Central Italy #2

Question 1

What are the two Verdicchio-based DOCG’s of the Marche?

Answer 1

• Verdicchio di Matelica Riserva DOCG
• Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva DOCG

Question 2

Which Verdicchio DOCG is coastal, and which is inland?

Answer 2

• Castelli di Jesi is coastal
• Matelica is inland, and higher altitude

Question 3

What is the minimum aging for riserva Verdicchio? (Marche)

Answer 3

18mos

Question 4

What are the two DOCs for Verdicchio, and what are the denominazione? (Marche)

Answer 4

Verdicchio di Matelica - Verdicchio/Spumante/Passito
Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi - Verdicchio/Spumante/Passito/Classico/Classico Superiore

Question 5

What are the requirements for Conero Rosso Riserva DOCG? (Marche)

Answer 5

• Min. 85% Montepulciano, plus Sangiovese
• 2 years of aging

Question 6

What styles are permitted for Vernaccia di Serrapetrona DOCG? (Marche)

Answer 6

• Sparkling red, either dry or sweet
• 85% Vernaccia Nera, 40% passito grapes

Question 7

What styles are authorized for Offida DOCG? When was it elevated? (Marche)

Answer 7

Pecorino (85%)
Passerina (white) (85%)
Rosso (85% Montepulciano, aged 24mos, 12 in wood)
2011

Question 8

What DOC overlaps with Offida (March), and what styles are authorized?

Answer 8

Terre di Offida DOC
Passerina Spumante - 6mos on the lees
Passerina Vin Santo - 260g/L must weight, 18mos of aging, 12mos in wood of less than 500L
Passerina Passito - 260g/L must weight, 36mos of aging, 24mos in wood of less than 500L

Question 9

The wines of Lacrima di Morro di Alba DOC (Marche) are red or white?

Answer 9

Red - 85% Lacrima

Question 10

What are the DOCG’s of the Marche?

Answer 10

• Verdicchio di Matelica Riserva DOCG
• Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva DOCG
• Conero Rosso Riserva DOCG
• Offida DOCG
• Vernaccia di Serrapetrona DOCG

Question 11

Where is Abruzzo?

Answer 11

South of the Marche on the Adriatic Coast

Question 12

What is the second most planted grape in Italy?

Answer 12

Montepulciano

Question 13

What is the most planted grape in Italy?

Answer 13

Sangiovese

Question 14

Where in Italy will you see the term Cerasuolo outside of Sicily?

Answer 14

May be applied to rosato wines in Abruzzo

Question 15

What four contiguous DOC’s cover all of Abruzzo’s winegrowing area?

Answer 15

• Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
• Trebbiano d’Abruzzo
• Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo
• Abruzzo

Question 16

What/where is Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Colline Teramane DOCG?

Answer 16

• Essentially the Classico zone of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo; requires 90% Montepulciano (v. 85% for DOC)
• two years of aging, with one in wood
• Riserva ages for 3 years, one in wood

Question 17

What DOC sits within Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Colline Teramane?

Answer 17

Controguerra

Question 18

Who are the two major producers of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, and how do they release their wines?

Answer 18

Emidio Pepe and Edouardo Valentini.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC

Question 19

Trebbiano d’Abruzzo DOC wines may be produced from what varietals?

Answer 19

Trebbiano Toscano or Trebbiano d’Abruzzo

Question 20

What is the local synonym for Trebbiano d’Abruzzo?

Answer 20

Bombino

Question 21

Where is Emidio Pepe?

Answer 21

Torano Nuovo

Question 22

Emidio Pepe: winemaking

Answer 22

Unfined, unfiltered, no sulphur, no oak (all cement)
Manual destemming
3 years of bottle age before release, minimum; young vines bottlings are released in Italy at this point. Most wines see 8-12 years of elevage - the wine is released “when it’s ready.”

Question 23

How much of each year’s production does Pepe set aside for extended bottle aging?

Answer 23

50% (may be up to 80% in great vintages)

Question 24

Emidio Pepe: Wines

Answer 24

• Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
• Pecorino (Colli Aprutini IGT)
• Trebbiano d’Abruzzo
• Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo (not imported)

Question 25

Edoardo Valentini: Wines

Answer 25

Montepuciano d’Abruzzo
Trebbiano d’Abruzzo
Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo

Question 26

What distinguishes southern Abruzzo from northern Abruzzo?

Answer 26

Southern Abruzzo is much hotter, flatter, and more fertile, housing most of the state’s co-ops and producing 2/3 of all Montepulciano d’Abruzzo annually.
Northern Abruzzo is higher elevation, with ferrous clay and limestone soils, more given over to artisanal production.

Question 27

What are the major white grapes of Lazio?

Answer 27

Trebbiano Toscano and Malvasia

Question 28

What is the style of Cannellino di Frascati DOCG? (Lazio)

Answer 28

Late harvest
Min. 70% Malvasia Bianca di Candia and Malvasia del Lazio, plus
35g/L RS

Question 29

What are the styles of Frascati Superiore DOCG?

Answer 29

Superiore, Superiore Riserva
Min. 70% Malvasia Bianca di Candia and Malvasia del Lazio, plus
Riserva wines age for one year, and have 1 additional degree of alcohol 13% v 12%

Question 30

What is the main grape in Frascati DOC?

Answer 30

Min 70% Malvasia, plus
Still (secco, amabile, abboccato)
Sparkling (brut or extra dry)

Question 31

What are the styles and varietals in Est! Est!! Est!!! di Montefiascone DOC?

Answer 31

Bianco/Classico (secco, abboccato, amabile)
Spumante (secco)
50-56% Trebbiano Toscano/Procanico, plus 25-40% Trebbiano Giallo, plus Malvasia Bianco Lunga/Malvasia del Lazio, plus

Question 32

What is the only red wine DOCG in Lazio?

Answer 32

• Cesanese del Piglio DOCG
• 90% combined Cesanese di Affile and Cesanese comune, plus

Normale: 12% abv, released 2/1
Superiore: 13% abv, released 7/1
Riserva: 14% abv, aged 20mos

Question 33

Falesco is one of the best known producers in Lazio; what are they known for?

Answer 33

BDX varietal wines.

Question 34

What are the DOCG’s of Lazio?

Answer 34

• Cesanese del Piglio DOCG
• Frascati Superiore DOCG
• Canellino di Frascati DOCG