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Italian Wine Scholar > Chapter 4- Southern Italian Reds > Flashcards

Chapter 4- Southern Italian Reds Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the Southern Italian regions and what do they have in common?

A

Regions: Campania, Basilicata, Puglia, Calabria, Sicily (island), Sardinia (island)
Mostly mountainous, generally less affluent/less developed, historic lack of infrastructure and remoteness led to many unique local grape varieties, winters mild except at high elevations, summer hot dry and cloudless

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2
Q

How is the Southern Italian climate reflected in the wines?

A

High temps and continuous sunshine in summer lead to wines with low to moderate acidity and high alcohol

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3
Q

What are the differences between the southern regions?

A

Islands have substantially different cultural and political histories that mainland or each other, Campania is most densely populated Italian region, Basilicata and Sardinia are two of least populated, Puglia has open plains ideal for large-scale agriculture, Campania and Calabria get more rain than other regions but mostly in winter

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4
Q

Is there a dominant grape variety in Southern Italy as a whole?

A

No, but each region besides Puglia has one premier red variety, little overlap between regions

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5
Q

What Central Italian grape varieties can be found in Puglia

A

Sangiovese and Montepulciano

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6
Q

What are the signature red grape varieties of Puglia?

A

Negroamaro and Primitivo, other important grapes in this region include Uva di Troia and Bombino Nero

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7
Q

What is the leading variety in Campania and Basilicata?

A

Aglianico

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8
Q

What two red grape varieties are most associated with Campania?

A

Aglianico and Piedirosso

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9
Q

What is the primary grape variety of Calabria?

A

Gaglioppo: crossing of Sangiovese and local white grape variety

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10
Q

What is the primary red grape of Sicily and what are other unique varieties there?

A

Signature red grape is Nero d’Avola, home to other notable varieties not found elsewhere such as Frappato and Nerello Mascalese

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11
Q

What is the signature red grape of Sardinia and what is it called when grown internationally, what are other unique red varieties?

A

Cannonau, essentially the same as Grenache/Garnacha, other red grapes associated with Sardinia include Carignano and Monica

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12
Q

Aglianico:

  1. Description
  2. Best vineyard locations
  3. Three biotypes
  4. Characteristics
  5. Aromas/flavors
A
  1. One of Italy’s greatest grape varieties and one of its oldest
  2. Best vineyards in volcanic soils on mountainous slopes (Campania, Basilicata)
  3. Taurasi, Taburno, Vulture
  4. Very high acidity, pronounced minerality, usually quite tannic, capable of long aging
  5. Floral (rose), sour cherry, plum (esp from Vulture), leather and herbs (esp. from Taburno), smoke
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13
Q

Bombino Nero:

  1. Characteristics
  2. Wine it is usually added to
  3. Aromas/Flavors
  4. Best DOP
A
  1. Thin skinned, better for rosato than rosso, high acidity, light to medium body
  2. Usually added to Negroamaro wines
  3. Red berries, floral, citrus
  4. Castel del Monte Bombino Nero (Puglia)
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14
Q

Bovale:

  1. Two distinct grape varieties
  2. Characteristics
  3. Best DOPs
A
  1. Bovale Grande (similar or identical to Carignano) and Bovale Sardo (similar or identical to Spain’s Graciano), Sardo is considered better
  2. Highly tannic and acidic, can produce deeply colored wines
  3. Best DOPs: Campidano di Terralba and Mandrisolai ( Sardinia)
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15
Q

Cannonau

  1. Similar to which international variety
  2. Characteristics
  3. Aromas/flavors
  4. Best DOP
A
  1. Similar or identical to Garnacha and Tai Rosso
  2. Light in color
  3. Floral, herbal
  4. Cannounau di Sardegna DOC (Sardinia), especially subzones Oliena, Jerzu, and Capo Ferrato
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16
Q

Carignano

  1. History
  2. Characteristics
  3. Best DOP
A
  1. Carinena transplanted from Spain centuries ago
  2. Grows best on sandy soils where it produces creamy wines with soft tannins
  3. Carignano del Sulcis DOC (Sardinia)
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17
Q

Frappato

  1. Characteristics
  2. Aromas/flavors
  3. Region
A
  1. Low in tannins, light bodied, light in color
  2. Strawberries, violets, herbs
  3. Sicily
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18
Q

Gaglioppo:

  1. Crossing of which varieties?
  2. Characteristics
  3. Aromas/flavors
A
  1. Crossing of Sangiovese and tannic white variety of Calabria, Montonico Blanco
  2. Can have red orange color, high acidity, rough tannins
  3. Red berries, citrus zest, minerals, underbrush
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19
Q

Monica

  1. Characteristics
  2. Flavors/aromas
A
  1. Group of similar but unrelated Sardinian varieties, gently tannic
  2. Red berries, herbs, tar, tobacco
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20
Q

Negroamaro (Puglia):

  1. Characteristics
  2. Aromas/flavors
A
  1. High in alcohol

2. Black fruit, tobacco, shoe polish

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21
Q

Nerello Cappuccio:

  1. Characteristics
  2. Aromas/flavors
A
  1. Early ripening, darker in color but less tannic than Nerello Mascalese
  2. Ripe cherry. vanilla, coffee, minerals, slightly floral
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22
Q

Nerello Mascalese (Sicily):

  1. Characteristics
  2. Aromas/flavors
A
  1. Light in color, tannic

2. Sour cherry, tobacco, herbs, minerals

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23
Q

Nero d’Avola (Sicily):

  1. Official name
  2. What is it often blended with?
  3. Aromas/flavors
A
  1. Officially, rarely, called Calabrese
  2. Blended with Frappato
  3. Dark red cherry, herbs
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24
Q

Piedirosso:

  1. Blended with?
  2. Aromas/flavors
A
  1. Often blended with Aglianico to soften it

2. Red berries, floral, tar, green herbal notes

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25
Q

Primitivo:

  1. What is it essentially the same as?
  2. Characteristics
  3. Aromas/flavors
  4. Best DOPs
A
  1. Essentially the same as Zinfandel
  2. One of earliest ripening varieties in Italy, high in alcohol
  3. Red cherry, strawberry jam, plum, sometimes tobacco, tar, herbs
  4. Gioia del Colle DOC, Primitivo di Manduria DOC (Puglia)
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26
Q

Uva di Troia (Puglia)

  1. Also known as
  2. Characteristics
  3. Aromas/flavors
A
  1. Nero di Troia
  2. Blended with other Puglian varieties to give them finesse and freshness, medium body, high acidity
  3. Red cherry, red currant, black pepper, tobacco, underbrush
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27
Q

What is the most eminent grape variety of Southern Italy?

A

Aglianico, one of the few grapes with a significant presence in more than one southern Italian region, most planted variety in Campania and Basilicata

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28
Q

What topography is Aglianico grown at?

A

Mainly grown at higher elevations in the Apennines, best expressions from volcanic soils

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29
Q

What is considered the best DOCG in Southern Italy? What is the other best known denomination in Campania

A

Taurasi DOCG varietal Aglianico

Aglianico del Taburno DOCG

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30
Q

Which denominations make 100% Aglianico in Basilicata

A

Aglianico del Vulture Superiore DOCG and Aglianico del Vulture DOC

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31
Q

How much wine is produced in Basilicata and what proportion is red?

A

Basilicata rugged, sparsely populated region, very small wine production, red wine dominates production

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32
Q

How many DOCGs, DOCs, and IGTs does Basilicata have?

A

1 DOCG, 4 DOC, and 1 IGP

33
Q

What are more than half the vineyards in Basilicata planted with?

A

Aglianico

34
Q

Where are the wines of Aglianico del Vulture Superiore DOCG and Aglianico del Vulture DOC grown?

A

In North of Basilicata around extinct volcano Mount Vulture

35
Q

Characteristics and major city in Campania

A

Gateway to Southern Italy, region where you’ll find Naples (largest city in southern Italy, third largest in Italy), most populous region in Southern Italy, closest to Rome, and most touristed

36
Q

How many DOCGs, DOCs, and IGTs does Campania have?

A

4 DOCGs, 15 DOCs, and 10 IGPs

37
Q

What percentage of wine production in Campania is red vs. white?

A

Red wine has edge over white wine

38
Q

What is the primary grape variety in Campania and other notable Campanian variety?

A

Primary variety is Aglianico, another notable variety is Piedirosso

39
Q

What is the most famous red wine denomination in Campania?

A

Taurasi DOCG, one of Italy’s most esteemed DOPs, makes varietal Aglianico wines

40
Q

What wines does Aglianico del Taburno DOCG in Campania?

A

Varietal Aglianicos in red and rosato styles

41
Q

What is the best known denomination using Piedirosso?

A

Vesuvio DOC- its vineyards blanket slopes of Mount Vesuvius, volcano that buried Pompeii, most reds and rosatos based on Piedirosso, varietal Aglianico allowed as well

42
Q

What is Lycryma Christi?

A

Vesuvio DOC red wine which is Piedirosso-based wine with somewhat higher alcohol level

43
Q

What is the most important food export of Southern Italy? What other foods are big in the south?

A

Pizza- Neopolitan made with sauce, buffalo mozzarella, and basil
Pasta in red sauce, olives, lemons, eggplant (Sicily)
Calabria famous for hot peppers

44
Q

How much wine is produced in Calabira and what proportion red and white?

A

Small volume of wine production, 3x more red than white

45
Q

How many DOCGs, DOCs, and IGTs in Calabria?

A

0 DOCGs, 9 DOCs, and 10 IGTs

46
Q

What is Calabria’s primary red grape and most famous red wine denomination?

A

Gaglioppo

Ciro DOC- red and rosato wines are Gaglioppo based with minimum content at 80%

47
Q

What is the largest island in the Mediterranean sea?

A

Sicily, region of Sicily also includes numerous minor islands

48
Q

Where does Sicily rank in wine production compared to other Italian regions?

A

Normally ranks fourth after Veneto, Puglia, and Emilia Romagna, but well ahead of other regions

49
Q

Historically, what did Sicily do with most of its wine output?

A

Sent it north to be blended into other region and countries’ wines

50
Q

What have recent agricultural reforms done to Sicily’s wine output?

A

Reduced Sicily’s volume and significantly improved the quality of its wines, now more likely to be bottled under Sicilian label

51
Q

What proportion red vs. white wine does Sicily produce?

A

A good bit more white than red

52
Q

What are the most important red wine grapes in Sicily?

A

Starring role is Nero d’Avola (see great future), other indigenous varieties include Nerello Mascalese and Frappato, prominent international varieties are Syrah, Merlot, and Cab Sauv

53
Q

How many DOCGs, DOCs, and IGPs does Sicily have?

A

1 DOCG, 23 DOCs, and 7 IGPs

54
Q

What are Sicily’s most famous red wine denominations?

A

Etna DOC (located on slopes of Mount Etna, red wines based on Nerello Mascalese (minimum 80%), also produces white wnes) and Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG (exclusively red wine, blends of Nero d’Avola and Frappato - Cerasuolo means cherry and refers to the aromas and flavors of the wine)

55
Q

What two wine areas cover entire region of Sicily?

A

Sicilia DOC and IGP Terre Siciliane

56
Q

What is the second largest Mediterranean island?

A

Sardinia, called Sardegna in Italy

57
Q

What is the size of wine production in Sardinia and what proportion red and white?

A

Wine production is relatively small, with more red wine production than white wine

58
Q

How many DOCGs, DOCs, and IGPs does Sardinia have?

A

1 DOCG, 17 DOCs, and 15 IGPs

59
Q

What is the primary red grape variety of Sardinia?

A

Cannonau, probably brought to island from Spain (Garnacha)

60
Q

What are notable varieties in Sardinia other than Cannonau?

A

Carignano (Carignan in France) and indigenous Monica

61
Q

What is the most important DOC in Sardinia?

A

Cannonau di Sardegna, though none are especially famous- for red and rosato varietal wines from Cannonau

62
Q

Why is Puglia a major source of agricultural products?

A

It has a lot of sunny weather and contains most of the flat land in southern Italy

63
Q

Where does Puglia rank in terms of Italian wine production

A

Usually second highest-volume region behind Veneto

64
Q

What were Puglia grapes used for historically?

A

Historically destined to add body and depth to lighter , thinner wines produced farther north and in other countries

65
Q

What has happened to Puglia grapes more recently?

A

More wines bottled in region, quality has become more important than quantity

66
Q

How many DOCGs, DOCs, and IGPs does Puglia contain?

A

4 DOCGs, 28 DOCs, and 6 IGPs

67
Q

Does Puglia produce more red or white wine?

A

More red

68
Q

What are the two signature grape varieties in Puglia?

A

Negroamaro and Primitivo

69
Q

What other varieties besides Negroamaro and Primitivo figure prominently in region, primarily for non-DOP wines

A

International: Sangiovese, Lambrusco, and Montepulciano

Uniquely Puglian Varieties with DOP level wines: Uva d Troia (Nero di Troia) and Bombino Nero

70
Q

Geographically, which grapes are most prominent by area of Puglia?

A

In North Montepulciano is primary grape variety, a lot of Sangiovese is grown there
A little farther southeast, main grape variety is Uva di Troia and Bombino Nero
Negroamaro takes over in Southern part of Puglia

71
Q

Which DOPs are based on Uva di Troia wines?

A

Castel del Monte Nero di Troia Riserva DOCG (varietal),
Castel del Montel Rosso Riserva DOCG (varietal or blend)
Castel del Monte DOC (red wines from Uva di Troia, Aglianico, Cabernet, white and sparkling)

72
Q

What is the DOCG dedicated to Bombino Nero wines and what is unique about this denomination?

A

Castel del Monte Bombino Nero DOCG (varietal), grape is so light in color that wines naturally end up pinkish
One of only two Italian denominations devoted solely to rosato wine

73
Q

What is the only denomination in Italy specifically for dry Primitivo wines?

A

Primitivo di Manduria DOC

74
Q

What denomination in Puglia is strictly for sweet wines from Primitivo?

A

Primitivo di Manduria Dolce Naturale DOCG

75
Q

What is the best known denomination for Negroamaro based wines in Puglia?

A

Salice Salentino DOC, also makes other kinds of wines but Negroamaro-based wines (not necessarily varietal) dominates export market

76
Q

What kinds of wines can be made from Negroamaro

A

Red, rosato (Some of Italy’s best rosatos made from Negroamaro)

77
Q

Aside from DOP wines, what other wines does Puglia produce large amounts of?

A

Puglia produces a lot of wine from international varieties and varieties more commonly associated with other regions (ex. Sangiovese), much is still sold for blending but increasingly bottled and labels as regional wines

78
Q

What are two of the largest production volume IGPs in Italy located in Puglia?

A

IGP Puglia and IGP Salento- red wines as well as other styles

Italian Wine Scholar (9 decks)

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