29 - Southern Italy Flashcards
Southern Italy is best known for full bodied reds made from these 3 grapes….
Aglianico
Primitivo
Negroamaro
Describe the climate of S. Italy
Hot and dry inland becoming humid near the coast.
Describe the moderating influences in S. Italy.
Vineyards are planted on the slopes of the Apennines, with altitude providing relief from the heat.
Cool sea breezes benefit the vineyards planted on the flatter terrain of the Puglia peninsula.
How has vine training changed in S. Italy?
Traditionally vines were bush trained low to the ground to protect grapes from sunburn.
Old vines are evidence of this, but cordon training and trelllising are more common now, allowing for mechanisation, particularly on Puglias flat plain.
Which region has more DOCG’s than any other in S. Italy.
Why is it suited to a range of black and white grapes?
Campania
Because of it’s varied landscape of mountains, valleys, and plains.
What are the best white wine varietals in Campania
Name the DOCG’s the best expressions of them come from?
Fiano and Greco
Fiano di Avellino DOCG
-M Acid, M-F Body, Stone Fruit, Melon, Mango. Often meant for young drinking. Best examples can be oak matured, aged in bottle developing wax and honey notes.
Greco di Tufo DOCG
-More acidity and leaner in body than Fiano.
Green apple, stone fruit, and passion fruit flavour.
Most use SS ferm’s, but some use old oak and stir lees to add texture. Best can age in bottle, developing honey and mushroom notes.
What is the most prestigious black grape of S. Italy?
What are it’s characteristics?
In what DOCG is it at it’s best?
Aglianico
Deep colour, H Acid, H Tannin, flavours of black fruit.
Matured in oak and age in bottle, developing notes of earth, and forest floor.
Taurasi DOCG.
Describe Basilicata.
What is the principal grape?
What is the best DOC of the region.
Extremely mountainous.
Vineyards can reach up to 900m, especially on the high plain surrounding the extinct volcano of Monte Vulture.
Aglianico is the principal grape.
Aglianico del Vulture DOC
What type of wine and from what grapes is Puglia IGT best known for?
Simple, fruity reds grown at high yields from Negroamaro and Primitivo, meant for early drinking.
Describe Negroamaro when yields are controlled.
What DOC do many of the best Negroamaro wines in Puglia come from?
High quality, F Bodied Red. M Tannin, M Acid, H Alcohol, Baked Red and Black Fruit.
Salice Salentino DOC
What is the climate of Puglia?
Describe it industry and geography
Hot
Vast agricultural area where large volumes fo grapes are grown.
What are the IGT and DOC’s that most Sicilian grapes find there way into?
Terre di Sicilia IGT
Terre Siciliane IGT
Sicilia DOC
What is the dominant black grape in Sicily?
Nero d’Avola
M-F body. M Acid, M Tannin. Plum and black cherries. Often in fruity, early drinking style, but best are more conc and complex.
Describe the white’s of Sicily.
Either varietal or blended wines.
Usually in an unoaked style displaying citrus and stone fruit flavours.
What international grapes are planted in Sicily? (with one doing particularly well)
Chardonnay and Syrah (this)
