Campania Flashcards
Where is Campania located?
South of Lazio, between the Mediterranean and the Apennine mountains
At what altitude does most viticulture take place in Campania?
Between 200 to 600m above sea level
What is the climate in Campania?
Where are inland vines planted to mitigate this?
Warm Mediterranean
Inland vines are planted on slopes up to 600m providing cooling influence
Are most varieties in Campania late or early ripening?
Late ripening: they are well adapted to the heat
What weather hazards can pose a problem for grape growing in Campania?
Spring frosts (namely in frost pockets, lower slopes or on the valley floor)
Cold rainy autumns (can affect harvest)
Which three DOC(G)s in Campania have the following soil type and what is the main grape?
Limestone and clay in the hills, with a good balance between water retention and fast draining
Fiano di Avellino DOCG (Fiano)
Greco di Tufo DOCG (Greco)
Taurasi DOCG (Aglianico)
Which two DOC(G)s in Campania have the following soil type and what is their main grape?
Volcanic and sandy soils in the volcanic area around Naples. Sandy, tuff, pumice soils are generally fast draining
Campi Flegrei DOC (whites from Falanghina, reds and roses from Piedirosso)
Vesuvio DOC (whites from Coda di Volpe and reds from Piedirosso)
Which two areas in Campania have the following soil type?
Alluvial soils in the large area between Benevento and Naples
Sannio DOC
Benevento IGP
There are a large number of denominations in this area using a wide range of Campanian and Italian varietals
Falanghina del Sannio DOC is grown on what type of soils?
What is the maximum yield?
Alluvial sediments
84hl/ha
Give a typical tasting note for Falanghina wine
Medium intensity Apple, white peach, herbaceous, grassy Medium plus acidity Usually unoaked Acceptable to very good Inexpensive to mid priced
Is Falanghina an early or late ripening variety? How does this affect it?
Mid to late ripening
Can be threatened by autumn rains
Can shrivel at the end of the season
What is the maximum yield for Campi Flegrei wines?
What is the main grape variety?
What type of soils are there?
84hl/ha
Falanghina
Tuff, pumice and sandy soils (volcanic and free draining)
Give a typical tasting note for Greco wine
Deep lemon colour High alcohol Oily texture Floral, stone fruit, smoky Unoaked Best will age in bottle V.good to outstanding Mid priced to premium
How are Greco vines typically trained in Campania?
Guyot or cordon trained and spur pruned
Allowing for some mechanisation
Give the key characteristics of the Greco vine
Drought resistant
Low vigour
Prone to grey rot
Prone to downy and powdery mildews
What type of soils are in Greco di Tufo DOCG?
What is the maximum yield?
Limestone and clay soils, with a balance between good drainage and water retention
70hl/ha
It is a small, densely planted DOCG
How are Fiano vines typically trained?
Guyot and cordons with VSP
Give the key characteristics of the Fiano vine
Thick skins (Botrytis resistant) Sensitive to powdery and downy mildew Late ripening
How do Fiano wines from sandy soils differ to those from clay dominated soils with more water retention?
Lighter, fruitier wines from sandier soils
Weightier wines from clay soils
Describe the quality and price you would expect for a Fiano wine from Campania
Very good to outstanding
Mid to premium priced
Give a tasting note for a typical Fiano d’Avellino DOCG wine
Medium (-) to medium intensity Floral, peach, hazelnut Medium to medium (+) acidity Medium to medium (+) body Waxy texture
What type of soils are in Fiano d’Avellino DOCG?
What is the maximum yield?
Limestone and clay in the hills, with a good balance between water retention and fast draining
70hl/ha
Give a tasting note for a typical Aglianico wine
Medium (+) to pronounced intensity Rose, red plum, blackberry High acidity High tannin Potential to age in bottle or cask
Give the key characteristics of the Aglianico vine
Early budding (prone to spring frost) Late ripening (long growing season to ripen tannins / risk of rain in autumn) Vigorous Vulnerable to botrytis
How are most Aglianico vines trained in Campania?
Why?
Spurred cordons or can pruned with VSP
To enable some mechanisation
Where are the best sites for Aglianico in Campania?
Why?
On cool slopes at 200m to 600m
Cooler sites allow for a longer growing season, riper tannins and more intense flavours
What is the main grape in Taurasi DOCG?
What is the maximum yield?
What type of soils are there?
Aglianico (minimum 85%)
70hl/ha
Limestone and clay in the hills
What is the minimum ageing requirement for Taurasi DOCG?
What is the minimum ageing requirement for Taurasi Riserva DOCG?
Taurasi: 3 years, 1 in wood
Taurasi Riserva: 4 years, 18 months in wood
When does harvest for Aglianico in Taurasi DOCG typically take place? Why?
End of October, early November
Aglianico is a late ripening variety and needs to have fully ripe skins and pips before picking
How long would Taurasi producers typically macerate Aglianico on skins for?
What vessels would typically be used for ageing?
20 or more days
French oak barriques or casks
Give a tasting note for a typical Piedirosso wine
Pale ruby Red plum, red cherry Medium (+) acidity Medium alcohol Medium tannin
Give the key characteristics of the Piedirosso vine
Drought resistant
Vines often planted on own roots at low density
Little troubled by mildews (dry, windy conditions)
Open bunches
Thick skins (botrytis resistant)
How are most Piedirosso vines trained? Why?
Guyot or spur cordons
Help acheive greater concentration of flavour
What is the main varietal in Campi Flegrei DOC and Vesuvio DOC red wines?
What is the minimum proportion the variety must make up in these wines?
Piedirosso
Minimum 50% but most wines are 100%
What style of wine does Piedirosso produce when used as a single varietal?
Why is it sometimes blended with Aglianico?
Early, easy drinking single varietal wines
Piedirosso softens Aglianico and adds perfume and freshness
What is the DOC for the province of Avellino?
What is the DOC for the province of Benevenuto?
Are rules in these DOCs more or less stringent
Avellino : Irpinia DOC
Benevenuto : Sannio DOC
Less stringent - there are more permitted varieties
