Foundation Flashcards
Who taught the indigenous tribes of northern Italy how to grow vines and make wine?
Etruscans
Who advanced viticulture and winemaking in Italy’s south?
Greeks
Who introduced the concept of terroir by matching grapes to their soil types?
Romans
Civilizations oldest to newest
- Etruscans
- Greeks
- Romans
- Lombards
- Kingdom of Sardegna
When were the first written mentions of Nebbiolo, Barbera, and Garganega?
Middle Ages
When did wooden barrels become widespread to the detriment of wine quality?
Middle Ages
T/F Spain’s controlling interest in Italy was considerably reduced by Austria Habsburg Empire.
True
When did the Kingdom of Sargegna unite the country into the Kingdom of Italy?
1861, “Modern Age”
When did a winter freeze destroy almost all of the vineyards in northern Italy?
1709, “Modern Age”
What happened on March 17, 1861?
the united Kingdom of Italy was declared
T/F The Papal States remained independent after the initial unification?
True
Thee facts about the mezzadria system
- The system was widespread in northern and central Italy
- It was abolished in the 1960’s
- The system favored landowners
Mezzadria
A share-cropping system whereby the landowner allows a farmer to cultivate his land in exchange for a portion of the crop
Most widely planted red grape in Italy
Sangiovese
How many varieties are cultivated in Italy?
350T
T/F Italian sparkling wine tends to have low dosage levels
True
T/F The tank method of sparkling wine production was invented in Italy
True
T/F Italy’s tradition of sweet wine production pre-dates the Middle Ages
True
T/F Italy’s white wines are traditionally made with skin contact
True
T/F Red wines are traditionally aged in small French oak barrels
False
Botti
Large wooden casks
Appassimento
Process of drying grapes before vinification
Passito
Wine made from semi-dried grapes
Recioto
Term used for sweet wines of Veneto
Talento
A sparkling wine made in the traditional method
Sweetest to driest
- Dolce
- Amabile
- Abboccato
On which bottle who would find a gold fascetta?
Barolo DOCG
T/F The consorzio carries out quality testing for DOC/DOCGs
False
T/F Consorzios are voluntary associations comprising of producers, merchants, coops of specific DOCs/DOCGs
True
T/F Consorzios can represent multile DOCGs or DOCs
True
EW wine quality categories from highest to lowest
- DOP
- IGP
- Vini with grape variety and/or vintage
- Vini
Which grape variety can NOT appear on an Italian generic wine label
Pinot Noir
Fermo
A still wine
Annata
Vintage
Vigna
A single vineyard
Vivace
A lightly fizzy wine
Amabile
A medium-sweet wine
In which northern province would you be most likely to find volcanic hills?
Friuli-Venzia Giulia
Where are the majority of Italy’s vineyards found
On hillsides
T/F The Padana Plain separates the Alps from the Apennines
True
T/F The Alps block humid air currents from the Adriatic Sea
False
Climate of the Padana Plain
Fully continental
T/F Piemonte does not enjoy autonomous status
True
Type of volcanic soil
Porphyry
Longest river in Italy
Po
T/F Italy boarders the Baltic sea
False
