Abruzzo Flashcards
Where is Abruzzo located?
North of Puglia on the east coast of Italy
What is the most planted black variety in Abruzzo?
Montepulciano
What is the name of the main white wine produced in Abruzzo? What is the typical style of this wine?
Trebbiano d’Abruzzo
What is the name of the main rose wine produced in Abruzzo? What is the typical style of this wine?
Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo
A medium to medium (+) bodied rose made with Montepulciano
What is the name of the main red wine produced in Abruzzo? What is the typical style of this wine?
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
Can be easy drinking or made in a more complex style
The Abruzzo region can be divided into which two parts?
Hillside vines under the Apennine mountains
Flatter coastal zone
Describe the climate in Abruzzo’s hilly zone under the Apennine mountains
Warm continental climate
Cold, snowy winters, warm short summers
Name the main cooling influence in Abruzzo’s hilly zone under the Apennine mountains. How does this affect the grapes grown here?
Cooling influences from the mountains extend the growing season, slowing sugar accumulation and allowing more time for flavour and aroma development
Name two weather hazards that can affect Abruzzo’s hilly zone under the Apennine mountains
Spring frost
Autumn rain
Describe the climate in Abruzzo’s flatter coastal zone
Warm Mediterranean climate - there is less risk of spring frost or autumn rains than in the hillside zones
Compared to the hillside sites, are the temperatures in Abruzzo’s flatter coastal zone higher or lower? How does this affect production?
Temperatures are higher
The coastal zone is more suited to volume production
Compared to the hillside sites, are the soils in Abruzzo’s flatter coastal zone more or less fertile? How does this affect production?
Soils are more fertile
The coastal zone is more suited to volume production
What vineyard management techniques have helped improve quality in Abruzzo?
Denser planting
New forms of training
Reduced yields
What are the main training systems used for vines in Abruzzo’s coastal zone? Why?
Cordon trained spur pruned or Guyot
This allows mechanisation, reducing costs
Give a tasting note for a simple Montepulciano wine made for easy drinking. Comment on the length of maceration.
Medium intensity Ripe cherry fruit No oak flavours Medium body Medium tannin
Short maceration for simpler wines is 4 to 5 days
Give a tasting note for a complex Montepulciano wine made for ageing. Comment on the length of maceration and the vessels used.
Pronounced intensity
Red cherry, black plum fruit
Sweet spice from oak
Medium (+) tannins
Maceration would typically be longer, around 20 days, but care must be taken not to extract too much tannin
Ageing typically in large oak vessels
What fungi is Montepulciano resistant to?
Downy mildew
Botrytis
What fungi is Montepulciano prone to?
Powdery mildew
Why does Montepulciano require more aeration during winemaking?
It is susceptible to developing more reductive sulphur compounds
Pump overs and rack and return can help to bring oxygen into the wine
Give the key characteristics of Trebbiano Abruzzese
Mid to late ripening Vigorous Highly productive Suited to pergola training Prone to powdery mildew
Which grapes are permitted in Trebbiano d’Abruzzo DOC?
Trebbiano Toscano and / or Trebbiano Abruzzese
Trebbiano Toscano is less intense in flavour
What is the maximum yield for Trebbiano d’Abruzzo DOC?
98hl/ha
Describe the typical winemaking options taken when producing Trebbiano d’Abruzzo DOC
Protective winemaking
Cool fermentations in stainless steel
Avoid MLF to retain acidity
Describe the typical quality level expected for Trebbiano d’Abruzzo DOC wines
Acceptable to good
How has the style for Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC changed in recent years?
Historically wines were medium intensity pink, but the trend now leans towards lighter styles of rose
What techniques are used for making Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC?
Usually made by short maceration (12 hours) or direct pressing
Some producers make rosé as a by-product (saignée)
When making Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC, macerations must be kept short. Why is this?
Montepulciano is rich in anthocyanins, so maceration must be short to avoid too much colour extraction
Is Montepulciano naturally high or low in tannins?
High in tannin
Where must grapes for Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC be grown?
On hilly sites
What is the maximum yield for Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC?
98hl/ha
Wines can have light flavour intensity
Name the five subzones of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC
Alto Tirino
Casauria
Teate
Terre di Peligni
Terre dei Vestini
What is the maximum yield for the five Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC subzones of noted quality?
68hl/ha
What is the minimum ageing requirement for the five Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC subzones of noted quality?
18 months, half of which must be in oak
What is the maximum yield for Colline Teramane Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOCG?
68hl/ha
What is the minimum ageing requirement for Colline Teramane Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOCG?
2 years, half of which must be in oak
Do DOC wines from Abruzzo have to be bottled in the region of origin?
No
This has led to criticisms that this freedom has led to lower quality standards and to the use of wine from Abruzzo to add colour and alcohol to wines from different regions and countries
What is the name of the former Montepulciano d’Abruzzo subzone that has now become a DOCG in its own right?
Colline Teramane Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOCG
What percentage of Abruzzo wine is produced by co-ops?
75%
What are the main export markets for Abruzzo wines?
Northern Europe
USA
Canada
