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Italian Wine Scholar: Central & Southern Italy > Calabria > Flashcards

Calabria Flashcards

1
Q

Which region did ancient Greek settlers initially name “Oenotria” (“the land of vines”) when they first arrived in southern Italy?

A

Calabria

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2
Q

What crops are grown in Calabria?

A

Viticulture plays only a marginal role compared to other crops such as:
* citrus fruit
* olives

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3
Q

Name the native grapes the producers in Calabria have worked hard to show the potential of.

A
  • Gaglioppo
  • Greco Bianco
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4
Q

Describe the history of Calabria and ancient Greek colonization.

A

This region was one of the principal centers for Greek colonization in southern Italy. Among the most famous settlements were Krotos (modern-day Crotone) and Rhegion (modern-day Reggio Calabria)

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5
Q

How did the ancient Greeks influence Calabria?

A

Vineyards and wine production flourished. The wine markets of Krotos and Sibari were among the largest in southern Italy. They shipped wine throughout the Mediterranean.

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6
Q

Who annexed Calabria from the Greeks?

A

Rome, in the 3rd century BC.

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7
Q

How did the Romans influence Calabria?

A

Agricultural focus was switched to cereals and animal husbandry. Although, the wines were worthy of commentary by Pliny the Elder.

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8
Q

What happened to Calabria after the fall of the Roman Empire?

A

The region experienced a succession of invasions.

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9
Q

How did wine production in Calabria fair during the Middle Ages?

A

Little information was written during the early Middle Ages. The few documents on record intimate that the region experienced a deep viticultural decline.

But wine production seems to have rebounded by the 16th century and gathered momentum.

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10
Q

What kind of wine did Calabria produce during the 19th and 20th centuries?

A

Mainly deeply-coloured, high-alcohol bulk wine (vino da taglio).

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11
Q

How has wine production changed in Calabria over the past few years?

A

The focus has moved toward quality. Great efforts have been dedicated to researching local grapes, largely due to the pioneering work of wine producer, Librandi.

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12
Q

Where is Calabria located?

A

This region lies in the southwest of Italy and forms the tip of the Italian boot. It is almost completely surrounded by the sea. It is separated from Sicilia by the Strait of Messina.

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13
Q

How much of Calabria is made up of hills/mountains/plains?

A
  • 49% Hills
  • 43% Mountains
  • 9% Plains
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14
Q

Describe the mountains in Calabria.

A

The Southern Apennines run down the center of the region and are divided into several sub-ranges. From north to south they are:
* Massif of Pollino
* Catena Costiera
* Sila
* Aspromonte

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15
Q

Where in Calabria are the hills located

A

Between the central mountain ranges and the coasts.

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16
Q

Where in Calabria are the plains located?

A

The plains are limited to the coastal areas and make up less than 10% of the region.

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17
Q

Describe the coastline of Calabria.

A

These vary from rocky cliffs to gravelly-sandy beaches.

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18
Q

Name the principal rivers of Calabria.

A
  • Crati River
  • Neto River

There are many rivers that flow down from the central mountain ranges to empty into both seas, but they are short and with limited flow.

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19
Q

What is the climate in Calabria?

A

Mediterranean on the coast.
Mediterranean with continental influences inland.

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20
Q

How much rainfall does Calabria receive?

A

It is abundant in the mountainous interior and significantly lower on the coasts.
The Ionean coast is the driest, but still receives a good amount of precipitation.

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21
Q

What soils are found in Calabria?

A

Soils are diverse. They vary from sandy gravels and clays of marine origin on the hills of the Ionian coast to alluvial soils found on the plains.
In the northern region, soils are composed of limestone, sandstone and sandy gravels, all of marine origin.

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22
Q

How much of the area under vine in Calabria is devoted to red grape varieties?

A

Almost 90%.

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23
Q

Which variety is featured in most of the DOC reds of the region and makes up more than half of the area under vine in Calabria?

A

Gaglioppo; the region’s signature grape.

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24
Q

Why is Calabria one of the most confusing listings of grape varieties in Italy?

A

Calabrians use the same name for different grapes and different names for the same grape throughout the region.

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25
Q

Rank the grape varieties grown in Calabria from most to least widely planted.

A
  1. Gaglioppo (55%)
  2. Magliocco (7%)
  3. Nerello Cappuccio (6%)
  4. Greco Bianco (4%)
  5. Greco Nero (3%)
  6. Sangiovese (3%)
    Others (22%)
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26
Q

Name the native and traditional red varieties of Calabria.

A
  • Gaglioppo
  • Magliocco

Others:
* Nerello Cappuccio
* Greco Nero

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27
Q

What is the history of the Gaglioppo variety?

A

This is one of the most ancient red grapes in all of Italy. It was first mentioned in the 13th century.
The grape is believed to be native to Calabria, but the name seems to be of Greek origin.
Today, this grape is widely grown throughout Calabria.

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28
Q

What is the meaning of the name Gaglioppo?

A

It translates as “beautiful foot,” poetically referencing the visually appealing grape cluster.

29
Q

What are the characteristics of wines produced from Gaglioppo?

A

Pale to medium-intensity ruby-coloured wines with noticeable acidity and high tannin levels.

30
Q

What is the story behind the Magliocco grape variety?

A

Until recently, it was believed that there were numerous varieties using the Magliocco name.
But, based on DNA analysis, only 2 distinct Maglioccos exist:
* Magliocco Canino
* Maliocco Dolce (or simply Magliocco)

Magliocco Dolce is not yet officially listed in the National Registry of Grapes.

31
Q

Name the native and traditional white varieties of Calabria.

A
  • Greco Bianco (Malvasia di Lipari)
32
Q

What is Greco Bianco?

A

A grape name that is used to reference several different varieites in Calabria.

33
Q

What has DNA studies revealed about Greco Bianco?

A

The true Calabrian Greco Bianco is genetically identical to Malvasia di Lipari (Malvasia di Sardegna).

The National Registry of Grapes does not yet recognize this finding.

34
Q

What is another name for the true Greco Bianco?

A

Greco Bianco di Gerace
Used to distinquish it from other so-named Greco Bianco grapes.

35
Q

What style of wine is Greco Bianco ideal for producing?

A

Sweet dessert wines in passito style from air-dried grapes.

36
Q

What are the characteristics of passito wines produced from Greco Bianco?

A

Aromas of orange blossom, tropical fruit and honey with a rich and textured mouth feel that is balanced by fresh acidity.

37
Q

What vine-training method is used in Calabria?

A

Mostly alberello.
Newer vineyards often employ vertical trellising utilizing the Cordone Speronato or Guyot training methods.

38
Q

How much area does Calabria have under vine?

A

Approx. 25,000ac/10,000ha.

39
Q

What volume of wine is produced in Calabria per year?

A

Less than 200,000hl.

More than 80% is red.

40
Q

How much of the wine produced in Calabria is DOC, IGT or bulk wine?

A
  • ~30% DOC
  • 10% IGT
  • remaining is bulk wine w/o origin (~60%)

Note: IGT is mainly bottled under Calabria IGT and Val di Neto IGT)

41
Q

Name the major appellations of Calabria.

A
  • Ciro DOC
  • Greco di Bianco DOC
  • Terre di Cosenza DOC
42
Q

Which of Calabria’s appellations is the oldest and largest in volume?

43
Q

Where is Ciro DOC located?

A

This appellation lies in the central part of the Ionian coast. Located between the Ionian Sea and the foothills of the Sila range, the winegrowing area extends from the coastal town of Ciro Marina to the hills surrounding the inland town of Ciro.

44
Q

What is Krimisa?

A

One of the most famous wines produced in Calabria during the Greek period. It was “the” wine given as a reward to the winners of the ancient Olympic Games.
The name is believed to derive from the ancient Greek colony, Cremissa, which corresponds to the modern day town of Ciro Marina.

45
Q

What grapes are used to produce rosso wines from Ciro DOC?

A

The most important rosso must be comprised of min. 80% Gaglioppo.
The blend can be completed with any authorized red grape grown in Calabria, but can make up no more than 10% of the final blend. Permitted varieties include:
* Barbera
* Sangiovese
* Cabernet Sauvignon
* Cabernet Franc
* Merlot

46
Q

What grapes are used to produce rosato wines from Ciro DOC?

A

Rosato follows the same blending formula as rosso.

  • min. 80% Gaglioppo
  • max. 10% Barbera
  • max. 10% Sangiovese
  • max. 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
  • max. 10% Cabernet Franc
  • max. 10% Merlot
47
Q

What styles can the Ciro Rosso be produced in and what are their requirements?

A

Superiore:
* no ageing requirements

Superiore riserva:
* min. 2 years ageing

48
Q

Which wines of Ciro DOC are entitled to the classico designation?

A

Wines produced in the municipal territories of:
* Ciro
* Ciro Marina

49
Q

What are the grape requirements for Bianco wines from Ciro DOC?

A

Ciro Bianco:
* min. 80% Greco Bianco

50
Q

What are the characteristics of Ciro Bianco wines?

A

Floral with fresh, fruity, herbal aromas and crisp acidity.

51
Q

Which appellation produces the most distinctinve wines in Calabria?

A

Greco di Bianco DOC

This appellation is well-known for the production of sweet passito based on Greco Bianco. Quantities are tiny.

52
Q

Where is Greco di Bianco DOC located?

A

On the southern part of the Ionian coast around the coastal village of Bianco. The appellation extends from the sea inland almost to the foothills of the Aspromonte Massif.

53
Q

What is the important distinction between Greco Bianco and Greco di Bianco?

A

Greco Bianco is the grape

Greco di Bianco is the name of the DOC that refers to the grape and the village of Bianco.

54
Q

What are the requirements of Greco di Bianco DOC?

A
  • min. 95% Greco Bianco
  • min. 14% abv
  • grapes are air-dried
55
Q

What are the final sweetness levels of Greco di Bianco DOC wines?

A

They range from medium-sweet to sweet.

56
Q

What are the characteristics of wines from Greco di Bianco DOC?

A

Deep golden to amber in colour. The palate is rich and fat but well-balanced by lively acidity.

57
Q

Where is Terre di Cosenza DOC located?

A

This geographically large appellation is located in the central, northern reaches of Calabria.

58
Q

How was Terre di Cosenza DOC previously divided?

A

It was previously 7 different DOCs:
1. Condoleo
2. Donnici
3. Esaro
4. Pollino
5. San Vito di Luzzi
6. Colline del Crati
7. Verbicaro

These were united into one single appellation in 2011.
The previous DOCs retain their identity as sub-zones within the Terre di Cosenza DOC.

59
Q

Which of the Terre di Cosenza DOC sub-zones are the most noteworthy?

A
  • Donnici
  • Pollino
60
Q

What grapes are used to produce wines in Terre di Cosenza DOC?

A

Bianco based on:
* Greco Bianco
* Guarnaccia Bianca

Rosso based on:
* Magliocco

Varietal:
* Magliocco
* Gaglioppo
* Greco Bianco
* among others

61
Q

What styles of wine are produced in Terre di Cosenza DOC?

A
  • bianco
  • rosato
  • rosso
  • spumante
  • novello
  • passito
  • varietal
62
Q

Name the appellations of the Tyrrhenian Coast.

A
  • Savuto DOC
  • Lamezia DOC
  • Scavigna DOC

These appellations lie between the southern end of the Catena Costiera and the Sant’Eufemia Plain.

63
Q

What grapes/wines are produced in the appellations of the Tyrrhenian Coast in Calabria?

A

Red wines based on:
* Gaglioppo
* Magliocco
* Aglianico

White wines based on:
* Greco Bianco
* Mantonico Bianco

64
Q

What is odd about wine productio in the Scavigna DOC?

A

It allows for a white blend based on:
* Chardonnay
* Gewurztraminer

65
Q

Name the minor appellations fo the Ionian Coast.

A
  • Melissa DOC (on central Ionian coast)
  • S. Anna di isola Capo Rizzuto DOC (on central Ionian coast)
  • Bivongi DOC (on southern half of the Ionian coast)
66
Q

What grapes/wines are produced in the Melissa DOC?

A
  • Gaglioppo-based red wines.
  • Greco Bianco-based white wines.
67
Q

What grapes/wines are produced in the S. Anna di Isola Capo Rizzuto DOC?

A

This DOC focuses only on Gaglioppo-based red wines.

68
Q

What grapes/wines are produced in the Bivongi DOC?

A

Focus is on whites crafted from:
* Greco Bianco
* Mantonicao Bianco
* other local varieties

Reds crafted from:
* Gaglioppo
* Greco Nero

Italian Wine Scholar: Central & Southern Italy (29 decks)

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