IT - Southern Italy / Sicilia Flashcards
- Trad Marsala, changing w/mod
- Med C, low rain
- Hill or M w/slopes 900m w/poor soil, most nr coast
- Traditionally only known for Marsala but modernisation in viticulture, winemaking and marketing.
- Mediterranean climate w hot & dry summers and mild & wet winters. Low rainfall
- Mostly hilly or mountainous w slopes up to 900m hi made of poor soils. Most vineyards are near the coast.
- 60-80s Q meant Gob replaced w/more prod wire-t or Tendone
- Guyot now maj, some bush, mech pos
- Mod in w/making w/refridge, temp cont F. Chap not permitted
- 1960-80s: concentration on quantity meant the traditional gobelet was replaced with more productive wire-trained or tendone systems.
- Guyot is now the large majority with some bush vines and tendone remaining. Move to mechanisation.
- Modernisation in winemaking with refrigeration for better temperature control at Fermentation. Chaptalisation is not permitted as in the rest of Italy.
White
- Cataratto (38%)
- Garg pos offspring
- interesting fb wine w/lemon
- only in W province of Trapini
- 2nd most w planted in IT, also Mars
- Inzolia (7%)
- Arom
- W Sicilia, also Mars
- Grillo (3%)
- Base G for Mars
Whites
- Cataratto (38% of plantings)
- Garganega’s possible offspring
- Can make interesting full bodied wines w lemon notes
- Found only in Sicilia’s western province of Trapani
- 2nd most widely planted in Italy - Also used for Marsala
- Inzolia (7% of plantings)
- Relatively aromatic
- Grown mainly in western Sicilia - Also used for Marsala
- Grillo (3% of plantings)
- Base grape for Marsala
Others: Chardonnay (4%), Malvasia, Zibbibo, Carricante, Grecanico
Reds
- Nd’Av aka Calabrese (13%)
- good in hot + steamy cl, esp around Noto
- Sw T, plum or pepper (sim to New W Shiraz)
- Frappato
- light Col, cherry scent, hi A
- Bl w/Nd’Av to add fruit + fresh
- DNA link to Sang
- Nerello Mascalese
- Deep C, hi Al w/less conc vs Nd’Av
- Syrah (3.5%)
Others: CS, Perricone, M
Reds
- Calabrese aka Nero d’Avola (13% of total plantings)
- Performs in hot & steamy climates, esp. around Noto
- Sweet tannins, plum or peppery flavours (//New World Shiraz)
- Frappato
- Light-coloured, cherry-scented native grape w hi acidity
- Blended w Nero d’Avola in Cerasuolo to add fruit & freshness
- DNA linked to Sangiovese
-
Nerello Mascalese
* Deep coloured, hi in alcohol w less concentration vs. Nero d’Avola often blended - Syrah (3.5% of plantings)
Others: Cabernet, Perricone, Merlot
IGT + DOC
Key DOCs from Salento
IGTs & DOCs. The key DOCs from the Salento peninsula are:
Alcamo DOC (R/W/R) – 20,000ha
- North-western of Island, south-west of Palermo; mostly around the town of Trapani; DOC since 1972.
- Whites: predominantly Cataratto but also Sauvignon, Grillo, Inzolia and Grecanico
Reds: Nero d’Avola, Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot & Syrah
Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG
Sicilia’s only DOCG since 2005; south-east of the Island; made from blend of min 40% Frappato and no max 60% Nero d’Avola. Best long-lived example from the Ragusa province
Passito di Pantelleria DOC
- Small island near North Africa, south-west of Sicilia
- Dessert wine made from Zibibbo aka Moscato di Pantelleria w similar flavours to Rutherglen muscat but lighter
Others: Etna Rosso DOC, Malvasia di Lipari DOC
130,000ha for 7m hl/yr – #1 area under vine & 2nd largest producer (after Puglia) w 13% of total wine
- DOC represents only 2% of the production. ‘Q’ on label to denote higher quality level.
- Traditionally dominated by large cooperatives but now more than 500 quality producers
• Key producers:
o Cantine Settesoli – 650ha / 15m btls
Founded in 1958 by a group of farmers; now largest cooperative and biggest bottler on the island.
Produces everyday wines as well as high quality varietals and blends.
Duca di Salaparuta Group – 100ha / 9.5m btls
- Group now owns 3 brands: historic Corvo, Florio and Duca di Salaparuta.
- Corvo: leading brands in Italy; first Sicilian company to bottle Nero d’Avola & use cold fermentation for whites - Signature wine: Duca Enrico red
