IT - Northwest / Lombardia

Answer 1

Varied climate but overall cool with humidity

Reasonably flat topography w vast fertile plains but some slopes of granite and granitic sand

Answer 2

Reds

Barbera

1. Productive & versatile red grape
2. Found mainly in Oltrepo Pavese
3. Produces good yields for everyday wines
4. Deep ruby colour, low tannins, full bodied, hi acidity plummy wines

Nebbiolo

1. Small thick-skinned black berries that produce both high tannins & acidity w typical aromas of tar & roses
2. Best in soils hi in calcareous marl. Ok in sandy soils

Pinot Nero

1. Growing in popularity in Oltrepo Pavese and also use in Franciacorta sparkling & still wines

Bonarda / Croatina

1. Produces plump berry-flavoured reds. - Blended with Barbera in Oltrepo Rosso

Answer 3

Whites

1. Chardonnay
   * Dominant in Franciacorta for sparkling and still whites but also grown in Oltrepo Pavese
2. Pinot Grigio
3. Pinot Bianco
   * 2nd dominant grape in Franciacorta
4. Riesling Renano & Riesling Italico
5. Different Rieslings both found in Oltrepo Pavese
6. Renano considered superior quality
7. Wines w peachy flowery aromas

Question 4

1. Ol Pav
2. T di Franc
3. Valt

Answer 4

1. Oltrepo Pavese DOC (R/W) 17,000ha
2. Terre di Franciacorta DOC (R/W)
3. Valtellina DOC 1,200ha

Answer 5

1. A few kms south of Milan; at the Apennine foothills from the river Po reaching toward the border of Emilia
2. Calcareous clay soils for a large range of wines of little interest; some interesting
3. Oltrepo Rosso: blend of Barbera w Croatina (for spice and body) and Uva rara (for sweetness & aroma)
4. DOC allows hi yields on Barbera and Bonarda. Also some Pinot noir.
5. 15% of production is made from Riesling Italico (Welschriesling) followed by Moscato (9% of total).
6. DOCG for sparkling wines.

Answer 6

Terre di Franciacorta DOC (R/W)

1. East of Milan; vineyards on the low hills south of Brescia; microclimate w moderating effect from Lake Iseo
2. Superior quality appellation of the upcoming Franciacorta area w regulations around yields (10t/ha), trellising systems (Tendone & Geneva double curtain banned) to improve quality. No Pinot Grigio allowed.
3. Mainly international varieties e.g. Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay (made in Burgundian style) and Cabernet Sauvignon (made in Bordeaux style). DOCG for sparkling

Answer 7

Valtellina DOC – 1,200ha

1. In the far north of Lombardia; the northernmost zone w Nebbiolo grapes (doesn’t always ripen)
2. Narrow east-west valley formed by river Adda with vineyards on steep slopes along the river
3. Privileged climate w high percentage of sunny days, long summer days & cool nights
4. Very rocky soils that retains heat during the day and redistributes at night
5. Mainly Nebbiolo grown with wines w less body, roundness and more tannins and acidity vs. Piemonte.
6. Valtellina Superiore is DOCG (min 12% abv vs. 11% for DOC) and Sforzato di Valtellina is a DOCG wine made from dried grapes in similar style to Amarone

Answer 8

1. 24,000ha of vineyards for 1.1ml hl/yr (40% whites 60% reds) with most of the production consumed locally.
2. Most of the viticulture is away from the main towns with no signature grape to help the development of the region in and outside of Italy.