Chapter 2- Northern Italy Reds Flashcards
What are the regions of Northern Italy and what do they have in common?
Piedmont, Valle d’Aosta, Liguria, Lombardy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia
- All connected by the Alps (Valle d’Aosta and Trentino-Alto Adige fully in Alps, Liguria fully in mountains- Alps and Apennines), other four regions partially in Alps and partially in Po Valley
- All border other countries: Liguria, Piedmont, and Valle d’Aosta border France/French Switzerland, Lombardy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto, and Friuli-Venezia Guilia border German Switzerland/Austria
- More affluent and business oriented than rest of Italy
- Temps in summer moderate in hills, hot on plain
- Coldest winters in Italy
- More humidity, more clouds, less sunshine than rest of Italy
How is climate of Northern Italy reflected in wines
High acidity, moderate alcohol, full phenolic ripeness
What is the most prestigious grape of Northern Italy and where is it grown predominantly
Nebbiolo, grown mainly in the northwest in Piedmont and Lombardy
What is the most prevalent grape in Northwest Italy?
Barbera
What is the most prized red grape in Veneto and what is it generally blended with?
Corvina, generally blended with Rondinella and often Corvinone
What are widespread international red grape varieties in Northern Italy
Mainly Merlot, but also Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Pinot Noir (Pinot Nero) - Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc can be labeled as just “Cabernet” in many Italian denominations
Barbera:
- Where native, current?
- Wine characteristics?
- Aroma and flavors?
- Best DOPs
- Native to Piedmont, now widespread in Italy and internationally
- Low tannin, high acidity, deep purple color
- Flavors: Tart red fruit (cherry, raspberry), dried herbs, lavender, underbrush, spices
- Best DOPs: Barbera d’Asti DOCG, Nizza DOCG
Brachetto:
- Wine characteristics?
- Aroma and flavors?
- Best DOP?
- Aromatic red variety, light bodied
- Sour red cherry, raspberry, strawberry, baking spices (cinnamon, nutmeg), floral notes
Best DOP: Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG
Corvina:
- Wine characteristics?
- Aromas and flavors?
- Heritage?
- Best DOP?
- Thick skin, ideal for air drying; light in color, tannin
- Violet, blackberry, red cherry, herbs
- Descendant of Marzemino and Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso
- Best DOP: Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG
Croatina:
- Wine characteristics?
- Aromas and flavors?
- Best DOP?
- High in color and tannin
- Red fruit (raspberry), ripe black cherry
- Best DOP: Bonarda dell’Oltrepo Pavese DOC
Dolcetto:
- Wine characteristics?
- Aromas and flavors?
- Best DOPs?
- Low in acidity, high in tannin; earlier ripening than Nebbiolo or Barbera
- “Grapey,” blueberry, black currant, violet, orange peel, black tea
- Best DOPs: Dogliani DOCG (most floral and powerful), Dolcetto d’Alba DOC (fullest body), Diano d’Alba DOCG (in between)
Known as Ormeasco di Pornassio in Liguria
Freisa
- Wine characteristics?
- Aroma and flavors?
- Best DOP/biotypes?
- High acidity, high tannin, can be bitter; close relative to Nebbiolo
- Strawberry, sour red cherry, sandalwood, earth
- Freisa d’Asti DOC, Biotype- Freisa di Chieri
Grignolino:
- Wine characteristic?
- Aromas and flavors?
- Best DOPs?
- High in acidity and tannins, light in body and color (orange or garnet tinge)
- fresh flowers, red berries (cranberry), spices (white pepper), sometimes bitter almond
- Best DOPs: Grignolino d’Asti DOC, Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese DOC
Lagrein:
- Wine characteristics?
- Aromas and flavors?
- Heritage?
- Full bodied, darkly colored, sometimes harsh, bitter tannins
- Blackberry, black plum, black tea, orange peel, cocoa
- Offspring of Teroldego
Nebbiolo:
- Also known as?
- Wine characteristics?
- Aromas and flavors?
- Three main biotypes?
- northern Piedmont: Spanna, Lombardy: Chiavennasca, Valle d’Aosta: Picotener
- Light colored, garnet/orange hue, high in acidity, tannins, and alcohol, extensive aging potential
3.flowers (red rose, violet), sour red cherry, cranberry, tea, tobacco, licorice, sandalwood, truffle - Lampia, Michet (a high quality version of Lampia with fanleaf virus), Rose (parent or offspring of Lampia; lighter in color, highly perfumed)
Raboso:
- Related varieties?
- Wine characteristics?
- Aromas and flavors?
- Best DOPs?
- Raboso Piave (aka Friularo) and its offspring Raboso Veronese
- High in acid, tannins, and anthocyanins (but loses color quickly)
- Strawberry, black cherry, violet, tobacco, black pepper
- Best DOPs: Piave DOC, Piave Malanotte DOCG, Bagnoli Friularo DOCG
What are the most significant (unrelated) Refosco varieties?
- Refosco del Peduncolo Rosso
2. Refosco Nostrano
Refosco del Peduncolo:
- Wine characteristics?
- Aromas and flavors?
- Best DOP?
- Rough tannins
- Dried red cherry, almond, herbs, flowers (lavender, geranium, violet)
- Friuli Colli Orientali DOC
Refosco Nostrano:
- Wine characteristics?
- Aromas and flavors?
- More acidic and less (but smoother) tannins than Refosco del Peduncolo
- Flowers (lavender, iris, rose), red licorice, spices (cardamom, cinnamon, marjoram)
Rondinella:
- Wine characteristics?
- Aromas and flavor?
- Most reliable, least problematic of Valpolicella varieties. Ruby red color, low in tannins
- Neutral, somewhat herbal
Schiava:
- Most significant of unrelated varieties
- AKA?
- Wine characteristics?
- Aromas and flavors?
- Best DOPs?
- Gentile, Grossa, Grigia - typically interplanted and blended together as Schiava
- Vernatsch (Sudtirol), Trollinger (Austria, Germany)
- Light to medium bodied, pinkish, high in acidity
- Intense strawberry, cherry, cranberry, almond, violet, red currant, pomegranate
- Best DOPs: Lago di Caldaro DOC, Santa Maddalena subzone of Alto Adige
Teroldego
- Wine characteristics
- Grape relation?
- Aroma and flavors?
- Best DOP?
- Darkly colored, soft tannins
- Related to Pinot Nero
- Red cherry, quinine, ink, tar, herbs
- Best DOP: Teroldego Rotaliano DOC
What does Piedmont/Piemonte mean?
Foot of the mountain
How many DOCs, DOCGs, and IGPs does Piedmont have?
DOCGs: 18, DOCs: 41 (tied with Tuscany), IGPs: none
What are the primary red varieties in Piedmont?
- Barbera: Most widely planted variety
- Dolcetto: Variety for everyday wines
- Nebbiolo: The most respected variety
Other Reds: Brachetto (mainly for sweet dessert wines), Freisa, Grignolino
Piedmont’s most famous red wine denominations
Barolo DOCG, Barbaresco DOCG, Barbera d’Asti DOCG
How many DOCGs are dedicated solely to Nebbiolo based wines? Which require 100% Nebbiolo? Which are in Piedmont/Lombardy?
100%: Barolo (Piedmont), Barbaresco (Piedmont)
85%: Piedmont - Roero (southern Piedmont, better known for whites, Terre Alfieri, Gattinara & Ghemme (both in northern Piedmont, make only Nebbiolo based varietal wine); Lombardy: Valtellina Superiore, Sforzato di Valtellina (also has Valtellina DOC)
What is the most prominent Barbers DOP?
Barbera d’Asti DOCG (varietal barbera wine from around city of Asti)
What is Nizza?
Former sub zone of Barbera d’Asti, gained own DOCG status in 2014, gaining in stature- considered to be best expression of Barbera and among Italy’s greatest wines
Where does the largest volume at Barbera at this level come from?
Barbera d’Alba DOC- includes town of Alba and hills of Barolo and Barbaresco
How many DOCGs dedicated to making 100% Dolcetto wines and what are their names?
Dogliano, Diano d’Alba (aka Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba, Ovada (aka Dolcetto di ovada superiore)
Where is the largest amount of Dolcetto wine made? What are the three other DOCs continuing westward in continuous stretch?
Dolcetto d’Alba DOC is largest, other three going west from Alba are Dolcetto d’Asti, Dolcetto d’Acqui, Dolcetto di Ovada (same footprint as Ovada DOCG)
What are Piedmont’s three overarching multipurpose DOCs?
- Langhe DOC-covers broad rolling hill zone that includes Barolo, Barbaresco, and Roero DOCGs
- Monferrato DOC- east of Langhe, centered on Asti
- Piedmont DOC- largest denomination, covers almost all wine producing areas in Piedmont
How does Liguria rank compared to other regions in wine production and how many DOCs, DOCGs, and IGTs?
2nd smallest wine production of any region (very little land suitable for agriculture)
4 IGTs, 8 DOCs, no DOCGs
How much of Ligurias wine is red and what are main grape varieties?
1/3 of wine is red; primary red varieties are Rossese and Dolcetto
Where does Valle d’Aosta rank in terms of size, population, and wine production?
Smallest
How many DOCs, DOCGs, and IGTs does Valle d’Aosta have?
Only a single DOC- Valle d’Aosta DOC (export volume small but can be found in US with some searching)
What wines does Valle d’Aosta produce?
Much more red than white despite alpine location, main red varieties are Petit Rouge,Nebbiolo, and Pinot Nero
What is the capital of Lombardy?
Milan (second largest city)
How many DOCs, DOCGs, and IGTs does Lombardy have?
5 DOCGs, 21 DOCs, and 15 IGPs
What are the primary red grapes of Lombardy?
Barbera and Croatina- often blended together but can also be varietal
Nebbiolo
Pinot Nero-used mainly for sparkling wines
What are Lombardy’s most famous red wine regions?
- Oltrepo Pavese: Southern tip of Lombardy between Piedmont and Emilia Romagna, south of Po River, hilly area has largest volume of wine in Lombardy
What wines are produced in the basic Oltrepo Pavese DOC?
Blends of Barbera and Croatina, varietal Barbera and Cabernet Sauvignon, and other styles
What is the center of the Nebbiolo in Lombardy and what are the DOPs there?
The Alpine Valley of Valtellina
-DOCGs: Valtellina Superiore, Sforzato di Valtellina
-DOC: Valtellina Rosso
All three produce only Nebbiolo varietal wines
Where is the third main winegrowing region in Lombardy?
On the east side of the region bordering on Lake Garda (Italy’s largest lake)
What kind of wine is the Lake Garda region known for
Some of the best rosato wines in Italy, called chiaretto (from word for clear and light, light red color)
What are the DOCs in the Laker Garda region?
- Garda DOC: general denomination, half in Lombardy and half in Veneto, both east and west side of Lake Garda, produces primarily varietal wines (red and white, international and native Veneto grapes)
- Riviera del Garda Classico DOC: in Lombardy portion of Garda DOC, makes red and chiaretto wines from Groppello grape, up and coming
What are the two provinces in Trentino-Alto Adige?
- Trentino: Italian speaking to the south
2. Alto Adige: More often referred to as Sudtirol, largely German speaking to the north
How many DOCGs, DOCs and IGTs does Trentino-Alto Adige have?
No DOCGs, 9 DOCs, and 4 IGTs
What percent of Trentino-Alto Adige wine production is red wine?
Mainly white wine, less than 1/3 is red or rosato
What are the most important native red grape varieties in Trentino-Alto Adige
- Schiava: region’s most planted red grape variety, found mainly in Alto Adige
- Teroldego: Trentino’s signature variety
- Lagrein: grown mostly in Alto Adige
- Significant international varieties: Pinot Nero (both red/rosato and sparkling wine) and Merlot
Where does viticulture take place in Trentino Alto-Adige?
Viticulture confined to hillsides and floor of valley of Adige river and tributaries since entire region in Alps
Which denominations do most wines in Trentino-Alto Adige use?
Two large provincial denominations - Trentino DOC (growing areas of southern province), Alto Adige or Sudtirol DOC (growing areas of northern province)
-Varietal wines labeled with variety are norm in these denominations
What is the standard cuisine of Northern Italy?
Starters: Antipasti of speck, San Daniel prosciutto; Swiss style Fondue (Fonduta) in Valle d’Aosta and Piedmont
Pasta: Less common in Northern Italy, generally stuffed such as tortellini or agnolotti in white, brown, or butter sauces, pesto originated in Genoa in Liguria; risotto more common
Side dishes: Polenta, risotto
Main dishes: Game popular (venison, rabbit, pheasant), ossobucco, vitello tonnato (cold sliced veal covered in creamy sauce vreamy sauce flavored with tuna)
Delicacy: White Alba truffles (found in Langhe and Monferrato
Which province is most wine in Friuli-Venezia Giulia produced?
Friuli
How many DOCGs, DOCs, and IGTs does Friuli have?
4 DOCGs, 12 DOCs, and 3 IGPs
How many denominations in Friuli make red wine exclusively? Which denominations make red blends?
No denominations are exclusively red wine, mainly a white wine region; Friuli DOC, Friuli Colli Orientali DOC, and Colli Goriziano DOC produce red blends and varietals
What are the most popular red grape varieties in Friuli?
Merlot is most planted, Cabernet Franc and Refosco also well represented
Why is Veneto arguably the most important wine region in Italy?
It typically produces more wine, and far more DOP level wine, than any other region
How many DOCGs, DOCs, and IGPs are in Veneto?
14 DOCGs, 29 DOCs, and 10 IGPs
What percentage of Veneto wine production is white?
More than 3/4, including a lot of sparkling wine
What are the primary grape varieties in Veneto and what are other important red varieties?
Primary: Merlot, Corvina, and Cabernet (Sauvignon and Franc)
Other: Corvinone, Raboso, Refosco, and Rondinella
What are Veneto’s most famous red wine denominations?
Bardolino and Valpolicella DOPs: group of denominations with wines based primarily on Corvina
Where are Bardolino and Valpolicella geographically? What red wines are made there?
In Veneto, Bardolino is next to Lombardy on shore of Lake Garda, Valpolicella a few miles east of Bardolino (less lake influence). Corvina dominant variant and Rondinella is required component, other grapes may be used
What are the style of wines and denominations in Bardolino?
Lighter red wines and source for excellent chiaretto wines
-Bardolino DOC and Bardolino Superiore DOCG
What are the styles of wines and denominations in Valpolicella?
Produces fuller bodied red wines
-Valpolicella DOC (standard), Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG (intense full bodied wines from dried grapes), Valpolicella Ripasso DOC (in between Amarone and regular)
Also produces sweet red wines in Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG
What are main Veneto IGPs?
IGP Veneto: Includes the whole region
IGP Trevenezie: significant IGP in export market, allows winemakers to blend grapes from Veneto, Trentino province of Trentino-Alto Adige, and Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Veneto has the most acreage of which international varieties?
Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot
