Grape Varietal: Nebbiolo, Barbera, Corvina, Sangiovese, Montepulciano Flashcards
Where are the important regions in Italy for Nebbiolo?
Piemonte:
- Barolo DOCG
- Barbaresco DOCG
What are the varietal characteristics of Nebbiolo?
dry full body high acidity high tannin red fruit: red cherry, red plum floral: rose, violet herbal: dried herbs developing aromas include leather, truffles, tar/tobacco
Where is the important region in Italy for Barbera?
Piedmont
- Barbera d’Asti DOCG
What are the varietal characteristics of Barbera?
dry medium to full body high acidity low to medium tannin red fruit: red cherry, red plum spice: black pepper
What are the varietal characteristics of Corvina?
Dry to off-dry, full body low to medium tannin High acid Red fruits red cherry, red plum
What are the 4 most important DOC/DOCGs for Sangiovese in Tuscany?
Chianti DOCG
Chianti Classico DOCG
Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
What are the varietal characteristics of Sangiovese?
dry high acidity high tannin red fruit: red cherry, red plum herbal: dried herbs most are affordable/simple with no oak some concentrated styles of Classico and Riserva will see oak
What are the varietal characteristics of Montepulciano?
dry medium acidity high tannin black fruit: black plum, black cherry most are affordable/simple with no oak
Where is the important region in Italy for Montepulciano?
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
Barolo DOCG and Barbaresco DOCG are always matured in which of the following:
inert vessels like stainless steel
oak, new and/or used
Oak, new and/or used
Why are Barolo and Barbaresco wines always matured in oak, whether it’s new or used?
Because Nebbiolo’s structure (high tannin, high acidity) makes it well suited for extended aging in wood.
Oak aging softens the tannins.
Which direction do the vineyards of Barolo face?
South
Name some reasons why a young Barbera is generally more approachable than young Nebbiolo.
Barbera displays:
- Lower tannin
- More ample, plush fruit
- Many are unoaked and less complex
This also makes Barbera generally less age-worthy than Nebbiolo.
Corvina is the most important black grape in which Italian region?
Veneto in the northeast.
Name 4 important DOC/DOCGs in the Veneto whose wines are dominated by the black grape Corvina.
Valpolicella DOC
Valpolicella Classico DOC
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG
Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG
Both Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG and Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG are made with ___ grapes.
Which one is always going to be sweet?
Partially dried grapes
Recioto della Valpolicella will always be sweet.
What winemaking technique is widely used in the Veneto region?
Appassimento
Harvested grapes are dried on mats to concentrate sugars, acid, aroma and flavor characteristics.
Name 3 appellations in the Veneto that use the appassimento technique.
- Recioto di Soave DOCG (sweet white)
- Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG (sweet red)
- Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG (grapes only partially dried; dry to off-dry red)
Describe the profile of Amarone della Valpolicella.
Dry to off-dry Full body High alcohol High tannin High acid Dried fruits (figs, raisins, prunes) Ripe red fruits (cherries)
- Amarone shows both ripe and dried fruits because the grapes are only partially dried, not fully dried, prior to fermentation.
Which Central Italian region is famous for Sangiovese?
Tuscany
Which Central Italian region is famous for Montepulciano?
Abruzzo
What 2 terms are widely used in Central Italy to differentiate style and quality?
Classico
Riserva
What does the term “Classico” generally indicate on a bottle of wine?
- Grapes come from a smaller, historic area of a particular region
- Usually hilly
- Wines are more concentrated/intense in flavor
What does the term “Riserva” generally indicate on a bottle of wine?
- Used for DOC or DOCG (not IGP!)
- Wine has been aged for a certain number of months prior to release (length of aging depends on DOC/DOCG rules)
Which DOCG in Tuscany produces Sangiovese at its most simple that drinks best in its youth?
Chianti DOCG
Quality of Chianti DOCG is very inconsistent as the area is big and broad.
Which wine is aged longer:
Chianti Classico DOCG
Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG
Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG
Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG will usually have a fuller body, more alcohol, and more oak than Chianti Classico DOCG.
Brunello is the name for what in Montalcino?
Brunello is the name for Sangiovese in local dialect.
