Italian fortified

Question 1

What is the typical Marsala bottle?

Answer 1

• Marsalina, 500 ml

Question 2

What is the name for a red Marsala? What grape varieties are used?

Answer 2

• Marsala Rubino
• Perricone, Calabrese, Nerello Mascalese + max of 30% white grape

Question 3

Between Marsala Oro and Marsala Ambra, which one must add 1% of Mosto Cotto? (cooked must)

Answer 3

• Marsala Ambra

Question 4

What is the three main grape varieties used for Marsala?

Answer 4

• Grillo
• Catarratto
• Inzolia

Question 5

What is the minimum alcohol for Marsala DOC after fortification?

Answer 5

• 17.5 % for Fine
• 18% for others

Question 6

What is the typical spirit used for Marsala fortification?

Answer 6

• local grape spirit

Question 7

What the term “Vergine” means on a Marsala label?

Answer 7

• no sweetened

Question 8

What are the common sweeteners for Marsala?

Answer 8

• Mosto Cotto (ambra only)
• Mistella

Question 9

What is the maximum residual sugar for a Marsala Secco?

Answer 9

• max 40g/l

Question 10

What is the residual sugar for a Marsala Semi Secco?

Answer 10

• 40-100g/l

Question 11

What is the minimum residual sugar for a Marsala Dolce?

Answer 11

• min 100 g/l

Question 12

What is the minimum aging in oak or cherry wood for Fine Marsala?

Answer 12

• 1 year

Question 13

What is the minimum aging in oak or cherry wood for Superiore Marsala?

Answer 13

• 2 years

Question 14

What is the minimum aging in oak or cherry wood for Superiore Riserva Marsala?

Answer 14

• 4 years

Question 15

What is the minimum aging in oak or cherry wood for Vergine/Solera Marsala?

Answer 15

• 5 years

Question 16

What is the minimum aging in oak or cherry wood for Vergine Riserva/Solera Riserva/ Vergine Solera Stravecchio Marsala?

Answer 16

• 10 years

Question 17

Other than oak, what other wood essence is important for the ageing of Marsala wines ?

Answer 17

• Cherry wood

Question 18

True or false, all Marsala wines must be aged in barrels of oak or cherrywood

Answer 18

• true
• to promote steady oxidation, the barrels are not entirely filled or topped off

Question 19

Who helps to develop the Marsala production?

Answer 19

• the British merchant John Woodhouse, he saw a opportunity to make cheaper fortified wine in the style of Port and Madeira in 1774

Question 20

Which DOC can produced fortified wines in the islands?

Answer 20

• Malvasia delle Lipari DOC

Question 21

What is the Concia process in Marsala?

Answer 21

• a addition of Mosto Cotto (cooked must)
• this is an inexpensive way to mimic the tawny color of barrel and is prohibited for Oro and Rubino wines

Question 22

What is sifone in Marsala?

Answer 22

• a sweet and syrupy mistelle, added for flavours and colours

Question 23

What is perpetuum in Marsala?

Answer 23

• Solera
• min 5 years of aging and does not carry a vintage

Question 24

Who is producing Vecchio Samperi?

Answer 24

• Marco de Bartoli
• it is the name of the contrada where the family cellar is located
• labeled as vino da tavola because it is unfortified and ABV lower than minimum. Traditional solera system, the approach who was common before Woodhouse arrival

Question 25

Can Pantelleria produce fortified wines?

Answer 25

- yes

Question 26

What is the synonym of Zibbibo?

Answer 26

- Muscat of Alexandria