Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Italian Wine Scholar > Chapter 8 - Luxury Wines > Flashcards

Chapter 8 - Luxury Wines Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
WSET ® Level 1 Wine flashcards WSET ® Level 2 Wine flashcards WSET ® Level 3 Wine flashcards WSET ® Level 2 Spirits flashcards WSET ® Level 1 Spirits flashcards Wine Appreciation flashcards Introductory Sommelier Exam (CMS) flashcards Italian Verbs flashcards WSET ® Level 3 Spirits flashcards WSET® Level 4 Wine flashcards
1
Q

What are features that luxury wines benefit from? The more of these features a wine has, the higher price it ought to be able to command

A
  • Ideal vineyard location
  • Careful, talented winemaking
  • Complex aromas and depth of flavor
  • Extended barrel aging in cellar
  • an ability/necessity to age for years before reaching peak of flavor
  • Perception of scarcity (even if production in reality greater than most people think)
  • High scores from reviewers
  • Successful marketing
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What color are the majority of luxury wines? Why?

A

Red, red wines can take better advantage of some of the luxury wine characteristics listed above (skin adds complexity to wine, tannins from skin/seeds increase ageability, greater affinity with wood than many whites; all luxury wine categories are red

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What drives the most sought after wines in Italy?

A

Most sought after wines are producer driven, some are anomalies, but many are first among many who make great wines from respected varieties in legendary winemaking regions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are Italy’s most respected red grape varieties?

A

Nebbiolo and Sangiovese, other grape varieties used in luxury wines include less familiar Corvina and Aglianico as well as Cabernet Sauvignon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the six luxury denominations?

A

Barolo and Barbaresco (Piedmont), Brunello di Montalcino and Bolgheri (Tuscany), Chianti Classico Gran Selezione (Tuscany), Amarone della Valpolicella (Veneto)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Which grape is the top of the pedestal in Piedmont?

A

Nebbiolo, Barolo and Barbaresco are considered the best of Nebbiolo producing greatest longest living wines from this variety

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Where are Barolo and Barbaresco located?

A

4 miles apart in southern Piedmont, on opposite sides of town of Alba in province of Cuneo, very picturesque (included in UNESCOs World Heritage Site “Vineyard Landscape of Piedmont”)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What wines do Barolo and Barbaresco make? How do they compare?

A

100% Nebbiolo, similar styles but Barolo tends to be more powerful of two, Barbaresco is more elegant; Barolo’s area and production are about 3 times that of Barbaresco, both part of Langhe

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Where can good value wines similar to Barolo/Barbaresco sometimes be found

A

In Langhe DOC (same area as Barolo and Barbaresco) when there is a tough vintage or vineyards are replanted, nearly up to standards of more famous denominations but sell at much lower price

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How does Barolo rank in ability to age

A

Ranks higher than perhaps any other region in ability to age- Has capacity to age and develop profound complexity over many years, reaching peak of flavor no less than ten years after vintage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

When was Barolo DOCG established

A

Due to reputation, one of first DOCs established (1966) and among first elevated to DOCG (1980)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are the two designations for wines labeled Barolo DOCG?

A

Normale: standard, must be aged in cellar for minimum of three years, including at least a year and a half in wood before entering market
Barolo Riserva: Higher quality, has to age for additional two years (total of 5 years), same time required on wood as normale (18 months), considered best of best and not made every year if conditions don’t warrant status

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Where is Barolo DOCG located?

A

Covers area of 25 square miles in Langhe hills (1928 hectares are Barolo DOCG vineyards), gets its name from village of Barolo, one of 11 communes within Barolo appelation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What communes are included in Barolo appelation?

A

Barolo, La Morra, Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga d’Alba, Monforte d’Alba, Novello, Verduno, and Grinzane Cavour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are Barolo DOCGs names parcels called and how many of them are there?

A

Menzioni geografiche aggiuntive (additional geographical definitions or MeGAs), sometimes called crus similar to in France but defined by historical use and terrior (topography, soil, climate); there are 181 including 11 communes- they don’t overlap, larger than single vineyard but too small/numerous to be considered subzone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Where does the MeGA name appear

A

Can appear on bottle if grapes all come from that parcel but not required

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

How many producer-bottlers of Barolo are there in the local consorzio?

A

about 200

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is a consorzio?

A

Vintner’s group that administers the denomination’s rules

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What was the annual production of Barolo in 2018?

A

87,500 hectoliters, about 972,000 9L cases

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is the minimum alcohol content of Barolo and Barolo Riserva?

A

13%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is the earliest release date of the 2020 vintage of Barolo and Barolo Riserva

A

Jan 1, 2024 and Jan 1, 2026

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

How do Barbaresco wines compare to Barolo wines?

A

Less tannic and softer, some say more elegant and ‘fresher’; sells for less than Barolo and represents good value by comparison

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

How many communes does Barbaresco have wand what are they called?

A

Three; Barbaresco, Neive, and Treiso (plus tiny sliver of Alba)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

How many menzione geografiche aggiuntive (MeGAs) does Barbaresco have?

A

66

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

When did Barbaresco receive DOC and DOCG status?

A

One of first wine areas to become DOC in 1966 and one of first to be elevated to DOCG in 1980

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

How many hectares of vineyard area does barbaresco have and how much wine does Barbaresco DOCG produce?

A

578 hectares; annual production of 29,000 hectoliters (320,000 cases)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What are the two styles of Barbaresco?

A

Barbaresco and Barbaresco Riserva- all 100% Nebbiolo

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What is the minimum alcohol level required for Barbaresco and Barbaresco Riserva

A

12.5% for Barbaresco and 13% for Barbaresco Riserva

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

How does the time needed to age Barbaresco prior to drinking compare to Barolo? What is the minimum aging time for Barberesco and Barbaresco Riserva before being released to market?

A

Ready to drink earlier than Barolo, requires less aging prior to release; Standard Barbaresco must age for 2 years with at least 9 months wood aging, Barbaresco Riserva require 2 years additional aging

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

When can the 2020 vintage of Barbaresco and Barbaresco Riserva be released?

A

Jan 1, 2023 and Jan 1, 2025

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

When were the boundaries of Chianti established?

A

1716, one of first ever appellations in world

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

What was the original size of Chianti?

A

Half the size of today’s Chianti Classico denomination

33
Q

When were Chianti and Chianti Classico established?

A

Chianti Classico was subzone of Chianti when denomination established in 1967, elevated to DOCG status in 1984, in 1996 Chianti Classico seceded from rest of Chianti

34
Q

Why did Chianti Classico separate itself from Chianti?

A

To distance itself from declining quality of Chianti wines in general

35
Q

Which communes make up the original 18th century zone?

A

Castellina, Gaiole, Greve, and Radda (add “in Chianti” to their names)

36
Q

What are the remaining communes in Chianti Classico not originally in Chianti zone?

A

Parts of Barberino Val d’Elsa, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Poggibonsi, San Casciano Val di Pesa, and Tavernelle Val di Pesa

37
Q

What two provinces is Chianti Classico in?

A

Firenze in north and Siena in South (neither city in denomination)

38
Q

How big is Chianti Classico and what does that mean for the wines?

A

Relatively large, 30 miles long, terroir varies considerably and wines range from excellent to ordinary

39
Q

What is one potential future solution to the issue of varied quality in Chianti Classico wines?

A

Subdivide denominations into smaller zones along lines of MeGAs of Barolo and Barbaresco in order to highlight best areas, still in discussion stages

40
Q

What was the new classification that the consorzio developed to be even higher standards than riserva? When?

A

The Gran Selezione level was approved in 2014

41
Q

What do Chianti Classico, Chianti Classico Riserva, and Chianti Classico Gran Selezione have in common?

A
  • All have iconic black rooster (gallo nero) symbol

- All require 80% Sangiovese, other 20% must be red grapes (white grapes banned)

42
Q

How does Gran Selezione vary differ from other Chianti Classicos?

A

Tighter restrictions on production (riper grapes, lower yield), all fruit must be estate grown, minimum alcohol level higher (13%), aged longer (2.5 years vs 1 year for annata, 2 for riserva)

43
Q

How many hectoliters of Chianti Classico were produced in 2018? What percent of that was Gran Riserva?

A

252,000 (2.8 Million cases) from 4080 hectares (1100 acres)- 144 of 515 consorzio members produced Gran Selezione, 6% of production

44
Q

How many DOCs underlie Chianti Classico?

A

None, if wine not up to Chianti Classico standards will be classified as IGP Toscana

45
Q

Where is Montalcino located?

A

South of Siena in Tuscany, in boundaries of Chianti within Colli Senesi subzone

46
Q

What is the history of Montalcino that made the wines so superior?

A

Montalcino area set itself apart from wider Chianti due to efforts of Ferruccio Bion-di-Santi, in late 1800s took scientific approach to viticulture, isolating best vines in his vineyard and propagating them

47
Q

Which commune(s) does Brunello di Montalcino’s territory consist of? What are the smaller villages within the commune?

A

Boundaries same as those of town of Montalcino.
Villages/hamlets (Frazioni): Camigliano, Castelnuovo dell’Abate, Sant’Angelo in Colle, Sant’Angelo Scalo, Tavernelle, Torrenieri

48
Q

When was Brunello di Montalcino denomination established?

A

One of first DOCs in 1966 and one of first elevated to DOCG in 1980

49
Q

What types of wine does Brunello di Montalcino produce?

A

Two kinds of wine: normale and riserva, both made from 100% Brunello aka Sangiovese, both have minimal alcohol of 12.5%

50
Q

What is the minimum aging and release date for 2020 vintage for Brunello di Montalcino normale and riserva?

A

Brunello normale requires 4 years aging including 2 years in barrel (Jan 1, 2025) and riserva requires 5 years including 2 years in barrel (Jan 1, 2026)

51
Q

How many hectares of vineyards and how many hectoliters are annually produced in Brunello denomination?

A

1,448 hectares (3,577 acres) and 70,000 hectoliters (780,000 cases) made by 200 producer-bottlers (less than Barolo, twice as much as Barbaresco)

52
Q

What are producers options to ‘declassify’ from Brunello di Montalcino DOCG?

A

Rosso di Montalcino DOC (100% Sangiovese, same boundaries); Sant’Antimo DOC (can blend in other grapes); Toscana IGP

53
Q

Where is Bolgheri DOC located?

A

In coastal Tuscany, west of Siena and south of Livorno and Pisa

54
Q

What commune does Bolgheri DOC comprise most of?

A

The commune of Castagneto Carducci

55
Q

Where is the hamlet of Bolgheri itself located?

A

At the northern end of the denomincation near some of the estates that originally created Super Tuscan category

56
Q

What are some of the estates that originally created the Super Tuscan category?

A

Tenuta dell’Ornellaia, Masseto, Tenuta San Guido (maker of Sassicaia)

57
Q

What was the outcome of Sassicaia being so famous?

A

It’s vineyards were given status of separate denomination called Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC in 2013

58
Q

What kind of wines can be made in Bolgheri DOC and when was each type added to the denomination?

A

Denomination for red, white, and rosato wines- originally only white (varietal Sauv Blanc, Vermentino or blends of Vermentino, Sauv Blanc and Trebbiano); red and rosato added in 1994 (any proportions of Bordeaux varieties Cab Sauv, Cab Franc, or Merlot, Sangiovese and Syrah permitted up to 50%

59
Q

How long must the standard Bolgheri age before being released?

A

Minimum of one year

60
Q

What alcohol level and aging requirements exist for Bolgheri Superiore?

A

12.5% alcohol and 2+ years aging with at least one year barrel aging

61
Q

How many hectors of vineyards and hectoliters does Bolgheri produce? How many producers?

A

893 hectares (2,200 acres) and around 49,000 hectoliters (543,000 cases), 56 producer-members

62
Q

What is the minimum alcohol of Rosato and Rosso Bolgheri?

A

11.5%

63
Q

What is the minimum alcohol and grape composition of Bianco Bolgheri?

A

11% 0-70% Vermentino, 0-40% Sauvignon, and 0-40% Trebbiano

64
Q

What is the minimum alcohol of Sauvignon and Vermentino in Bolgheri varietals?

A

10.5% alcohol in Sauvignon and 11% in Vermentino

65
Q

What are the four Valpolicella denominations that have the same boundaries with same blend of grapes but make different styles of wines?

A

Valpolicella DOC, Valpolicella Ripasso DOC, Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG, and Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG

66
Q

When did Amarone della Valpolicella officially become its own separate DOCG?

A

2010

67
Q

Where is the Valpolicella zone located?

A

Just north of Verona, contains several communes

68
Q

What are the five villages that make up the historic center of Valpolicella?

A

Fumane, Marano, Negrar, San Pietro in Cariano, and Sant’Ambrogio (make up Classico sub-zone)

69
Q

What is the valley east of the Classico subzone of Valpolicella that is also a subzone

A

Valpantena

70
Q

What is Amarone della Valpolicella the most famous example of?

A

Dry wine made from dried grapes

71
Q

What is the process for drying grapes in Valpolicella?

A

Producers harvest best grapes at peak ripeness and bring them into drying room to undergo appassimento process (lose water and sugar to water ratio increases)

72
Q

What is the drying room called?

A

Fruttaio

73
Q

How long do top producers of Amarone dry grapes for

A

Until February or March of the year after the harvest

74
Q

What is unique about the process of making amarone?

A

Grape must fermented completely to produce dry wine

75
Q

What grapes comprise Amarone wine?

A

Corvina (up to 95% of wine), Corvinone is planted among Corvina and can substitute for any portion of the Corvina component, total Corvina/Corvinone make up at least 45% of wine, Rondinella also required (5-30% of blend), other grapes can be added as well, Molinara was once required but now optional

76
Q

What is the minimum alcohol for Amarone della Valpolicella?

A

14%, many are much higher and up to 16% is common

77
Q

What are the aging requirements for Amarone della Valpolicella and Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva

A

Must age at least 2 years, 4 for Riserva, wood aging is not required

78
Q

How many producers make Amarone? How many hectoliters/hectares?

A

More than 200 producers, 115,000 hecotoliters (1.28 million cases), the four Valpolicella denominations cover 8.200 hectares (20,200 acres)

79
Q

How is Valpolicella Ripasso made?

A

New Valpolicella wine is added to the remaining slush after Amarone drained off skins, increases alcohol and absorbs additional extract from Amarone skin; result is fuller bodied more flavorful Valpolicella that is ready to drink sooner than Amarone

Italian Wine Scholar (9 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions