What sparkling wine DOC is mostly in Veneto but also partly in Friuli Venezia Giulia?

A

Prosecco

30
Q

Where is Soave? Describe it’s geography

A

East of Verona, and divided into 2 distinct parts.

Foothills to the North
A flat plain to the south near the River Po.

31
Q

What are the soils in the foothills of Soave? How do they affect the wine?

A

Limestone and Clay with some volcanic rock.
The soils are naturally cool. This combined with the influence of altitude slows down ripening, leading to grapes with full flavour ripeness yet high acidity.

Capable of maturing for a number of years.

32
Q

What are the soils of the plains in Soave like? How do they affect the resulting wines?

A

Sandy alluvial soils that aid ripening so the wines are fruitier with M acidity and meant to be drunk young.

33
Q

What is the main grape variety in Soave?

A

Garganega, but small amounts of other varieties can be blended.

34
Q

What are the 2 DOC’s in Soave and how do they differ?

A

Soave DOC - Grapes from whole region.

Soave Classico DOC - Grapes from foothills only.

35
Q

What is a typical Soave wine like in style?

A

M-H acid, M body and aromas of pear, red apple, stone fruit and sometimes white pepper. Typically NO new oak.

Best can age developing aromas of almonds and honey.

36
Q

Where is Valpolicella? What is the soil topography?

A

NW of Verona.
Similar to Soave.
Foothills in the north have limestone, clay and volcanic soil which slow ripening so grapes have more acidity.
Flatter south region has sand and gravel which is warmer, so wines are fruitier with less acidity.

37
Q

What is the main grape in Valpolicella? What are it’s characteristics?

A 
Corvina. Italian. Regional Native. 
Thin Skin, 
Moderate Colour
L-M Tannin
H Acid
38
Q

What is the style of a Valpolicella wine?

A

Simple, fruity, light tannin, red cherry.

Rarely oaked. Made for immediate drinking.

39
Q

What are the 2 DOC’s in Valpolicella and how do they differ?

A

Valpolicella DOC - From entire region.

Valpolicella Classico DOC - Grown in foothills only.

40
Q

What is the passito method?

A

It is a drying technique used in Veneto to increase structure and flavour concentration (and colour in reds).

Grapes are picked early when still high in acid and dried indoors, concentrating sugars and flavours. Fermentation takes place in the winter.

41
Q

What are the 2 types of passito wine in Valpolicella?

A

Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG: Wines are dry or off-dry, full bodied, high alcohol, M-H tannin and intensely concentrated red berry and spice flavours. Ususally aged in large oak casks.

Recioto della Valpolicella: Grapes are so sweet the fermentation stops naturally. Sweet wine, with intense red fruit flavours. H Alcohol, Full Body and M-H tannin.

42
Q

What is the ripasso method?

A

Uses grapes skins from a fermenting Amarone della Valpolicella.

Shortly before fermentation finishes, the Amarone is drained off its skins. The skins are left unpressed and are added to a vat of Valpolicella which has finished its fermentation. The yeast are also transferred in the process. The remaining sugar on the Amarone skins is now fermented, during which time the grape skins give more colour, flavour and tannin to the wine they’ve been added to.

43
Q

What is the style and DOCG nomenclature of a wine made using the ripasso method?

A

Style: M-F body, M-H tannin, Flvaours of stewed red cherries and plums.

Valpolicella Ripasso DOCG

44
Q

What is the geography of Piemonte?

What is the climate?

Are there moderating influences?

A

Located in the NW of Italy.
Mountains to the north provide a rain shadow protecting the regions from rain and northern winds.

Climate is moderate and continental with long cold winters and summers that can have thuderstorms, hail and fog.

Moderating Influence from:
River Po in south and Lake Maggiore in the North.
Aspect and altitude: Foothills range from 150m to 600m

45
Q

What are the main red and white grapes of Piemonte?

A

Red: Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetta
White: Cortese and Moscato (Muscat)

46
Q

What are the most prestigious appellations in Piemonte:

A

Barolo and Barbaresco

47
Q

What is notable about the GI’s of Piemonte.

A

There is no IGT or IGP. All wines achieve either DOC or DOCG status.

48
Q

What are the 4 main appellations of Piemonte?

A

Barolo
Barbaresco
Asti/Alba
Gavi

49
Q

What is the geography of Barolo.

A

Horse shoe shaped valley covering a number of towns, each with steep south facing slopes of 300-500m.

50
Q

What grape if Barolo made from?

What are the characteristics of the grape?

A

100% Nebbiolo.
H acid
H tannin
Little colour.

51
Q

How does Barolo’s location influence the grapes growth?

A

Ripens slowly at these altitudes developing perfumed aromas of sour cherries, herbs, sometimes dried flowers.

52
Q

What are characteristics of the best Barolos?

A

H acid, H tannin, F Body. Ability to age in bottle.

53
Q

What are grapes from Barolo other than Nebbiolo labelled as in the bottle?

A

Alba DOC

54
Q

What other labelling may take place on a Barolo bottle?

A

The village name may appear or the name of the vineyard or cru, for the best Barolos.

55
Q

How long does Barolo DOCG have to be aged for before release and how much of that must be in oak?

A

3 years

18 months.

56
Q

What types of oak do Barolo produces use?

A

A mixture depending on the style. Can be large old oak or a portion of small new oak barrels.

Not matured for as long as they used to be thanks to modern winemaking techniques and vineyard management systems.

57
Q

Why do Barolos tend to benefit form further bottle ageing?

A

Softens tannins and adds complexity of tar, truffles and leather.

58
Q

How do Barbaresco DOCG and Barolo DOCG compare geographically?

A

Barbaresco is smaller and at lower altitudes (200-400m).
Vines ripen earlier due to altitude and local river influence.
Wines are less perfumed and fruitier.
Wines are aged for 2 years minimum, 9 months in oak.

Fewer mentions of villages on the bottle but higher quality will be from a single vineyard/cru.

Both use Nebbiolo. Similar acidity and tannin giving it ability to age in bottle.

59
Q

What are the 2 most widely planted black grapes in Alba/Asti?

A

Barbera and Dolcetto

60
Q

How does Dolcetto differ from Barbera/Nebbiolo?

A

It’s earlier ripening so can be planted in cooler sites.

61
Q

Describe a Dolcetto wine.

A

Deep, often purple colour. M-H tannin, M acid. Black plum, red cherry and herbs. Drinkable young. Best can age.

62
Q

What other type of wine is Asti famous for and what grape is it made from?

A

Sparkling wines form Moscato

63
Q

Where is Gavi?

What factors influence its growing environment.

A

In SE Piemonte.
Altitude and sea breezes result in long slow ripening of the Cortese grape, emphasising natural high acidity and floral character.

64
Q

How are wines from Gavi labelled

A

Gavi DOCG
Cortese di Gavi DOCG
Gavi di Gavi DOCG

65
Q

Describe a Gavi wine.

A

Pale, L body, H acid and aromas and flavours of citrus , green apple, pear.

Protective winemaking is the norm with ferm in S/S.
Some use old oak for ferm and lees stirring to add complexity. Most drank young, but some can age.

WSET Level 3 Notes (21 decks)

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