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Italian Wine Scholar: Northern Italy > Geography/Topography > Flashcards

Geography/Topography Flashcards

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1
Q

Where is Italy located and within what latitudes?

A

Between the 35th and 47th parallels north. (Located in the central part of Europe it is considered one of the Southern European countries.)

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2
Q

What shape is Italy as a landmass identified with and how long is it’s coastline?

A

Italy is shaped like a boot (stivale) and juts into the Mediterranean Ocean with an impressive 4,598 miles/7,400 km of coastline. It includes the islands of Sardegna and Sicilia plus a multitude of archipelagos.

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3
Q

Which countries does Italy border?

A

Switzerland and Austria to the north, France to the northwest and Slovenia to the northeast.

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4
Q

Which two small independent enclaves exist within Italy?

A

The Vatican City State and the Republic of San Marino.

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5
Q

What does Italy boast thanks to its rich culture and artistic heritage?

A

It has the largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and it is one of the most visited countries in the world.

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6
Q

How much of Italy is covered in mountains and hills? What is the average altitude?

A

The majority of Italy is covered by mountains and hills, which together account for 77% of the total surface (23% Plains, 35% Mountains, 42% Hills). The average altitude is 1,080ft/330m above sea level.

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7
Q

Mountains cover more than one-third of the total Italian territory and are largely part of which two main ranges?

A

The Alps and the Apennines.

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8
Q

Where are the Alps located?

A

To the north where they form an arc running for more than 600mile/1,000km along the entire Italian norther border, attaching Italy to the European continent.

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9
Q

What is the average altitude of the Alps?

A

4,600ft/1,400m

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10
Q

What three contiguous groups are the Alps generally divided into?

A

The Western Alps, the Central Alps and the Eastern Alps.

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11
Q

The Italian Alps include some of the highest peaks of the entire European Alpine chain. Which peaks are these?

A

Monte Bianco (the highest in Europe), Monte Rosa and Monte Cervino. All are higher than 13,000ft/4,000m above sea level.

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12
Q

What is the Alps’ fundamental role in northern Italy’s climate?

A

They block the cold winds arriving from Northern Europe and the humid air currents coming from the western Atlantic Ocean.

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13
Q

What are the Prealps?

A

A contiguous lower altitude range that forms a link between the Alps and the plains of northern Italy.

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14
Q

Where are the Apennines located?

A

The Apennines run along an arc that begins close to the French Border and forms the backbone of the entire peninsula of Italy, covering its length for about 900miles/1,500km from Liguria to Sicilia.

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15
Q

What is the average elevation of the Apennines?

A

The Apennines are considerably lower in altitude than the Alps with an average elevation of 1,600ft/500m above sea level. However, many peaks are above 6,500ft/2,000m in altitude.

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16
Q

What is the highest peak in the Apennine mountain range?

A

The Massif of Gran Sasso in Abruzzo is the highest peak, reaching 9,500ft/2,900m above sea level.

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17
Q

What three contiguous groups are the Apennines generally divided into?

A

Northern Apennines, Central Apennines, and Southern Apennines.

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18
Q

There are a few active volcanos in the south. Which are they?

A

Etna in Sicilia (the largest active volcano in Europe), Vesuvio in Campania, and the volcanic islands of Stromboli and Vulcano (both to the north of Sicilia).

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19
Q

Where are most of Italy’s winegrowing districts located?

A

Hillsides. Hills cover the largest part of Italy (42%) and are found across the entire territory. Most of Italy’s hills flank both sides of the Apennines in the central and southern part of the peninsula. Though a large band of hills is also found in Italy’s north, running (mostly) parallel to the Alps and the Prealps.

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20
Q

The hills of Italy can be broadly divided into three main categories base on their origin. What are they?

A

1) Sedimentary hills: Formed by the uplift of ancient sea bed. Examples are the hills of Langhe, Monferrato and Chianti.

2) Morainic hills: Formed by Alpine glacial deposits and containing a high gravel and sand content. They are found parallel to the Prealps and Alps. Examples are the hills around Lake Garda (Bardolino) and in Franciacorta.

3) Volcanic hills: The remains of ancient, extinct volcanos; usually possessing a conical shape. Examples of volcanic hills are found in Veneto, Toscana, Lazio, Campania and Sicilia.

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21
Q

Plains account for the smallest proportion (23%) of the Italian landscape. What is Italy’s largest plain?

A

The flat and fertile Padana Plain (or Po Valley) represents more than two-thirds of this percentage. This alluvial plain divides the Alps from the Apennines and extends in an east-west direction for about 400miles/650km from the Western Alps to the Adriatic Sea. It is crossed by Italy’s largest river, the Po.

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22
Q

What is Italy’s largest river?

A

The Po

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23
Q

Which regions are located within the Padana Plain (Po Valley)?

A

It includes parts of Piemonte, Lombardia, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, and Friuli Venezia Giulia.

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24
Q

What is Pianura Veneto-Friulana (Venetian-Friulian Plain) and where is it located?

A

A distinct plain located in the easternmost part of the Padana Plain (Po Valley) between Veneto and Friuli.

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25
Q

What is Tavoliere delle Puglie and where is it located?

A

The Tavoliere delle Puglie is the second largest plain and is located in Puglia.

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26
Q

Aside from the Padana Plain (Po Valley) and Tavoliere delle Puglie, where are the remaining portion of flatland found?

A

The remaining portion of flatland comprises small plains mainly found along the coastline and near river deltas.

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27
Q

Only a small proportion of Italy’s vineyards are planted in the flat plains. Where are the majority of these found?

A

Emilia-Romagna

Veneto

Friuli Venezia Giulia

Puglia

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28
Q

The Mediterranean Sea surrounds the Italian peninsula. What are the four major basins that is is sub-divided into?

A

The Adriatic Sea: separating Italy from the Balkan Peninsula to the east.

The Ionian Sea: separating the southern portion of Italy from Greece to the Southeast.

The Tyrrhenian Sea: located between the southwestern coast of mainland Italy and the islands of Sardegna and Sicilia.

The Ligurian Sea: in the northwest between the region of Liguria and the French island of Corsica.

29
Q

Define the word Mediterranean.

A

The name Mediterranean derives from the Latin “Mediterraneus”, meaning “in the middle of the earth” because of its position between the continents of Africa, Asia, and Europe.

30
Q

Italy has a large number of rivers. How is this?

A

it is due to a plethora of mountains, glaciers, lakes, and springs.

31
Q

The effect of rivers on local climate in Italy is less pronounced than other European countries. Why is this?

A

The rivers in Italy tend to be shorter and smaller by comparison. Very few of the rivers are navigable and when they are it is only for limited distances.

32
Q

Where are Italy’s longest and biggest rivers found?

A

The northern part of Italy boasts the country’s longest/biggest rivers. They rise in the glacier-rich Alps and flow south across the Padana Plain. Most of them empty in the Po River, which flows horizontally from the western Alps in Piemonte, through the Padana Plain and empties into the Adriatic Sea in Veneto.

33
Q

What are the important tributaries of the Po River? (The rivers that feed into the Po from the Alps)

A

Tanaro river

Dora Baltea river

Sesia river

Ticino river

Adda river

Oglio river

34
Q

In the northeastern section of the country some rivers flow south and empty directly into the Adriatic Sea. What are they?

A

Adige river

Brenta river

Tagliamento river

35
Q

Where do you find the rivers of central and southern Italy?

A

These rivers rise in the Apennines and drain either east into the Adriatic Sea or west into the Tyrrhenian Sea.

36
Q

The majority of the rivers found in Central and Southern Italy are shorter and smaller than those found in the north. Which rivers are the notable exceptions?

A

Tevere river

Arno river

Volturno river

37
Q

The largest lakes in Italy are found in the north. What are their names?

A

Lake Garda

Lake Como

Lake Maggiore

Lake Iseo

38
Q

What important role do the large lakes in northern Italy play?

A

The lakes play an important role in moderating the cooling influence of the Alps.

39
Q

What are the names of the important lakes located in Central Italy?

A

Lake Trasimeno

Lake Bolsena

Lake Bracciano

40
Q

What geographical feature is key to determining the climate of winegrowing areas in Italy?

A

Elevation, rather than latitude, is key to determining climate due to the vast mountain presence.

41
Q

How do Mediterranean influences work with high elevation to act as unifying and fundamental features of Italy’s climate?

A

Mediterranean influences ripen the crops more easily than in other northern European areas.

High elevation extends the growing season, allowing grapes to maintain acidity and aromatic complexity.

Italy has some of the latest harvests in Europe, despite being surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea on three sides.

42
Q

What is the climate of the Italian Alps?

A

Continental with an alpine influence that becomes stronger in higher altitudes. Winters are long and severe; summers are warm with plenty of sunshine.

43
Q

What is the climate of the Padana Plain?

A

Fully continental with hot summers and cold winters.

The hilly land found between the mountains (Alps/Apennines) and the plain has an intermediate climate that can be defined as semi-continental.

The Northern regions facing the sea (Liguria, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia) are more affected by the Mediterranean.

44
Q

What is the climate of Central & Southern Italy?

A

The Mediterranean Sea acts as a reservoir of warmth and humidity resulting in a warm Mediterranean climate for the coastal areas with mild winters and warm-to-hot summers. Note that the Tyrrhenian Sea is deeper and larger than the Adriatic Sea and therefore exerts a stronger moderating influence on Italy’s western portion.

The peninsula’s inland areas are mostly mountainous and benefit from cooler conditions due to higher elevation. Even in the most southern areas vineyards can be found in surprisingly moderate climatic conditions.

45
Q

Where in Italy are the lowest annual temperatures found?

A

In Northern Italy because of high elevation and the cooling influence of the Alps. Temperatures dip amply below the freezing point.

And within the inland plains that are less affected by the sea.

46
Q

What are the temperatures like in Padana Plain?

A

While one of Italy’s coldest areas in the winter, it is also one of the hottest during summer months. This is due to the isolating presence of both the Alps and the Apennines

47
Q

What are temperatures like in central and southern Italy?

A

Proceeding southward along the peninsula, central and southern parts of Italy experience higher average temperatures, particularly coastal areas on both sides of the peninsula. From Liguria to Calabria on the western coast and from Marche to Puglia on the eastern coast.

48
Q

Which areas have the highest average temperatures in Italy?

A

The coast of Sicilia, Calabria, the southern part of Puglia (Salento) and the southern coast of Sardegna boast the highest average temperatures of all.

49
Q

Where does rainfall tend to be highest?

A

Rainfall tends to be highest in the mountainous areas (Alps & Apennines) where it averages between 100-120inches/2,500-3,000mm annually.

Precipitation decreases moving away from the mountains and is lowest on the plains and coasts where annual averages can drop as low as 20-47inches/500-1,200mm.

50
Q

When does most rainfall occur?

A

Generally speaking, most rain falls in autumn and winter. Spring and summer are typically the driest of the seasons.

51
Q

Which winegrowing regions are notable for summer drought becoming a problem?

A

Sicilia

Puglia

Note: in such emergency cases, irrigation (under certain restrictions) may be allowed.

52
Q

Hail can pose a serious threat to crops. where in Italy is it most problematic?

A

Northern Italy; crops can be extensively (and rapidly) damaged.

53
Q

What are the EU Wine-Growing Zones?

A

A system used by the European Union to group the wine-producing areas of Europe into 6 climatic zones:
A, B, CI, CII, CIII(a), and CIII(b), where A is the coolest and CIII(b) is the warmest zone. For each zone, the EU has established rules that dictate the minimum potential alcohol and the parameters for enrichment and acid adjustment.

54
Q

Which winegrowing regions in Italy belong to the Eu Wine-Growing Zone: CI?

A

Valle d’Aosta
Trentino-Alto Adige
The province of Sondrio in Lombardia
The province of Belluno in Veneto

55
Q

Which winegrowing regions in Italy belong to the Eu Wine-Growing Zone: CIII(b)?

A

Sardegna
Sicilia
Calabria
Basilicata
Puglia

56
Q

Which EU Wine-Growing zone does most of Northern, all of central, and some of southern regions of Italy belong to?

A

CII zone

57
Q

What are the four main categories of soil based on origin and formation?

A

1) Sedimentary Areas: rock that forms over a period of time through the accumulation and cementation of sediment (of various origins) that is transported by water, ice, wind or gravity.

2) Moraines: the resulting deposit of sediment (rocks and soil) that was transported by a glacier. It is more than a sedimentary soil, it is a sedimentary mound.

3) Metamorphic Areas: results when sedimentary or igneous rocks are subjected to high temperatures and extreme pressure which causes chemical, mineralogical and physical changes in the rock structure.

4)Volcanic areas: a considerable number of vineyards in Italy are growing on the slopes of ancient and extinct volcanos. Some are cultivated around active volcanos.

58
Q

Where in Italy will you find areas with sedimentary rock. What are the specific soils?

A

In Padana Plain you’ll find Alluvial soils which are the result of sediment transported by flowing rivers. These plains are largely composed of gravels and sand with an admixture of silt and clay.

In the Alpine and Apennine areas the soils are of marine origin and the result of orogenesis. Sedimentary limestones, calcareous marls and dolomite were formed 250-65 mya through the accumulation of marine fossils and other mineral elements when large parts of Italy were covered by the sea. Hardened clay and sandstone, formed 65mya, are the result of orogenesis.

Some of Italy’s most respected wines come from areas with sedimentary rocks, including Langhe (Barolo and Barbaresco), Valpolicella, Collio, Colli Orientali del Friule, Conegliano Valdobbiadene, Chianti and Montalcino.

59
Q

Where in Italy will you find areas with Moraines. What are the specific soils?

A

The last glaciation within the Alps reached its peak 18,000 years ago. During this period, ice extended from the Alps out onto the Padana Plain. Enormous amounts of debris (mainly gravels combined with a mixture of clay, silt and sand) were transported by the ice, forming the moraines we see today.

This type of soil formation are found in Northern Piemonte, Franciacorta, Valtellina and around Lake Garda.

60
Q

Where in Italy will you find areas with Metamorphic rock? What are the specific soils?

A

In Italy, metamorphic rocks are commonly found in mountain ranges and their presence is always linked orogenesis.

Soils with high metamorphic rock content are found in Sardegna, Calabria, northeastern Sicilia and in several areas along the Alps.

61
Q

Where in Italy will you find areas with Volcanic soil? What are the specific soils?

A

In places like Sardegna and the Alps, large quantities of magma found its way through the earth’s crust and solidified in the sub-soil in the form of granite. In other areas, like Soave, magma made it to the surface leaving deposits of basaltic lava.

Alto Adige was one of the major centers of volcanic activity at the end of the Paleozoic Era (300-250mya) forming deposits of porphyry.

The orogenesis of theAlps caused volcanic activity in Veneto’s Prealps where the winegrowing reginos of Lessini, Colli Euganei and Colli Berici lie today.

Volcanic soils found in Toscana, Lazio, Basilicata and Campania are the result of volcanic activity related to the formation of the Apennines.

The volcanic soils found in Sicily resulted from movements of the earth’s crust leaving several volcanos that are still active today.

62
Q

What is Italy’s political geographical status?

A

Italy is a Republic (Repubblica Italiana) and it is part of the European Union (EU).

63
Q

What is the population of Italy?

A

Italy has 60 million inhabitants. It is the 4th most populated country of the EU.

64
Q

What is the capital of Italy?

A

The capital is Roma.
Other important cities include:
Milano
Torino
Genova
Venezia
Firenze
Bologna
Napoli
Bari
Palermo.

65
Q

How many administrative regions (regioni) is Italy divided into?

A

20; each one with its own capital city.

66
Q

Which five of the twenty administrative regions have a special autonomous status allowing them to govern with a certain level of autonomy and legislative power?

A

Valle d’Aosta
Trentino-Alto Adige
Friuli Venezia Giulia
Sicilia
Sardegna

67
Q

What are the administrative regions in Italy divided into? What are those then further divided into?

A

Each region is divided into administrative provinces (provincie).

Provinces are further divided into municipalities (communi) that range from medium-size cites to small villages.

Each province is named after the main city located within the territory. (e.g. Liguria is divided into four provinces named after its four main cities: Imperia, Savona, Genova, and La Spezia; Genova is also the region’s capital city.)

68
Q

Name the twenty regions of Italy.

A

Valle d’Aosta Piemonte Liguria Lombardia

Trentino-Alto Adige Friuli Venezia Giulia Veneto Emilia-Romagna

Toscana Umbria Marche Lazio

Abruzzo Molise Campania Puglia

Calabria Basilicata Sicilia Sardegna

Italian Wine Scholar: Northern Italy (21 decks)

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