Introduction to Italy Flashcards
History of Italian wine production dates back to when?
8th Century
How did Florence feature in Italian Wine history?
became the banking capital of Europe where families like Antinori and Frescobaldi family made money
When did international varieties start to be planted?
early 20th Century after Phylloxera
After WWII what was the emphasis on for wine?
High yields and volume production
when did the market from simple local wines develop?
1970s-2000
Which innovations helped with this?
S/S for white wines in 1960s
Success of red Bordeaux blends in Tuscany in 1970s
What are the two major commercial successes in the last 20 yrs?
Prosecco and Pinot Grigio
What is the climate?
Most have a warm mediterranean climate
Which areas have a continental climate?
Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto
Traditionally what were the vine planting practices?
Pergola training, mixed planting - vines in same fields as olive trees, veg and grains
Top 5 grapes planted in Italy?
1) Sangiovese
2) Pinot Grigio
3) Trebbiano
4) Glera
5) Montepulciano
What two countries have influenced developed winemaking techniques?
white wine making from Germany (S/S Temp control)
red wine making from France (maturation in small oak barrels)
Where was the first region that attempted to define a wine production area?
Chianti in 1700s
When did the DOC rules not apply to outstanding quality wines?
What was the result of this?
Wines not at the time covered by a DOC, ie, Super Tuscan Sassicaia grown in Bolgheri.
Bolgheri DOC introduced in 1994 to accommodate Super Tuscans
Vino da Tavola has been applied to which quality wine?
Le Pergole Torte within the Chianti Classico region. The wine was made with 100% Sangiovese when some white grapes were required by the DOC
What is the difference between DOC and DOCG?
stricter rules, ie, lower yield
What are the 3 legally defined labelling terms within DOC/DOCG?
- Classico - wines made exclusively from grapes grown in defined historical area of DOC/DOCG
- Superiore - wines with higher min alcohol level (.5%)
- Riserva - Wines submitted to certain ageing period, at least 2 yrs for reds, 1 yr for white.
Describe the IGT system?
Examples of IGT wines?
What does IGT also includes provision for?
Introduced in 1992 = French Vin de Pays now PGI, allow s higher yields than DOC/DOCG
IGT Toscana
Range of wine styles ie, white, red, rosé, abboccato (Demi-sec), frizz ante, Novello (similar to Beaujolais Nouveau), passito grape wines, or late harvest
When was the Italian system incorporated into the EU-wide categories?
introduction of PDO and PGI in 2008
What does this allow producers to do?
Use new categories of DOP and IGP or traditional DOC/DOCG or IGT/IGP
What was the production for Italy in 2018
55m hL
What is the average size of vineyard holdings?
less than 2ha
where do many growers take their grapes?
co-ops, merchants or large companies
What is the largest Co-Op?
Caviro (processes 10% of all Italian wine grapes
How has wine consumptions declined in the last century?
What has this meant?
1/3 of the level from 100 yrs ago
Producers increasingly looked to export markets
What % of the value of still wines exported wines?
Still wines contributed 65% of value of Italian wine exports
What are the most important markets for Italian wine?
USA, Germany - then UK, Canada and switzerland
Italian Wine Laws: Describe PDO Wines
in Italy more likely DOP Denominazione di Origine Protetta
Italian Wine Laws: Describe DOC
Denominazione di Origine Controlla - wines subject to geographical boundaries as well as limitations on grape varieties and production methods
Italian Wine Laws: Describe DOCG
Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita = meets all DOC requirements plus must be bottled in area of production and subject to Ministry of Agriculture tasting
Italian Wine Laws: What is IGP also known as
IGT
What does Classico mean?
Boundaries of number of appellations have expanded to new plantings outside original zone. The term Classico acknowledges that wines have been made solely from original classified land, and includes the best wines from the area
What does Riserva mean?
Higher alcohol level and longer ageing than minimums stipulated by appellation laws