C29 - Southern Italy (reviewed) Flashcards
What constitutes Southern Italy?
South of Lazio to the southern tip of the country, including the peninsula of Puglia and the island of Sicily
Describe the climate of Southern Italy
- Hot and dry inland becoming humid near the coast
- Altitude provides relief from some of the heat for those vineyards based in the Apennines
- Sea breezes cool the vineyards on the flatter terrain of the Puglian peninsula
What is the principal economic activity in Southern Italy?
Agriculture
To which areas of Southern Italy is grape-growing particularly important?
Puglia and Sicilia, where significant volumes of wine are made
What are the training methods in the south of Italy?
- Traditional: Vines were bush-trained low to the ground, with leaf cover protecting the grapes from sunburn
- More common now: Cordon training and trellising - allow for mechanisation on Puglia’s flat plain
…is home to more DOCGs than any other region in the south of Italy
Campania
What is the landscape like in Campania?
A varied landscape with mountains, valleys and coastal plains meaning that a wide range of black and white varieties can be grown here
Which varieties arguably produce the best whites in Campania?
- Fiano - Fiano d’Avellino DOCG and
- Greco - Greco di Tufo DOCG
Describe wines made from Fiano
- Medium acidity
- Medium to full body
- Aromas of stone fruit, melons and mangos
- Usually early drinking
- Better example matured in oak and can be aged in bottle, developing notes of wax and honey
Describe wines from Greco
- Leaner in body than Fiano
- More acidity than Fiano
- Green apple, stone fruit and passionfruit flavours
- The best examples age in bottle to develop aromas of honey and mushrooms
Describe winemaking for wines from Greco grapes
- Most producers ferment their wines in stainless steel
- Some use old oak and techniques such as lees-stirring to enhance texture
What is the most prestigious black grape of Campania?
Aglianico:
- Deep colour
- High acidity
- High tannins
- Flavours of black fruit
- Matured in oak and can age in bottle to develop earthy, forest floor notes
Where is Aglianico best in Campania?
Taurasi DOCG
Where is Basilicata?
Just below Campania
Describe Basilicata
- An extremely mountainous region where vineyards can reach 900 metres, especially on the high plain that surrounds the extinct volcano of Monte Vulture
- Main grape: Aglianico
- Best DOCG: Aglianico del Vulture DOCG
Describe Puglia
- A vast agricultural area where large volumes of grapes are grown
- Hot climate
- Dominated by black grapes because of Puglia’s hot climate - Negroamaro and Primitivo
- when grown at high altitudes, they produce simple, fruity wines for early drinking Puglia IGT
- When yields are controlled, Negroamaro can produce high quality wines
Describe higher quality wines from Negroamaro
- Medium acidity
- Medium tannins
- High alcohol
- Full-bodied
- Baked red and black fruit flavours
Where do many of the best examples of Negroamaro in Puglia come from?
Salice Salentino DOC
Describe the best examples of Primitivo
- Medium acidity
- Medium tannins
- High alcohol
- Full-bodied
- Pronounced flavours of very ripe berry fruit
In what respect is Sicily like Puglia?
It grows vast quantities of grapes
Into which appellation do most of Sicily’s grapes get made?
IGT Terre di Sicilia/Terre Siciliane
Into which appellation do most of Sicily’s grapes get made if yields are lowered slightly?
Sicilia DOC
What is the dominant black grape in Sicily’s most produced wines?
Nero d’Avola
Describe wines of Nero d’Avola
- Medium acidity
- Medium tannins
- Medium to full-bodied wines
- Aromas of plums and black cherries
- Usually made into a fruity, early-drinking style
- From best producers they are more concentrated and complex
Describe how local white varieties are usually sold in Sicilia
- As varietal or blended wines
- Unoaked Displaying citrus and stone fruit flavours
What other varieties are planted in Sicilia? Which is particularly successful?
Chardonnay and Syrah
From which appellation do some of the best wines of Sicily come?
Etna DOC
How are Etna DOC wine grapes grown?
From old, low-yielding vines at high altitude
What are the reds of Etna DOC made from? Describe the wine
- Made from: Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio
- They are blended together
- Fragrant wines
- High acidity
- High tannin
- Aromas of sour red cherries, cranberries and raspberries, sometimes with dried herbs
Describe Etna DOC wines with bottle age
- High tannins soften
- Mushroom-like aromas can develop
Describe the high quality white wines of Etna DOC
- High acidity
- Medium body
- Citrus fruit, often with a stony/steely character
- Develop aromas of honey and wax with bottle age
