29 - Southern Italy

Question 1

What are the main regions of Southern Italy?

Answer 1

Campania, Basilicata, Puglia, Sicily

Question 2

What is the climate of Southern Italy?

Answer 2

hot and dry inland, and becomes more humid toward the coast. it is south of Lazio and extends toward tip of Italy.
many vineyards are on slopes of Apennines, so altitude moderates the heat
cooling sea breezes moderate vineyards on Puglian peninsula

Question 3

Why does Campania’s landscape allow a variety of black and white grape varieties to be grown here?

Answer 3

It is a varied landscape with mountains, valleys and coastal plains

Question 4

What are the two best white varieties grown in Campania? Which wines are they well-known for?
What are the characteristics of each?

Answer 4

Greco - Greco di Tufo DOCG
higher acid than Fiano
lean body
green apple
stone fruit
passion fruit 
stainless steel and old oak and lees are all used 
best can age in bottle -> honey, mushrooms

Fiano - Fiano di Avellino DOCG
medium acid
medium to full body
stone fruit, melons, mango 
often early drinking but some examples are matured in oak and aged in bottle

Question 5

Which is the most prestigious black grape of Campania? What are its key characteristics?

Answer 5

Aglianico
deep color, high acid, tannin
black fruit
matured in oak and can age in bottle -> earthy, forest floor

at its best in Taurasi DOCG though found in other regions and in number of wines

Question 6

What is the distinguishing characteristic of landscape of Basilicata

Answer 6

it is extremely mountains. vineyards can reach 900 meters

Question 7

What is the best wine of Basilicata?

Answer 7

Aglianico is principal grape. It makes Aglianico del Vulture DOC

Question 8

What climactic feature of Puglia causes it to be well suited to producing large volumes of black varieties?

Answer 8

it is very hot.

Question 9

What are the two most grown black grapes of Puglia?

Answer 9

Negroamaro and Primitivo (Zinfandel). These produce a simple and fruity wine for early drinking when grown at high yields

Question 10

Which grape is responsible for Salice Salentino DOC?

Answer 10

Negroamaro. When yields are controlled it can make high quaity full bodied wine with medium tannin, medium acidity, high alcohol, and baked red and black fruit

Question 11

True/False: Negroamaro and Primitivo are solely grown for the purposes of making early drinking simple wines/

Answer 11

False. Negroamaro and Primitivo can make high quality full bodied wines like Salice Salentino DOC.

Question 12

True/False: Sicily and Puglia are responsible for growing large volumes of grapes for fruity, early drinking wines

Answer 12

True

Question 13

What is the dominant black grape of Sicily and what styles of wine does it produce?

Answer 13

Nero d’Avola. medium to full bodied wines
medium acidity and medium tannin
plums, black cherry
often easy drinking and fruity. but best producers make Nero d’Avola more concentrated and complex.

Dominant in IGT Terre di Sicilia/Terre Siciliane (regional wine) and Sicilia DOC (slightly lowered yields)

Question 14

Which international varieties are planted in Sicily?

Answer 14

Chardonnay, Syrah. Syrah is particularly successful in Sicily

Question 15

Which appellation produces some of the best wine from Sicily? How are these wines produced and what are their characteristics?

Answer 15

Etna DOC - makes red and white. reds are noteworthy
the wines are produced from old, low-yielding vines at high altitudes
the reds are made from Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio. Fragran wines
high acid high tannin
sour red cherries, cranberries, raspberries, dried herbs
with bottle age ->tannins soften, mushroom

also makes high quality white wines - high acid, medium body, citrus, stony/steely. with bottle age ->honey and wax