Grape Varietal: Nebbiolo, Barbera, Corvina, Sangiovese, Montepulciano

Question 1

Where are the important regions in Italy for Nebbiolo?

Answer 1

Piemonte:

• Barolo DOCG
• Barbaresco DOCG

Question 2

What are the varietal characteristics of Nebbiolo?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Where is the important region in Italy for Barbera?

Answer 3

Piedmont

- Barbera d’Asti DOCG

Question 4

What are the varietal characteristics of Barbera?

Answer 4

dry
medium to full body
high acidity
low to medium tannin
red fruit: red cherry, red plum
spice: black pepper

Question 5

What are the varietal characteristics of Corvina?

Answer 5

Dry to off-dry,
full body
low to medium tannin
High acid
Red fruits red cherry, red plum

Question 6

What are the 4 most important DOC/DOCGs for Sangiovese in Tuscany?

Answer 6

Chianti DOCG
Chianti Classico DOCG
Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

Question 7

What are the varietal characteristics of Sangiovese?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

What are the varietal characteristics of Montepulciano?

Answer 8

dry
medium acidity
high tannin
black fruit: black plum, black cherry
most are affordable/simple with no oak

Question 9

Where is the important region in Italy for Montepulciano?

Answer 9

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

Question 10

Barolo DOCG and Barbaresco DOCG are always matured in which of the following:

inert vessels like stainless steel
oak, new and/or used

Answer 10

Oak, new and/or used

Question 11

Why are Barolo and Barbaresco wines always matured in oak, whether it’s new or used?

Answer 11

Because Nebbiolo’s structure (high tannin, high acidity) makes it well suited for extended aging in wood.

Oak aging softens the tannins.

Question 12

Which direction do the vineyards of Barolo face?

Answer 12

South

Question 13

Name some reasons why a young Barbera is generally more approachable than young Nebbiolo.

Answer 13

Barbera displays:

• Lower tannin
• More ample, plush fruit
• Many are unoaked and less complex

This also makes Barbera generally less age-worthy than Nebbiolo.

Question 14

Corvina is the most important black grape in which Italian region?

Answer 14

Veneto in the northeast.

Question 15

Name 4 important DOC/DOCGs in the Veneto whose wines are dominated by the black grape Corvina.

Answer 15

Valpolicella DOC
Valpolicella Classico DOC
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG
Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG

Question 16

Both Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG and Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG are made with ___ grapes.

Which one is always going to be sweet?

Answer 16

Partially dried grapes

Recioto della Valpolicella will always be sweet.

Question 17

What winemaking technique is widely used in the Veneto region?

Answer 17

Appassimento

Harvested grapes are dried on mats to concentrate sugars, acid, aroma and flavor characteristics.

Question 18

Name 3 appellations in the Veneto that use the appassimento technique.

Answer 18

• 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)

Question 19

Describe the profile of Amarone della Valpolicella.

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

Which Central Italian region is famous for Sangiovese?

Answer 20

Tuscany

Question 21

Which Central Italian region is famous for Montepulciano?

Answer 21

Abruzzo

Question 22

What 2 terms are widely used in Central Italy to differentiate style and quality?

Answer 22

Classico

Riserva

Question 23

What does the term “Classico” generally indicate on a bottle of wine?

Answer 23

• Grapes come from a smaller, historic area of a particular region
• Usually hilly
• Wines are more concentrated/intense in flavor

Question 24

What does the term “Riserva” generally indicate on a bottle of wine?

Answer 24

• 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)

Question 25

Which DOCG in Tuscany produces Sangiovese at its most simple that drinks best in its youth?

Answer 25

Chianti DOCG

Quality of Chianti DOCG is very inconsistent as the area is big and broad.

Question 26

Which wine is aged longer:

Chianti Classico DOCG
Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG

Answer 26

Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG

Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG will usually have a fuller body, more alcohol, and more oak than Chianti Classico DOCG.

Question 27

Brunello is the name for what in Montalcino?

Answer 27

Brunello is the name for Sangiovese in local dialect.