Ch. 15-19 – Italy Flashcards
Italy
Italy
Italian wine history
back to at least 8th century BCE
- Phoenician and Greek influence
Expansion of Rome created home market for wine
- export in amphorae to modern day France and Spain
- wines from Lazio and Campania
Genoa and Venice trading centres of Europe
- wine as part of standard diet
Written report on Italian grape varieties
- 16th century
- Andrea Bacci
19th century - modern styles established
- Chianti
- International varieties in Northern Italy
After war - focus on high volume
Modernization in 1960s
- temperature control
- Bordeaux blends in Tuscany
- raising ambitions for high quality
- commercial success of Pinot Grigio and Prosecco
First written report on Italian grape varieties
when and who
Andrea Bacci
16th century
Italy general climate
Apennines running down mosst of the country
- providing wide range of sites
Most regions are influenced by sea
Inland regions - continental climate
In general warm Mediterranean
- very suitable for viticulture
General - grape varieties
between 375 and 500 identified varieties
- some strongly associated with single region
Sangiovese Pinot Grigio Trebbiano Glera Montepulciano Cattarato Merlot Chardonnay Primitivo Barbera
General - winemaking
Influence from Germany in white winemaking
- stainless ferment, controlled temp
Red winemaking - influenced by France
- new French oak (SuperToscans)
- Traditionally large Slavonian oak - oxidation but no new oak flavours
- old oak and large vessels are now comming back
- wine from local varieties does not have new oak flavours
Wine laws and regulations
DOC
- Denominazione di Origine Controllata 1967
DOCG
- Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Grantita 1980
- stricter rules
IGT
- Indicazione Geografia Tipica
- PGI (corresponding to Vin de Pays)
- wines from defined but larger area
- wider choice of varieties and styles
- typically higher yields
Vino
- replacement for ‘vino da tavola’
Legally defined labelling terms:
Classico:
- wines made exclusively from rapes grown within historical area of DOC or DOCG
Superiore
- Wines with higher minimum alcohol level
- typically additional 0,5%
Riserva
- Submitted to certain ageing period
- at least 2 years for red and 1 year for white
- some DOC/DOCG specify ageing and part of it in oak
First attempt to define wine production area legally
who and when
1716
Grand Duke Cosimo III de’Medici
Geographical limits of Chianti, Pomino (modern Chianti Rufina), Carmignano and Val d’Arno di Sopra
Criminal penalties for fraud
Law has never been used
DOCG
Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita
Classico
Classico:
- wines made exclusively from rapes grown within historical area of DOC or DOCG
Superiore
Superiore
- Wines with higher minimum alcohol level
- typically additional 0,5%
Riserva
Riserva
- Submitted to certain ageing period
- at least 2 years for red and 1 year for white
- some DOC/DOCG specify ageing and part of it in oak
IGT
IGT
- Indicazione Geografia Tipica
- PGI (corresponding to Vin de Pays)
- wines from defined but larger area
- wider choice of varieties and styles
- typically higher yields
General Wine business
One of two largest wine producing countries
Average size of vineyard is small (less than 2 ha)
- many cooperatives
- Caviro, (10% of wine by volume) Cantine Riunite, Gruppo Italiano Vini, Santa Margherita, Zonin
Local wine consumption is in long-term decline
Italian largest companies
Caviro, (10% of wine by volume) Cantine Riunite Gruppo Italiano Vini Santa Margherita Zonin
Trentino-Alto Adige general
influenced by Austrian heritage
- Trentino italian speaking
- Alto-Adige (Sudtirol) majority German speaking
At foothills of Alps
- vineyards at lower slopes
Both international and local varieties
Mostry single varietal wines
Most common varieties in Trentino
75% white
Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Muller-Thurgau, Pinot Bianco, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Nosiola
- mostly unoaked, fresh
Teroldego, Merlot, Marzemino, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Lagrein
Trentino - growing environment and viticulture
Moderate continental climate with cooling influences
- mountains provide protection from north cold winds
- moderating influence of Lake Garda
- heat builds up at valley floor
- cool air descending from mountains
- wide diurnal range - higher acidity, longer growing season
Historically pergola trained vines for high yields
- now trellised vineyards
Grapes allowed in Trentino DOC
and max yields
white 100 hl/ha
red 90 hl/ha
10 white grapes and 9 black varieties allowed as single varietal
Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Muller-Thurgau, Pinot Bianco, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer
Merlot, Marzemino, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir
Teroldego
Vigorous
Mid to late ripening
Historically pergola trained for high yields
- now Guyot
Suffers from drying out of stems
Less susceptible to mildew
Deeply coloured, medium tannin, black cherry
Best quality from Teroldego Rotaliano DOC
(sandy and gravelly soils)
Cannot be labelled as Trentino DOC
- but as Vini delle Dolomiti IGT
Marzemino
Vigorous
Mid to late ripening
Prone to botrytis bunch rot and powdery mildew
Older vines usually on pergolas, younger vines trained as spurred cordons
Deeply coloured, medium tannin, red cherry
Best wines from Ziresi subzone of Trentino DOC
- full sun exposure, rich calcareous/clay soils and basalt
Lagrein
Vigorous
Mid to late ripening
Needs warm site with plenty of sun to fully ripen
Subject to poor fruit set
Bitterness and harshness on finish is addressed by shorter maceration and oak ageing
Used in rose (deep colour)
Can be labelled italian/german
- Lagrein rubino/dunkel or Lagrein rosato/kretzer
Deeply coloured, medium tannin , ripe berry fruit
Best DOC for Teroldego
Teroldego Rotaliano DOC
Possible labeling for Teroldego
Teroldego Rotaliano DOC
Vini delle Dolomiti IGT
! Cannot be labelled as Trentino DOC