Italian sparkling Flashcards
Tank method what % of Italy sparkling?
96%
of which half is Proescco
Tank method Italian sparklers (2)
Prosecco
Lambrusco
(Asti method a variation of it)
How are tank method wines classified?
Their level of pressure in the bottle, i.e.
spumante: min 3 bar of pressure
frizzante: 1-2.5 bar
Traditional method what % of Italy sparkling?
4%
Mostly Franciacorta and Trentodoc
% breakdown of tank vs trad method in Italy
96% tank
4% trad
Italian traditional method sector what fraction the size of Champagne?
1/10
one-tenth
Prosecco style
Light to medium (-) intensity Apple and pear Light body Medium to medium (+) acid Low to medium alcohol Brut to Demi-sec; Extra Dry most common Fully sparkling or frizzante
Prosecco intensity: DOC vs DOCG
DOC: light intensity
DOCG: medium intensity, greater definition and range of primary fruit
Three DOC/Gs for Prosecco
Prosecco DOC
Conegliano Valdobbiadene - Prosecco DOCG
Asolo Prosecco DOCG
Land under vine for Prosecco DOC
23,000ha
Topography of Prosecco DOC
There are hills and mountains BUT most vineyards on flat plain
Additional geographic labels for Prosecco DOC
Treviso
Trieste
If grapes grown and wine made within these areas
More volume from Treviso or Trieste?
Treviso
Land under vine for Prosecco DOCG
7,700ha
Location of Conegliano Valdobbiadene
Hill, historic area between towns of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene
Vineyards 200-320m
Wording requirements on Conegliano Valdobbiadene-Prosecco DOCG
Producers must use either or both names (Conegliano and Valdobbiadene)
Spumante category: Superiore can be added and/or Prosecco can be omitted
Asolo Prosecco DOCG land under vine
1,800ha
Volume breakdown (%) of Prosecco DOC vs DOCG vs Asolo
DOC: 82%
DOCG: 16%
Asolo: 2%
Prosecco DOC climate
Warm and moderately continental
Moderate rainfall
Flat plain gets moist air and fog from rivers = need to spray
Prosecco DOCG climate
Cooling influences from altitude
Higher dirunal temperature ranges
Longer, slower ripening
DOCG higher acidity and more intense fruit
Soils in Prosecco?
Large region, lots of variation
More fertile soils on plain: hgiher yields and lighter intensity wines
Glera grape
Vigorous
Semi-aromatic
Very high yields
Glera prone to ____
Millerandage
Powdery, downy
Drought in summer
Grapevine yellows
Planting density in Prosecco?
Low to medium
3,000 v/ha
Due to vigour of variety
Up to what % of other grapes allowed in Prosecco
Up to 15%
i.e. min 85% Glera
Sylvoz (Prosecco)
High cordon training Shoots hang downwards High vigour sties where aim is high yields Inexpensive to create Minimal winter pruning Suitable for machine (...lower cost) Height protects from frost Encourages overcropping Needs careful monitoring, need to avoid excess shading
Double-arched cane (Prosecco)
Replacement cane pruning
Canes bent into arches
Improves evenness of growth and fruitfulness of Glera
Good ventilation = reduced fungal
Common on hillside DOCG (high quality fruit aim)
Costly (branches tied in on every plant)
Vineyard management Prosecco DOC
Machine for vineyard and harvest work
Large vineyards, economies of scale
High yields on plain = low concentration
Mechanical harvest saves cost
Vineyard management Prosecco DOCG
Best sites south-facing hillsides
more concentrated wine = reduced fertility (poorer soils, ebtte drainage)
diurnal range = slower growth
longer season for flavours to develop, higher acidity
Lower (but still ig0 yields = higher concentration
Ciglione
Grassy banks that terrace the steepest parts of Prosecco DOCG
Vyd work by hand/machine Prosecco DOCG
By hand in steeper parts of hills (higher cost)
Producers can choose hand or machine
Cartizze, Rive and sui lieviti: hand only
Ferment for Prosecco base wine
15-20 days
18C = preserve primary fruit
MLF blocked = retain fruit, acid
How long does Prosecco base wine ferment take?
15-20 days
Second fermentation for Prosecco
In tank One month 12-15C Short time on lees (weeks), chilled, filtered and bottled Noa being requirement
Ageing requirement for Prosecco
none
How long does Prosecco second ferment take?
One month
Is there dosage in Prosecco?
Traditionally no final adjustment of sweetness
Winemaker calculates how much sugar required as tirage, for both CO2 and sugar levels for final wine
How do you slow down Prosecco second ferment?
Lower the temperature
Quality-focused producers looking for complexity
Longer form of tank method is called what?
Charmat lungo
Keep wine in contact with lees for 9 months
Agitate the lees with an insert within the tank
Charmat lungo
Longer form of tank method
Lees contact 9 months with stirring
Prosecco Col Fondo
Pet nat akak sui lievirti
Cloudy, dry frizzante
DOCG or DOC
“rifermentazione in bottiglia”
“Rifermentazione in bottiglia” must appear on what wine style?
Prosecco Col Fondo
aka sui lieviti
Prosecco Col Fondo usually finished with what kind of closure
Crown cap
Tranquillo
Still wine made in Prosecco
Max yields for Prosecco DOC, DOCG, Asolo
DOC: 125hl/ha DOCG: 94.5hl/ha DOCG (w/ "Rive"): 90hl/ha Superiore di Cartizze DOCG/Cartizze: 85hl/ha Asolo: 94.5hl/ha
Vintage Prosecco what % from that vintage
85%
Rive
Local Prosecco name for steep hill, followed by place name (eg Rive di Soligo) There are 43 Rives Hand picked Lower max yields (90hlha) Vintage shown on label
Superiore di Cartizze DOCG
Cartizze DOCG
Historic single vineyard 108ha Located within Valdobbiadene Lower yield (85hl/ha) Spumante only Steep hillsides, high quality, fuller body, Brut or similar Word "Prosecco" doesn't usually appear Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze DOCG, for example
Prosecco around what % of Italian sparkling production
Around half
Breakdown spumante vs frizzante for Prosecco
75% Spumante
25% Frizzante
Average vineyard holding in Prosecco
2.5ha
How many growers in Prosecco?
10,000
How many producers of base wine in Prosecco?
1,200
How many makers of sparkling wine in Prosecco?
350
Example of big Prosecco producer
Zonin
Co-ops account for what % of fruit grown in Prosecco
50%
Prosecco: what % volume is domestic market?
25%
Steady growth
50-50
Key export markets for Prosecco? And how is it perceived there?
UK, USA, Germany
2/3s of export volume
“Prosecco” a soft brand, an everyday luxury
Sometimes an alternative to discounted Champagne or to rose
Prosecco cocktails
Key challenges for Prosecco business today?
After huge growth, stabilise and maintain current sales levels in the face of increasingly competition
Protect the name (King Valley)
Most common sweetness level for DOCG Prosecco?
Extra Dry (around 60% of volume) Brut (30%)
Extra Brut category for DOCG Prosecco
Introduced 2019
0-6g/L
Most DOCG Prosecco sold where?
60% sold in Italy
Of that, majority in northern Italy
DOCG prosecco exports
40% exported
Exports outperforming (growing) sales domestically
Germany, UK, Switzerland
Two DOCG prosecco producers
Bisol
Nino Franco
Bisol and Nino Franco are major producers of what?
Prosecco DOCG
Challenges for DOCG Prosecco business
Improve recognition of higher quality wine
(consumers see Prosecco as generic brand)
Achieve higher price
DOCG land is fully planted; continued growth must come through higher prices
Asti DOCG and Moscato d’Asti DOCG from what grape
Moscata Bianco
aka Muscat Blanc a Petit Grains
Asti from what three provinces of Piemonte?
Asti
Alexandria
Cuneo