Ch19 So IT Flashcards
Describe the location of Campania
SW IT
S of Lazio
N of Calabria (not covered for D3)
On Tyrrhenian Sea
Sits between Mediterranean (Tyrrhenian) Sea and Apennine mtns
Where are the vineyards of Campania
Most viticulture is on the slopes
Altitudes of 200-600M
What wine of Campania was known for its quality and ability to age in Roman times?
Falernain
Unknown varieties
From N Campania
What wine(s) is Campania currently known for?
for 3 local white varieties: Falanghina, Greco, Fiano
For the black variety Aglianico, esp from Taurasi DOCG
Describe the climate of Campania
Weather hazards?
warm Med
Vines on inland slopes up to 600 M have cooling influence
Since many of grown varieties are late-ripening, they can be threatened by cold & rainy AU
Spring frost can be a problem for vines planted in first pockets or on lower slopes?
Describe the soils of Campania and the key denominations where they are found
3 main soil types
Limestone & clay in hills (balance of fast draining + water retention): Fiano di Avellino DOCG, Greco di Tufo DOCG, Taurasi DOCG
Volcanic & sandy (around Naples) Campi Flegrei DOC, Vesuvius DOC (incl wines labeled Lacryma Crhisti)
Alluvial sediments: large area btw Naples & Benvento w/ a # of DOCs & IGPs
What are the soils of Fiano di Avellino DOCG, Greco di Tufo DOCG and Taurasi DOCG?
limestone & clay
Good balance of fast draining yet water retention
What are the soils of Campi Flegrei DOC and Vesuvio DOC
Volcanic and sandy
Campi Flegrei DOC has tuff, pumice and sandy soils, fast draining
What is notable overall about Campania wines?
Wines are made predominantly w/ local varieties
Most are 100% varietal or 85% + authorized blending variety
Barbera and Sangiovese are also grown for local consumption and bulk wine
Describe the most grown white grape in Campania
Name th grape
Susceptibility
Ripening and implications
Falanghina
Workhorse variety
Has risen in popularity since 1980s, especially in hospitality
Good disease resistance, but fruit can shrivel at end of season so harvest date selection important
Mid- to late-ripening —> sometimes threatened by AU rain
Describe wines made with Falanghina grape
M int
Apple, white peach, herbaceous notes (grass)
M+ acid
Nearly all are un-oaked
A to VG
$ to $$
What denominations in Campania produce Falanghina?
Falanghina del Sannio — max yield 84 hL/ha, accounts for 1/3
Campi Flegrei produces lower alc wines (12-13%) due to windier conditions than inland; max 84 hL/ha
Describe the Greco grape
Color
Suceptibility —> implications
Ripening
White
Late ripening (?) [picked 1st week of Oct]
Prone to grey rot + powdery & downy mildew
Low vigor and productivity
Tolerant to heat and is drought-resistant —> suitable to warm region
How are Greco vines typically trained?
Guyot system or cordon-trained w/ spur prune, allowing for some mechanization on less-steep slopes
Describe Greco di Tufo DOCG area
Small but densely planted area
Limestone & clay soils (good drainage + water retention)
Tufo refers to town, not soil type
Max yield 70 hL/ha
Describe Greco di Tufo DOCG wines
Greco grape
Deep lemon
Floral, stone fruit, smoky
High alcohol
Most un-oaked
Best can age in bottle
VG w/ some O; $$ to $$$
What white wine grape was rescued from neglect in the Campania region and by whom?
Fiano grape
Mastroberardino family after WWII
How is Fiano typically trained?
Guyot and Cordons w/ VSP are common
Describe the Fiano Grape
Quality
Susceptible
Skins
potentially high quality
Sensitive to both forms of mildew
Has thick skins so can resist botrytis
Late ripening
What rules for Fiano di Avellino DOCG
Fiano grape (not in book, but min 85% w/ up to 15% Greco, Coda di Volbe Bianca &/or Trebbiano Toscano)
Max yields 70 hL/ha
Describe Fiano di Avellino DOCG wines
M(-) to M int
Floral, peach, hazelnut
M+ body
M to M+ acidity
Waxy texture
2 expressions, depending on soils
Lighter fruitier from open, sandy soils
Weightier from clay-dominated soils
VG to O, $$ to $$$
Best can age 8-10 yr in bottle
How does the soil type affect Fiano di Avellino? What 2 styles result
2 expressions, depending on soils
Lighter fruitier from open, sandy soils
Weightier from clay-dominated soils
Describe the Aglianico grape
Color
Budding, ripening and implications
Vigor
Black
Early budding —> vulnerable to frost
Late ripening —> AU rain can be issue
Req long season (early bud, late ripe) to ripen tannins
Vigorous —> need to control
Prone to botrytis bunch rot
How is Aglianico typically trained?
mostly planted on spur pruned cordons or cane pruned w/ VSP
M density, enabling some mechanization
Describe Aglianico wines
M+ to pronounce int
Rose, red plum, blackberry
High acidity
High tannins (can soften by aging in high qual small barrels or long aging in traditional large barrels + age in bottle)
Generally high qual from Taurasi DOCG — VG to O, $$ to $$$
What rules for Taurasi DOCG?
Min 85% Aglianico
Max 70 hL/ha
Min 3 yr age, min 1 of which in wood (4 yr, 18 mo for Riserva)
Describe the winemaking of Taurasi DOCG
grapes picked fairly late: end of Oct/ early Nov for full ripeness of seeds and skins
Long maceration (20+ days)
Aged in FRO barriques, or large oak casks, min 3 yr (1 of which in wood); Riserva = 4 yr, 18 mo
What is the export market for Taurasi DOCG?
sales split between IT and exports
USA most important market
What is Piedirosso
an old Campanian red variety
Probably NOT from Vesuvius area
Mainly grown around Naples (Campi Flegrei DOC and Vesuvio DOC)
Describe the profile of wines made from Peidirosso
Makes pale ruby wines w/ fresh M+ acidity, M tannins, red plum & cherry
Harvested late but produces wines of only 12-13% abv
$$ to $$$
Describe the Piedirosso grape
Susceptibilities
adapted to heat & drought
Flourishes w/ only 600mm rainfall and windy conditions
Has open bunches w/ thick skins so resists botrytis
Not very troubled by powdery or downy mildew due to windy conditions
Many planted on own rootstock (phylloxera present but does not spread in sandy soils)
Harvested late
How are vines of Piedirosso trained?
low densities
Own rootstock
Trained very high w/ many bunches for high volume production
Producers now moving to Guyot or spurred cordons for better quality and concentration
What is Piedirosso used for?
partly used to make early-drinking varietal wines
Partly used to soften Aglianico-based wines where it adds perfume & freshness
Describe winemaking for Piedirosso
- most aged in SS or old oak (a few top in NFRO)
What is/are the main market (s) for Piedirosso?
Principally local (region, Naples and its tourists)
Some int’l interest due to overall interest in Volcanic soil wines
Name key private wine companies doing biz in Campania
Mastroberardino — played significant role in recovery and commercialization of Campanian varieties
Terredora — offshoot of Mastroberardino
Feudi di San Gregorio — has done much to update the image of the region’s wines
Name a key co-op of Campania
La Guardiense in province of Benevento
1000 members that make ~15% of province production
Where is Baslicata?
S IT
Between Campania & Puglia
What level of wine dominates Basilicata (DOC(G), IGT, simple “wine”)
- Most production is IGT or “wine”
What is the most important denomination of Basilicata?
Aglianico del Vulture DOC, to the E of Monte Vulture, an inactive volcano
Same grape — Aglianico — as the most important red of neighboring Campania
What rules apply to Aglianico del Vulture DOC?
Superiore?
Riserva?
must be 100% Aglianico (more than Taurasi’s 85%)
Max yield 70 hL/ha (same as Taurasi in Campania)
Min 1 yr age (less than Taurasi)
Superiore DOCG: max 52 hL/ha, 3 yr age/ 1oak
Riserva 5 yr/ 2 oak
Describe the growing environment for Aglianico del Vulture DOC
clay, limestone and volcanic soils (stony, lava, ash layers); volcanic layers provide excellent drainage while clay and limestone hold water — important given 550mm rainfall
Warm Mediterranean w/ cooling influence of altitude up to 600m —> high diurnals; breezes from Bulkans
Describe the wines of Aglianico del Vulture DOC
High int
Increasingly aged in FRO barriques, some new
Red plum and blackberry
Full body
High acid
Usually High alcohol
High tannins
VG to O, $$ to $$$, capable of aging
What is the export market for Aglianico del Vulture?
divided between IT and export markets
Main exports markets: USA, Japan, China, N Europe
Significant producers for Aglianico del Vulture?
Trade group?
Long-established Paternoster (now owned by Tommasi from Veneto)
D’Angelo
Elena Fucci
Geneazione Vulture is a group of young growers keen to promote the region and its wine
Where is Puglia?
SE IT, farthest SE
S of Abruzzo, E of Basilicata
Describe the climate of Puglia
Hot Mediterranean
Moderating breezes from the Sea (Adriatic)