Fundamentals

Question 1

When did Phoenicians plant grape vines?

Answer 1

15-3rd c BCE

Question 2

When did the Etruscans develop their extensive trade network, and export wines to present day France & Spain?

Answer 2

7th c BCE

Question 3

When did Greeks arrive on the peninsula?

Answer 3

8th-6th c BCE

Question 4

When did Romans supersede the Greeks as the major political and military power of the ancient world?

Answer 4

3rd c BCE-5th c CE

Question 5

When did the Roman Empire fall?

Answer 5

476 CE

Question 6

When does the Rinascimento begin, and mezzadria becomes widely adopted?

Answer 6

13th c CE

Question 7

When does da Vinci paint the Mona Lisa?

Answer 7

1506

Question 8

When does Michelangelo finish the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?

Answer 8

1512

Question 9

When is the Kingdom of Sardegna formed?

Answer 9

1720

Question 10

When does Risorgimento begin?

Answer 10

1815

Question 11

When is the Kingdom of Italy declared?

Answer 11

1861

Question 12

When does phylloxera arrive in Italy?

Answer 12

1875

Question 13

When do Italians vote to end the monarchy and make Italy a democratic republic?

Answer 13

1946

Question 14

When is the DOC approved?

Answer 14

1963

Question 15

When is Vinitaly (first Italian Wine Days) established?

Answer 15

1967

Question 16

What is the inaugural vintage of Sassicaia?

Answer 16

1968

Question 17

When is Gambero Rosso & Slow Food founded?

Answer 17

1986

Question 18

When is the IGT system established?

Answer 18

1992

Question 19

How many native grapes are estimated?

Answer 19

350-600

Question 20

What is “campanilismo”?

Answer 20

From the word “campanile” or bell tower, used to convey extreme neighborhood pride, Italians support their own “bell tower”

Question 21

Sedimentary Soils?

Answer 21

Derived from bedrock of alluvial or marine origin, or deposited from glaciers - majority of Italy’s vineyard soils

Question 22

Metamorphic soils?

Answer 22

Formed from heat, pressure, and chemical processes from the creation of Italy’s mountain ranges - Gneiss, schist, slate - Sardegna, Calabria, northeast Sicilia, Alps

Question 23

Volcanic soils?

Answer 23

Considerable number of vineyards situated on slopes of extinct or active volcanoes. Volcanic ash provides nutrient rich and water retentive soils

Question 24

What are the three most common ways information is organized on an Italian wine label?

Answer 24

1. By place/region (eg. Barolo)
2. By grape + place (eg Barbera d’Alba)
3. By fantasy name + place (eg Le Pergola Torte Toscana IGT)