ITALY

Question 1

What wines is the LOMBARDY region known for and what grapes are used in them?

Answer 1

Fraciacorta (Chard, Pinot Bianco/Nero, Erbamat)
Valtellina Rosso (Nebbiolo aka Chiavennasca)

Question 2

What wines is the TUSCANY region known for and what grapes are used in them?

Answer 2

Chianti (Sangiovese)
Brunello di Montalcino (Brunello aka Sangiovese)
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (A blend with minimum 70% Prugnolo Gentile, a local synonym for Sangiovese).
Carmignano (Blend of 50% minimum SGV and minimum 20% of Cab and/or Cabernet Franc)
Morellino di Scansano ( minimum 85% SGV aka SGV)
Super Tuscans (i.e. Bolgheri Sassicaia (80% Cab)
VIN SANTO (USually Trebbiano and Malvasia)

Question 3

What white wine is Tuscany most known for?

Answer 3

Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG, made form the Vernaccia grape

Question 4

What wines is the EMILIA ROMAGNA region known for and what grapes are used in them?

Answer 4

• Lambrusco: The grapes that can be used are Maestri, Marani, Montericco, and Salamino (up to 15% of added Ancellotta grapes are permitted in the DOC as well).
• Romagna Albana, using the Albana grape and made in a variety of styles; still (bianco), sparkling, amabile, passito and riserva passito

Question 5

What are the best-known wines from MARCHES and what grapes are used in them?

Answer 5

• Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva DOCG / Verdicchio di Matelica Riserva DOCG: made with the Verdicchio grape.
• Rosso Conero DOC / Conero DOCG: 85% Montepulciano
• Rosso Piceno DOC: 35%-85% Montepulciano and 15% to 50% Sangiovese

Question 6

What are the best-known wines from ABRUZZO and what grapes are used in them?

Answer 6

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC: Minimum 85% Montepulciao + SGV
Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC: Same wine/blend as above with a shorter maceration period
Trebbiano dAbrusso: Whitw wine from Trebbiano Abruzzese grape

Question 7

What are the best-known wines from LAZIO (aka Latium) and what grapes are used in them?

Answer 7

• Frascati DOC/Frascati Superiore DOCG
• Est! Est!! Est111 di Montefiascone
  The wines of Lazio are typically based on indigenous Italian white grapes: Trebbiano Toscano, Trebbiano Giallo (aka “Roscetto”), Malvasia Bianca di Candia, and Malvasia del Lazio grape (among others).

Question 8

What are the best-known wines from CAMPANIA and what grapes are used in them?

Answer 8

• Campania is Taurasi DOCG, a red wine with fine aging potential made from the bold, red Aglianico grape.
• Falerno del Massico and Falanghina del Sannio, using the Falanghina grape (aka Falernian in the Roman era)
• Greco di Tufo, made from grape of same name

Question 9

What are the best-known wines from CALABRIA and what grapes are used in them?

Answer 9

• Ciro DOC; rosso uses the Gaglioppo grape, and its white is based on Greco Bianco. Riserva versions of Cirò Rosso have long aging potential.

Question 10

What are the best-known wines from PUGLIA and what grapes are used in them?

Answer 10

• Salice Salentino DOC, a red wine based on Negroamaro..

Question 11

What are the best-known wines from SICILY and what grapes are used in them?

Answer 11

• Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG; red blend made from Nero d”Avola and Frappato (a low tannin red variety known for its cherry-berry aromas and flavors).
• Etna DOC; white wines from grapes such as Carricante and Catarratto and reds and rosatos based on Nerello Mascalese.
• Marsala (fortifeid wine); Grillo and Inzolia (both white varieties) are traditionally used; several other varieties—including Catarratto and Nerello Mascalese—are allowed as well.

Question 12

What are the best-known wines from SARDINIA and what grapes are used in them?

Answer 12

• Cannonau di Sardegna DOC; red wine made from a minimum of 85% Cannonau (Cannonau is the Sardinian name for Grenache or Garnacha).
• Vermentino di Gallura DOCG; white wine made from the Vermentino grape

Question 13

What are the best-known wines from BASILICATA and what grapes are used in them?

Answer 13

• Aglianico del Vulture DOC/Aglianico del Vulture Superiore DOCG; red wine from the Aglianico grape

Question 14

What are the best-known wines from UMBRIA and what grapes are used in them?

Answer 14

• Orvieto DOC; white wine based on Trebbiano Toscano (known locally locally as Procanico) and Grechetto grapes.
• Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG; rew wine (100% from Sagrantino grape).
• Torgiano Rosso Riserva DOCG (red blend, minimum 70% Sangiovese).

Question 15

What are the best-known wines from VENETO and what grapes are used in them?

Answer 15

• Soave DOCG: white wine made with Garganega, which must comprise at least 70% of the wine and may be blended with Trebbiano di Soave (Verdicchio), Chardonnay, or both.
• Prosecco DOC : sparkling wine made with the Glera grape (minimum 85%)
• Valpolicella DOC/Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG; red and fortified red wines made with a majority Corvina or Corvinone grapes, along with a small amount of Rondinella.
• Bardolino DOC / Bardolino Superiore DOCG; red blends (“chiaretto” based on Corvina and Rondinella grapes.
• Lugana; white wine based on the Turbiana grape variety (also known as Trebbiano di Lugana and closely related to, but not quite identical to Verdicchio).
• Piave Malanotte DOCG (which occupies the same location as the Piave DOC); only approved for red wines based on the indigenous Raboso grape
• Lison DOCG; area—is approved only for white wines made using the Friulano grape variety.