IT: Veneto Flashcards
Valpolicella DOC subzones?
Classico
Valpantena
Valpolicella Classico communes?
Fumane
Negrar
Marano
Sant’Ambrogio
San Pietro in Cariano
Vapolicella DOC grapes?
Corvina and/or Corvinone (45 - 95%)
Rondinella (5% to 30%)
Others could include:
Molinara
Oseleta
Croatina
Dindarella
Spigamonti
Amarone della Valpolicella min. ABV + max/min RS?
Min. 11% potential at harvest, dried to 14%
Max 9 gl with allowance for .10g/l for ABV .10% over 14% up to 16%; then .15g/l from there
So basically, 1 full degree of alc over 14 = 1 more gram RS
An Amarone at 15% ABV could theoretically have how much RS?
10g/l RS (the minimum is set at 14% with an allowance for .10g/l more of RS per .10% alc)
(max is normally 9 gl)
Aging requirement for Amarone della Valpolicella?
Rosso: min. 2 years from January 1
Riserva: min. 4 years from November 1
Earliest date that vinification can begin for Amarone?
December 1 of harvest year
Term for the room where Amarone grapes dry?
Fruttaio
Arele
the bamboo racks that Amarone grapes dry on
Bamboo racks used to dry Amarone grapes?
Arele
Name 3 of Corvina’s traditional (but not required) blending partners in Valpolicella?
Molinara
Oseleta
Croatina
Dindarella
Spigamonti
Valpolicella is influenced by what set of mountains?
Lessini Mountains
* Classico area is most sheltered by these
General elevation range for Valpolicella vineyards?
150M to 500M
Most favorable area in Clasico zone lie @ 150 - 460M in foothills of Lessini Mountains
(avg 300M)
Valpolicella soil - name of volcanic outcrops and where?
Calcareous with pronounced volcanic/basalt deposits (esp in the west near Soave)
Toar = volcanic tuff outcrops
Traditional vine training method used in Valpolicella? Benefits?
Pargoletta Veronese aka espalier
vines are trained along a horizontal canopy that offers shade and distance from the ground
*Corvina is prone to sunburn and rot. Protection from sun, good airflow
*Amarone grapes are typically on warmer hillsides - this helps combat overripeness
**healthy intact grapes are especially important with air-drying - damage/rot sends VA through the roof
Length of appassimento for Amarone grapes?
typically picked in early October…
Must be dried until at least December 1.
Drying period is 40 to 80, sometimes 120 days. Producer pending.
What is the maximum amount of a producer’s harvest that can be dedicated to Amarone?
65%
*cannot use another producer’s pomace
[and for ripasso, production volume cannot be over 2x total production of amarone/recioto]
1st Valpolicella wine labelled “Ripasso”?
Masi’s Campofiorin 1967
(they registered the term “ripasso” as a trademark in 1988, forcing other producers to use alternatives like “rigoverno” and “doppia fermentazione” until 2006)
For context: What “alternative” methods might a producer use to make a Valpolicella Ripasso?
Ripasso only needs to spend a few days in barrel or tank with Amarone pomace to be Ripasso.
They could..
- use grapes that are partially dried for a month.. a shortened appassimento process
- or use a combination of fresh and dried grapes (ex: 70% fresh, 30% dried and added to the base wine to start a second fermation)
In the production of Valpolicella Ripasso, the used grape skins must contain what ABV% and what % volume should they contribute to the finished wine?
0.5% ABV
10 - 15% total volume
Aging requirement for Valpolicella Ripasso?
1 year
What are all of the min. ABV requirements for Recioto della Valpolicella - picking, drying, actual and potential?
Grapes are picked at min. 11% potential
Dried to minimum 14%
Must have an actual ABV of at least 12%
Must have potential ABV of at least 14%
Min. RS for Recioto della Valpolicella?
Min. 2.8% potential ABV (equivalent to ~50gl RS)
[12% ABV; grapes harvest at 11%, dried to 14%, required to have 12% .. must have 2.8% remaining]
When did Valpolicella Ripasso become a DOC?
2010
*remember that that this isn’t a historic or traditional style. Masi’s Campofiorin 1967 was the first and held a trademark on the word Ripasso from 1988 to 2006. Production went from 7.5m bottles in 2007 to 25 million by 2013
Maximum amount of Valopicella Ripasso a producer is allowed to make?
It cannot be double the volume of Recioto/Amarone wine obtained from the must used for the Ripasso
*producers must use their own must - they cannot buy or borrow
What is Cruina?
The local name for Corvina used in Bardolino.
Bardolino grapes?
40 - 95% Corvina
5 - 40% Rondinella
Max 20% “others” - up to 15% Molinara and up to 10% any other grape
(Valpo is 45 - 95% Corvina, 5 - 30% Rondinella, max 25% others)
Custoza DOC
Bardonlino’s white wine counterpart - Custoza sits just south but overlaps part of the area.
WHITES ONLY.
MIN. 70% Cortese (aka Bianca Fernanda), Fruilano (Tai), Garganega and/or Trebbiano Toscana - but not more than 45% of any.
MAX 30% Chard, PB, Riesling, Welschriesling, Manzoni Bianco, Pinot Bianco
Soave overlaps what other major DOC?
the eastern part of Valpolicella
Soave DOC / Soave Superiore DOCG grapes?
Min. 70% Garganega
Max. 30% combined Chardonnay and Trebbiano Toscana
Max. 5% “others”
What are Soave’s 2 subzones?
Colli Scaligeri
Classico
What are the 2 main towns of Soave’s Classico zone?
Monteforte d’alpine
Soave itself
What vine training method is most commonly employed in Soave DOC?
Pergola Veronese
Explain Soave Classico’s soils.
West: around the town Soave, there’s more calcareous marl with higher limestone content - which produces refined, delicate and intensely floral Soave.
East: Around Monforte d’Alpone, soils feature more volcanics rich in basalt and tuff - wines are more powerful, structured, spicy
Why was Pieropan’s Calvarino important to Soave as a region?
Debuted in 1971 at a time when Soave’s reputation had greatly diminished.It was one of the first single vineyard bottlings and was integral in rebuilding Soave’s image.
Min. RS for Recioto di Soave DOCG?
70 g/l
Gambellara DOC
WHITES:
Min 80% Garganega + max. 20% Chard, Pinot Bianco and/or Trebbiano Toscana
(Soave = 70Garg/ 30Chard/Trebb)
Even more volcanic than Soave
- There’s only about 200ha - the flatter areas are mostly given over to Prosecco production.
- Sits on Soave’s eastern border, making similar wines.
Recioto di Gambellara DOCG grapes?
100% Garganega
Torcolato is associated with what DOC? What grape(s) are used?
Breganze DOC
100% Vespaiolo
Who is the main producer of Breganze DOC Torcolato?
Maculan
[vino dulce natural made from semi-dried grapes, aged in new oak]
Durella
White grape
Lessini Durello DOC
Monti Lessini DOC
Veneto’s most planted red?
Merlot
Top 2 DOC for production by volume?
Prosecco DOC
Delle Venezie DOC
*top producing in all of italy
Veneto’s DOC/G that focus on int’l varieties
Colli Berici DOC
Colli Euganei DOC
Montello Asolo DOC
Montello Rosso DOCG
Alzero
Quintarelli
Cabernet Sauvignon + Cabernet Franc sometimes with Carmenere
Top 2 “international varietal” bottlings from Maculan?
Palazzotto: Cabernet Sauvignon
Crosara: Merlot
La Poja
Allegrini
100% Corvina
1st modern Prosecco?
Antonio Carpene
1873
*he also founded Italy’s 1st enology school
% of Glera for Prosecco?
85%
Prosecco grapes?
Min 85% Glera
The traditionals:
Verdiso, Bianchetta Trevigiana, Perera
Glera Lunga
The internationals:
Chardonnay
Pinot Bianco
Pinot Grigio, Pinot Nero
(Max 15%)
Prosecco Rosé
- grapes
- styles
- rules
- 10 - 15% Pinot Nero + Glera
- vintage dated
- Non Dosage, Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Dry
- spumante only
Prosecco’s 2 most traditional blending partners?
Verdiso (enhances acidity)
Bianchetta Trevigiana (enhances structure)
DOCG for Prosecco?
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG
Asolo Prosecco DOCG
River in SW Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG?
Piave River (forms the SW boundary)
Which is steeper/cooler: Valdobbiadene or Conegliano?
Valdobbiadene
What is the main soil type in Valdobbiadene? Conegliano?
Valdobbiadene: marls and conglomerates
Conegliano: morainic and clay
Explain Prosecco’s “Rive” designation.
Translates to “hillside vineyard” in local dialect, but in this context it is a geographical designation referring to a commune or frazione (hamlet) NOT a single vineyard.
- hand-harvested
- lower max. yields (13 tons/ha vs. 13.5 for reg DOCG vs 18 for DOC)
- there’s 43: 12 commune, 31 frazione
3 rive of Conegliaino Valdobbiadene DOCG?
Col San Martino
Soligo
Colbertado di Vidor
Farra di Soligo
Ogliano
Pieve di Soligo
3 Glera varieties? Which is the most common?
1 Glera Tondo is the most planted at about 90% of crop
- Glera Lungo
- Glera Nostrano - rare and difficult to grow
Prosecco “Sui Lieviti”
CONEGLIANO VALDOBIADDENE PROSECCO SUPERIORE “SUI LIEVITI” DOCG
“on the lees”
- secondary in bottle
- brut nature, no disgorge
- NO Rive designation
- in the region, they’ll ask if you want it “clear or cloudy” aka shaken or not shaken
- typically 11 - 12% ABV
Sui Lieviti vs Col Fondo: what’s the difference? What happened to Col Fondo?
Sui Lieviti became the legal designation when Col Fondo.. couldn’t. Two companies hold trademarks to the term (Drusian and Val d’Oca) since around 2002.
Col Fondo (“with stuff on the bottom”) is also a bottle fermented/undisgorged wine - but encapsulates a wider range of styles. Often refers to a frizzante wine with maybe a touch more RS than Sui Lieviti which is Spumante only and brut nature.
What are Cartizze’s 3 subzones?
- Cartizze Alto: Covers 230-320M. Highest, steepest, warmest and sunniest. This is the “classico zone”.
2/3. Cartizze Est, Cartizze Ovest: cooler with less marl and deeper soils. Sit below Alto.
Min. ABV for Superiore di Cartizze?
11.5% ABV
(same as Rive)
What category of wine in Conegliano Valdobbiadene mandates the lowest yields? Highest min ABV?
Rive and Superiore di Cartizze mandate the highest ABV with 11.5%
Superiore di Cartizze comes in with the lowest yields… 12 tons/ha vs Rive’s 13ha
What producer owns the largest share of Cartizze?
Bisol with 2ha
They’ve had vines here since 1542
typically RS in Superiore di Cartizze?
Dry
(17 to 32g/l)
Cartizze vine training method?
Doppio Capovolto (heart-shaped - 2 canes bent towards trunk). Same as Doppelbogen in the Mosel - this method does well on steep slopes with low water retention and is good at reducing vigor
Vigna la Rivetta
Villa Sandi
Brut nature, traditional method Cartizze
3 Cartizze producers?
Bisol
Ruggeri family’s Le Colture
Col Vetoraz
Mionetto
Villa Sandi
Cartizze
- location
- climate
- elevation/aspect/slope
- soils
Valdobbiadene
“The Golden Pentagon”
107.8ha at the foot of the Cesen Mountain
- ASPECT/ELEVATION: Entirely S/SE/SW-facing. 180 - 320M.
- SLOPE: Avg 35%, up to 60%
- SOILS: limestone and marl
- CLIMATE: mild continental with alpine and maritime influence, like most of the Veneto (Adriatic Sea and Dolomites are influencers)
Name 3 soil types of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG
- glacial-based morainic
- iron-rich feletti
- rocky conglomerate soils
- clay marls
- Cartizze limestone
Amarone vintages - the good, the exceptional, and the ugly?
2014 = WORST
*so much rain. almost no RSVA/selezione made. literally worst vintage ever.
2017 was the 2nd weakest vintage
2012, 2016, 2019, 2020 = GREAT
2010, 2021 = EXCEPTIONAL
How does botrytis affect Amarone?
Less/no botrytis:
- more color
- less glycerin = less velvety, voluptuous
- more focus on tannic structure
Botrytis:
- textural complexity, more glycerin. Augments the perception of sweetness.
- oxidative effect = interesting dried fruit, nut flavors. Mushroom is a good marker
Amarone translation?
Great Bitter
Valpolicella/Soave bodies of water?
Lake Garda to the west
Adige River separates Valpo from Bardolino and follows the southern border
Producers in eastern Valpolicella?
Pra
Pieropan
Dal Forno (Illasi Valley)
DOCG(s) for Raboso Piave grape?
Piave Malanotte DOCG
Friularo di Bagnoli DOCG
(Veneto)
“modern” vs “traditional” producers of Amarone and examples of each?
Traditional – air drying in Fruttai (lofts) and use of large neutral oak for ageing. Quintarelli, Lonardi, Bertani and Speri.
Modern – uses new barrique and may use refrigeration for drying. Romano Dal Forno, Allegrini and Accordini.
What are marogne?
Hillside vineyards are cultivated on terraces made using dry stone walls
OR
stone walls to mark vineyard boundaries
Le Famiglie Storiche?
Amarone producer group
*founded by 10 families in 2009. It now consists of 13 families including: Allegrini, Begali, Brigaldara, Guerrieri Rizzardi, Masi, Musella, Speri, Tedeschi, Tenuta Sant’Antonio, Tommasi, Torre D’Orti, Venturini and Zenato
Cartizze subzones
Superiore di Cartizze (official title): best “menzione” in the Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG
- 1st delimited in 1969
- 3 unofficial sub-zones:
- Cartizze Alto (historic Cartizze): sandstone, marl
- Cartizze Est, Cartizze Ovest: deeper, less marly, pockets of calcium carbonate resulting in less drainage.
Cartizze Est and Ovest are primarily differentiated from one another through their exposure, with the former facing southwest and the latter southeast.
Tendone System synonyms and other regions?
Pergola
Latada (Madeira)
Parral (Argentina)
Enforcado (Portugal)
4 requirements for Prosecco’s Rive category?
-must be hand-harvested
-vintage dated
-must be spumante (not frizzante)
-max. yield of 13 tons/ha, as compared to 13.5 in the DOCG
3 DOCG for Recioto in the Veneto?
Recioto di Gambellara DOCG
Recioto di Soave DOCG
Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG
progni
small rivers
Amarone’s Classico zone includes what communes?
Fumane, Negrar, Marano, Sant’Ambrogio and San Pietro in Cariano
(same as Valpolicella, don’t forget that it they ask either way)
1st Amarone?
Cantina Valpolicella Negrar in the 1930 ‘s -
but Bolla “dry Recioto Amarone” 1953 was the 1st real commercial venture
Grapes for Recioto and Amarone must dry to what % potential alcohol?
14%
Valpolicella Allargatta
Valleys:
- Illasi
- Mizzone
- Mezzane
- Tramigna
- this is the 1968 expansion
Amarone yeasts
Saccharamyces Uvarum: responsible for glycerol creation then dies
Saccharamyces Cerivisae: takes it to full ABV
Worst Amarone vintages
1984
1992
2005
2007
2014
* Dal Forno made no wines these years
DOC/G for “Sui Lieviti”?
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG
[no disgorge, no dosage. On the lees.]
Valpolicella
- location
- terrain
- soils
- climate
Western Veneto - across the Adige River from Verona
- TERRAIN: rolling hills and valleys; Clasico Zone is in foothills of Lessini Mountains
- CLIMATE: cool continental, influenced by Lake Garda and the Alps
- SOILS: Morainic gravel near Garda. Gravel/alluvial in central plains. Volcanic in east near Soave.
