Foundation** Flashcards
How is Vin Santo produced?
drying the freshly harvested grapes on straw mats in a warm and well ventilated area of the house; some dry the grapes by hanging on racks indoors.
Fossils of Italian Vitis vinifera vines date back to what time?
Quaternary Period of Cenozoic Era, 2.5 million years ago
When did the Etruscan civilization develop and when was the peak?
developed prior to the 8th century BCE and peaked in the 6th century BCE
What was the role of the Etruscans in the evolution of Italy’s viticultural history and wine industry
valued wine as part of their advanced civilization; improved wine production in northern and central Italy; domesticated wild vines; trained vines up trees (alberata); developed commercial export trade of wine with France and Spain
What is alberata?
system of training vines up trees (prototype of modern pergola training systems)
Where and with what grapes is alberata viticulture used today?
In Campani’s Aversa DOC Asprinio (Greco di Tufo) grapes are trained on poplar and elm trees [AAA: alberata Aversa Asprinio]
What was Magna Graecia?
Great Greece, the name given by Romans to southern Italian territories occupied by the Greek settlers between 8th and 6th century BCE
Where in Italy was the biggest influence of Greek viticulture?
Southern Italy, “Oenotria” - the land of vines
What contributions to viticulture were introduced by the Greeks?
brought grape varieties from Greece; introduced low head-training of vines; turned wine into an essential commodity, influencing style and preservation
Who is Dionysus?
Greek god of wine [G>D]
Who is Bacchus?
Roman god of wine [R>B]
When was Italy first united?
42 BCE under the Romans, most recently 1861
What tribe conquered the northern part of Italy in the 6th and 5th centuries BCE?
Celtic tribes, taking control from the Etruscans, notable influence in Emilia-Romagna
Who was Columella?
the most important writer on agriculture of the Roman empire, 1st century CE, wrote Res rustica (“Agriculture”), wrote about concept of terroir
What were the main characteristics of Roman wine?
often sweet and high in alcohol
What additives were used with Roman wine?
diluted with water and were usually flavored and stabilized with a mixture of sea water, resin, herbs, spices and honey.
Name 3 grand crus of Roman wine. Where they red or white?
Lazio’s Caecubum, Campania’s Falernum and Sicilia’s Mamertinum; all white
Name the 2 finest wines of Northern Italy during the reign of Augustus?
Rhaeticum (Retico) produced in Veneto and the Pucinum made in Friuli Venezia Giulia.
When and who was the first emperor of the Roman Empire?
Caesar’s adopted son, Octavian, known as Augustus, 27 BCE.
When was Rome the largest city in the world?
The city of Rome was the largest city in the world c. 100 BCE – c. 400 CE, with Constantinople (New Rome) becoming the largest around 500 CE.
When did the seat of the Roman Empire move to Constantinople?
330 CE
When did the Roman Empire split in the two parts?
395 CE
When did the Western Roman Empire fall?
476 CE
Who were the Lombards?
Germanic tribe that settled in Italy in 568 CE and took control of northern Italy from the Roman Emperor Justinian.
What was the impact of the Celtic tribes on viticulture in Italy?
essentially a strong negative influence by destroying the Etruscan culture in the 6th and 5th centuries BCE
What was the impact of the Dark Ages on viticulture in Italy?
Viticulture continued in a diminished role only for religious and medicinal purposes, without any known emphasis on quality.
What was the impact of the Germanic tribes to viticulture in Italy?
Goths and Vandals invaded northern Italy in the 5th century CE, finally resulting in fall of Western Roman Empire and complete economic collapse including viticulture.
What was the importance of the rise of Italy’s city states?
created a class of wealthy merchants interested better quality wines; encouraged written documentation of the state of viticultural practices
How did the discovery of the Americas impact Italy’s wine regions?
marked the beginning of a deep economic crisis in Italy because the Mediterranean trade routes lost importance. The economic decline was particularly severe in Italy’s southern regions.
Who was Pier de Crescenzi?
a Bolognese jurist, now remembered for his writings on horticulture and agriculture, the ‘Ruralia Commode’ in 1309.
Name 3 leaders that influenced Italy’s unification.
The unification of Italy was attained during the 19th century by the Kingdom of Sardegna under the leadership of King Vittorio Emanuele II di Savoia, the Prime Minister, Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour and General Giuseppe Garibaldi,
What was the impact of the 19th century epidemics of phylloxera and disease on the future of Italy’s wine regions?
The ravages of phylloxera resulted in the replanting with international varieties, particularly in the northeast regions of Veneto, Trentino and Friuli Venezia Giulia. Consequently, many indigenous grape varieties were never replanted and were lost forever.
Be familiar with how 20th century events have shaped Italy’s modern wine industry
The world wars caused great destruction and poverty and opened a period of deep political, social and economic crisis. Rebuilding after the wars created the economic and industrial boom of the 1950s and 1960s. The birth of a consumer class with disposable income was beneficial for the wine industry and resulted in better quality wines.
When was the united Kingdom of Italy declared?
March 17, 1861. [St. Patrick’s Day]
Who was Giacomo Tachis?
An Italian enologist from Piemonte, known as the father of Super Tuscan wines, shaped Italy’s modern red winemaking practices; he died 2016.
What is mezzadria?
the Italian version of sharecropping, abolished in the 1960’s, was most common in northern and central Italy
Who was Mario Schiopetto?
Italian winemaker produced and promoted quality white wines of Friuli Venezia Giulia in northeast Italy, in particular the subregion of Collio. He emphasized cold fermentation and avoidance of oak. He died 2003.
Who was Giorgio Lungarotti?
(1910–1999) was an Italian agricultural entrepreneur and viticulturalist who operated in Torgiano, a medieval town in the Perugia area (Umbria), championed Sagrantino wine
Who was Antonio Mastroberardino?
In the second half of the 20th century the Mastroberardino estate was the only name known for quality wine from Campania. Antonio was grandson of Angelo Mastroberardino (1850–1914) who founded the winery in Avellino in 1878. Antonio died in 2014.
Where Italy is situated within the rest of Europe, what are the limits of latitude?
located in the central southern part of Europe between the 35th and 47th parallels north. [35 is also % of mountains; 42 is % of hills]
What is stivale?
Italian for boot, the shape of Italy.
What is the length of the coastline of Italy?
4600 miles, about 3 1/2 times that of Florida
What is the highest peak of the Apennines?
the Massif of Gran Sasso in Abruzzo is the highest peak, reaching 9,500 ft
What are the two main mountain ranges of Italy and where are they situated?
the Alps, along the entire Italian northern border, and the Apennines which form the backbone of the entire peninsula. Mountains account for 35% of Italy’s terrain.
What is the role of the Alps in northern Italy’s climate?
The Alps block the cold winds arriving from Northern Europe and the humid air currents coming from the western Atlantic Ocean; results in a continental climate with alpine influence.
What is the role of Italy’s mountains on viticultural practices?
Mountains cover 35% of Italy and
are found in the Alps and Apennines. Mountains have important impact on climate, but account for few vineyards.
What is the role of Italy’s hills on viticultural practices?
Hills cover the largest part of Italy (42%) and
are found across the entire territory. This is where the vast majority of vineyards are found.
What is the role of Italy’s plains on viticultural practices?
Plains are the source of much bulk wine.
Where are most of Italy’s hills located?
Most of Italy’s hills flank the Apennines in the central and southern areas.
What are the 3 types of Italian hills?
1, Sedimentary hills, formed by the uplift of ancient sea bed. 2. Morainic, gentle rolling hills (or “mounds”,) formed by Alpine glacial deposits and containing a high gravel and sand content. 3. Volcanic, the remains of ancient, extinct volcanos; usually possessing a conic shape. [not metamorphic, soil type]
What are examples of the sedimentary hills?
the hills of Langhe, Valpolicella, Collio, Montalcino, and Chianti.
What are examples of the morainic hills?
Northern Piemonte, the hills around Lake Garda (Bardolino, Lugana) and in Franciacorta.
What are examples of the volcanic hills?
Veneto, Toscana, Lazio, Campania and Sicilia.
Name the two main Italian plains and their relative proportion of the Italian landscape.
Plains account for the smallest proportion
(23%) of the Italian landscape. The flat and
fertile Padana Plain (or Po Valley) represents
more than two-thirds of this percentage. The second largest plain is Tavoliere delle Puglia.
What wine regions are found in the Padana Plain (or Po Valley)?
It includes part of Piemonte, Lombardia, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia.
