Central & Southern Italy

Question 1

What geographical feature dominates central Italy. How does it impact grape growing in the region

Answer 1

Appennine Mts. Allow planting of grapes in the hills and valleys of the range allowing cooling altitude to mitigate the warm climate. Vineyards on either side of the peninsula benefit from sea breezes

Question 2

Into what 3 parts can Tuscany be divided

Answer 2

Mountainous Chianti region in the north
Hills and Valleys of the south
Flat coastal plain

Question 3

When does Sangiovese ripen. Comment on its tannin and acid

Answer 3

Late. High High

Question 4

What is the flavor profile of Sangiovese. What Tertiary flavors develop with age

Answer 4

Red cherry, plums and dried herbs. Meat & game

Question 5

Between what 3 cities is Chianti

Answer 5

Pisa, Florence and Siena

Question 6

How many sub zones is Chianti divided into. Give 2 examples of single subzone Chianti where the sub zone name appears on the label

Answer 6

7. Chianti Rufina DOCG. Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG

Question 7

Where in relation to the others are Chianti Classico vineyards. What effect does this have on the wines

Answer 7

At higher altitude resulting in slower ripening and greater acidity and herbal aromas

Question 8

How long must Chianti Classico and Classico Riserva be aged

Answer 8

12 months. Riserva ages 24 months of which 3 must be in bottle

Question 9

What is the highest designation for Chianti and how long must it be aged

Answer 9

Gran Selezione. All grapes sourced from a single estate and wine aged 30 months

Question 10

Are the vineyards of S Tuscany lower or higher than Chianti. What mitigates the effect of the different elevation

Answer 10

Lower and hotter, cool maritime breezes from SW can mitigate the hotter climate

Question 11

What are the best known appellations in the S Tuscany region

Answer 11

Brunelo di Montalcino DOCG

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG

Question 12

What are the stipulations regarding production of Brunelo

Answer 12

100% Sangiovese. Aged 5 years of which 2 must be in oak

Question 13

What are the stipulations regarding production of Vino Nobile

Answer 13

Blend of Sangiovese with other permitted varietals. Aged 2 years

Question 14

What would Brunelo and Vino Nobile be called if they were declassified to DOC as a result of a poor vintage for example

Answer 14

Rosso di Montalcino DOC

Rosso di Montepulciano DOC

Question 15

What are super Tuscans likely to be labelled as. Which 2 DOC now allow production of DOC wine with 100% non Italian grapes

Answer 15

Toscana IGT. Bogheri DOC and Maremma DOC

Question 16

What white wine is Umbria known for. What grapes is it a blend of and what is its profile

Answer 16

Orvieto DOC. Grecheto and Trebbiano

Light body, med - high acid rich grapefruit and peach

Question 17

How is Orvieto treated in the winery

Answer 17

Protectively - fermented in SS

Question 18

What is Umbria’s most famous red

Answer 18

Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG

Question 19

What is Sagrantino’s skin like

Answer 19

Thick

Question 20

Best known wine from Lazio. What is it a blend of and what is its profile

Answer 20

Frascati DOC. Trebbiano and Malvasia.

Med Body, med to high acid citrus, floral and orange blossom ( from the Malvasia )

Question 21

What is the most famous wine of La Marche and what s its profile. What flavors can the better ones develop with age

Answer 21

Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC

High acid, green apples, lemons and sometimes fennel and almonds. Honey and almonds with bottle age

Question 22

What is a red wine from La Marche. What are the grapes

Answer 22

Conero DOCG. Montelpulciano and Sangiovese

Question 23

What is flavor profile of Montepulciano D’Abruzzo

Answer 23

Simple, black plums and cherries, med acid, high tannin

Question 24

What is the climate of S Italy. What mitigates this climate

Answer 24

Hot and dry inland becoming humid near the coast. Altitude within the Apennines and coastal breezes cool the vineyards somewhat.

Question 25

which regions of the south are known for high volume production

Answer 25

Puglia and Sicily

Question 26

What was traditionally the most common pruning and training method. What is done today

Answer 26

Bush vines low to the ground with leaf cover providing shade. Today cordon training and trellising are more common to allow mechanisation on Puglia's flat plain

Question 27

which region has the most DOCGs in the south

Answer 27

Campania

Question 28

Name 2 white Campanian appellations

Answer 28

Fiano di Avellino DOCG | Greco di Tufo DOCG

Question 29

What is the profile of Fiano. What flavors develop with age

Answer 29

med acid, med to full body, stone fruit, melons and mango. Wax and honey with age

Question 30

What is the profile of Greco. What flavors develop with age

Answer 30

High acid, lean body, green apple, stone fruit and passion fruit. sometimes lees. Honey and mushroom with age

Question 31

What is the most important black grape of the south. What is its profile and what flavors develop with age. What is the best appellation for it

Answer 31

Aglianico. Deep color, high tannin, high acid, black fruit. Earthy forest floor notes. Taurasi DOCG

Question 32

What is considered the best wine of Basilicata

Answer 32

Aglianico del Vulture DOC

Question 33

What are the black grapes of Puglia. What are they labelled as when grown at high yields

Answer 33

Primitivo and Negroamaro | Puglia IGT

Question 34

What is the profile of high quality Negroamaro. Which is the best appellation

Answer 34

full body, med tannin, med acid, high alcohol, baked black and red fruit. Salice Salentino DOC

Question 35

What is the profile of high quality Primitivo

Answer 35

full body, med tannin, med acid, high alcohol, very ripe berry fruit

Question 36

High yield wines from Sicily most likely labelled as ?. | If they yields are lower ?

Answer 36

IGT Terre di Sicilia / Terre Sicilia | Sicilia DOC

Question 37

Profile of Nero d'Avola

Answer 37

Med - full body, med tannin, med acid, plums. black cherry

Question 38

what do Sicillian white wines made from blends of local grapes typically taste like

Answer 38

Citrus and stone fruit

Question 39

What international grapes are grown in Sicily

Answer 39

Chardonnay and Syrah

Question 40

What are the red grapes of Etna DOC. When blended what is their profile

Answer 40

Nerello Mascalese Nerello Cappucio High acid, high tannin sour cherry, cranberry, raspberry, dried herbs. Mushroom with age

Question 41

What is the profile of high quality Etna whites

Answer 41

High acid, med body, citrus, stoney. Honey and wax with age