Introduction to Italy Flashcards
How were the first to influence winemaking in Italy?
Influences came from Phoenicians and Greeks in different regions of Italy.
When can winemaking be dated back to in Italy?
Around 8 BCE
What two families of the 13th and 14th centuries remain influential to Italian winemaking today?
Antinoris and Frescobaldis
What is the name of the botanists who wrote a detailed account of Italian grape varieties in the 16th century?
Andrea Bacci
When were international grape varieties first increasingly planted in Italy?
International grape varieties planted after the phylloxera crisis in early 20th century northeast Italy.
Latitude range of Italian wine regions?
35–47ºN
What are the different climates experienced in Italy?
- Coastal areas experience a Mediterranean climate.
- Inland regions like Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto have a continental climate.
- Generally, many wine regions have a warm, Mediterranean climate ideal for viticulture.
How much do organically certified vineyards account for Italy’s total land under vine?
In 2019, 19 percent of the vineyard area in Italy was certified organic or in conversion, indicating a growth of nearly 110 percent over the previous decade.
Which regions account for the most of Italy’s organic vineyards?
Sicily, Tuscany, and Puglia accounted for over half of the organic vineyards.
How many local grape varieties are there in Italy?
Estimates range between 375 and 500 identified varieties, more than any other country.
Which country’s have influenced Italian winemaking?
Italian winemaking influenced by Germany (white winemaking) and France (red winemaking).
What kinds of oak are used in Italy traditionally and nowadays?
- Historically, red wines matured in large casks (Slavonian oak).
- Shift towards new French oak barriques in the 1980s and 1990s for Bordeaux varieties and certain Italian varieties.
- Recent trend favours old oak, larger vessels, or alternatives like concrete.
- New French oak still used for premium Bordeaux blends and some local varietals.
What and when was the first example of legally defining a wine region in Italy?
- Central Tuscany saw the very first attempt to define a wine production area legally, by Grand Duke Cosimo III de’Medici in 1716.
- The geographical limits of Chianti, Pomino (modern Chianti Rufina), Carmignano and Val d’Arno di Sopra were outlined and criminal penalties on any merchant selling or customer buying wines falsely claiming to be from these areas were introduced.
When was the DOC system introduced in Italy?
1967
When was the IGT system introduced?
1992
What is the average vineyard holding size in Italy?
2.3ha
In 2020, what were the top five wine companies by turnover in Italy?
Top companies by turnover:
Cantine Riunite & Civ
Caviro
Botter Carlo
Marchesi Antinori
Cavit.
How much of Italy’s total production do co-operatives account for?
55%
Outline the export market of Italian wine.
Increasing focus on export markets (44% of produced wine exported in 2021).
Most significant export markets: USA, Germany, UK, Switzerland, Canada.
What are the two categories of Italian wine without a Geographical Indication?
Vino
Vini Varietali (Select international varieties may appear on the label)
What does DOC refer to in Italy?
Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC)
What does DOCD refer to in Italy?
Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG)
How many wine regions are there in Italy?
20
What does the term ‘classico’ refer to in Italian wine law?
Wines made exclusively from grapes grown within a defined historical area of a DOC or DOCG
What does the term ‘Superiore’ refer to in Italian wine law?
Wines with a higher minimum alcohol level, typically an additional 0.5% abv.
What does the term ‘Riserva’ refer to in Italian wine law?
Wines submitted to a certain ageing period, at least two years for red wines and one year for white wines. Some individual DOC/DOCGs specify that this ageing or part of it must be in wood.
