Ch 29 - Southern Italy Flashcards
What is the climate in Southern Italy and what natural factors moderate the area?
Climate is hot and dry inland, becoming humid near the coast. Many vineyards are located on slopes within the Apennines, altitude provides some relief from the heat. Sea breezes cool the vineyards located on the flatter terrain of the Puglian peninsula.
What are the practices for vineyard management in Southern Italy?
Traditionally, vines were bush-trained low to the ground with leaf cover protecting the grapes from sunburn. Cordon training and trellising are the most common methods now. These also allow for mechanisation on the flat plain of Puglia.
What natural factors influence the varieties which can be grown in Campania?
Varied landscape with mountains, valleys and coastal plains - range of black and white can be grown here.
What are the best white wines made from in Campania?
Fiano and Greco - best examples from Fiano di Avellino DOCG and Greco di Tufo DOCG.
What are the style of wines made from Fiano in Campania? Comment on ageing and oak use.
Medium acidity, medium to full body with aromas of stone fruit, melons and mango. Made to be drunk young but better examples are matured in oak and can be aged in bottle. Develop aromas of wax and honey.
What are the style of wines made from Greco in Campania? Comment on fermentation, ageing and oak use.
More acidity, leaner in body - green apple, stone fruit and passion fruit flavours. Most ferment in stainless steel but some use old oak and lees stirring to enhance texture. Best can age in bottle developing honey and mushroom aromas.
What is the most prestigious black grape in Southern Italy?
Aglianico - deep colour with high acidity and tannin and flavours of black fruit. Matured in oak and can age in bottle, develops earthy, forest floor notes. Found in other parts of Aglianico but at its best in Taurasi DOCG.
What are the natural factors that influence wine in Basilicata and what is the dominant grape/ best DOC in the region?
Extremely mountainous region. Vineyards can reach 900m especially on vast, high plain that surrounds the volcano of Monte Vulture. Aglianico is main grape - Aglianico del Vulture DOC - best in the region.
What grapes are grown in Puglia and why?
Hot climate means black grapes dominate - notably Negroamaro and Primitive (aka Zinfandel).
What wines do Negroamaro and Primitivo make when grown at high yields in Puglia and how are they labelled?
Grown at high yileds - produce simple fruity wines for early drinking sold as Puglia IGT.
What style of wine does Negroamaro grapes produce in Puglia when yields are controlled? What is the main DOC for these?
High quality, full bodied with medium tannins and acidity, high alcohol and baked red and black fruit. Many of the best are from Salice Salentino DOC.
What wines does Primitivo produce when yields are controlled?
High quality wines in similar style to Negroamaro. Best are full bodied, medium tannins and acidity, high alcohol and flavours of very ripe berries.
What are high yield grapes used for in Sicily (labelling terms)? What about when yields are slighly lowered?
IGT Terre di Sicilia/Terre Siciliane. Lowered - Sicilia DOC.
What is the dominant black grape in Sicily? What characters does it have?
Nero d’Avola - produces medium to full bodied wines with medium acidity and tannins with aromas of plums and black cherries. Often made in a fruity, early drinking style but those from best producers are more concentrated and complex.
What international varieties are planted in Sicily?
Chardonnay and Syrah - Syrah has been particularly successful.
