Italy Flashcards
Italy
Location: 20 regions stretching from the Alps to the Northern tip of Africa
History: Phoenicians, Etruscans, & Romans spread grapes around Europe
Climate: Continental cool in the north, Mediterranean warm in the south
Geography: Alps in the north, Apennine Mountains down spine
Grape Varieties: 300-500 registered grape varieties, 100s to 1,000s of native grape varieties
Viticulture: 900,000 registered vineyards
Italian AOPs
Vino - 50%, typically blanco, rosso, rosato, frizzante
IGP System - IGT, Indicazione Geografica Tipica - 121, mainly in the south
DOP System - of place, rules on grapes, yields, vinification, & vintages
* DOC, Denominazione di Origine Controllata - 333
* DOCG, Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita - 77
Italian Wine Labeling
Classico: Traditional, theoretically superior, vineyard area within a DOC or DOCG
Riserva or Reserve: Extended ageing (in cask, then bottle), can denote lower yields and higher alcohol
Superiore: Higher level of alcohol or longer ageing
Vino Vecchio: Old or aged wine
Spumante: Sparkling
Frizzante: Slightly sparkling
Metodo Classico: Traditional method sparkling wines
Secco: Dry
Dolce: Sweet
Recioto or Passito: Wine made from dried grapes
N Italy
Location: Border of Switzerland & France, “Foot of the mountain”, Alps and Apennines mountains, Po River Valley
City: Genova, Turin, Milan, Trento, Venice, Bologna
Liguria, Piedmont, Valle d’Aosta, Lombardy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Friuli-Venezia, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna
Piedmont (region)
Location: NW Italy
City: Turin, Milan
Climate: Continental, rain shadow of the Alps, fog “Nebbia”
Geography: Mountains, rolling foothills
Soil: Limestone, sandstone
Grapes: red wine - Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, Brachetto, white wine - Moscato, Coretese, Arneis, Timorasso
Barbaresco DOCG, Barolo DOCG
DOCGs: Alta Langa, Asti / Moscato d’Asti, Barbera d’Asti, Barbera del Monferrato Superiore, Brachetto d’Acqui, Canelli, Dogliani, Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba, Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore, Erbaluce di Caluso, Gattinara, Gavi, Ghemme, Nizza, Roero / Roero Arneis, Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato, Terre Alfieri
Barolo DOCG & Barbaresco DOCG
Location: Piedmont
Grape: 100% Nebbiolo
Geography: Hillsides
Viticulture: Thin-skinned grape, cool climate
Vinification: Oak aging (old and new), minimum time required by law, large barrels to small barrique
Nebbiolo, Barolo DOCG
Style: Dry red wine
Tell: Contrast of light ruby color with strong aromas and tannin
Tasting Notes: Light ruby to garnet rim, light body, high tannin, high acidity, strong aromas of tart red fruits, raspberry, cherry, orange peel, rose, tar, licorice, fennel, balsamic vinegar
Tannin: High, Acid: High, Alc: M+, Body: Light, Complexity: M+
Pairing: Truffles, risotto, pasta
Other wines: Sangiovese, Pinot Noir
Top vintages: ???
Gaja
Primary Piedmont DOCGs and Grapes
RED WHITE
Nebbiolo - Barolo DOCG (100%), Barbaresco DOCG (100%), Ghemme DOCG (85%), Gattinara DOCG (90%), Roero DOCG (95%)
High tannin, high acidity, oak & age
Barbera - Barbera d’Asti DOCG (90%), Barbera del Monferrato Superiore DOCG, Barbera d’Alba DOC
Low tannin, high acidity, vibrant blue color, oak or no oak
Dolcetto - Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba DOCG (100%), Dogliani DOCG (100%), Dolcetto d’Alba DOCG (100%)
High acidity, youthful
Brachetto - Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG
Red, sweet sparkling
Pairing: Chocolate, strawberries
WHITE WHITE
Moscato Bianco - Asti DOCG (100%)
Aromatic, fresh fruit, sweet or sparkling
Cortese - Gavi DOCG (100%)
Fragrant & mineral, dry, no oak
Arneis - Roero Arneis DOCG (95%)
Fragrant & mineral, dry, no oak
Lombardy (region)
Location: N Central Italy
City: Milan
Climate: Continental cool
Geography: Mountains, rolling foothills
Franciacorta DOCG
Other DOCGs: Oltrepò Pavese metodo classico, Scanzo, Sforzato di Valtellina, Valtellina Superiore
Franciacorta DOCG
Location: Lombardy, Italy
Grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Nero (aka Pinot Noir)
Vinification: Metodo Classico sparkling
Style: Dry, sparkling rose wine
Paring: Fried & salty calamari
Valtellina Superiore DOCG
Location: Lombardy, Italy
Climate: High altitude, Alpine
Grape: Nebbiolo
Vinification: oak-aged, dry red wines
NE Italy
Location: Austria / Switzerland border
Climate: Continental, cold winters & warm summers
Geography: Alps
Trentino-Alto Adige, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto
Trentino-Alto Adige (region)
Location: NE Italy
City: Trento
Grapes: Pinot Grigio, some Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Nero (Noir), Teroldego, Lagrein
Trentino DOC, Alto-Adige (Sudtiroler) DOC
Pinot Grigio
Location: Trento, Italy
Style: Dry white wine
Tell: Gray or copper tint (Vidalia onion), hay, bitter almond, lees
Tasting notes: Med straw, not very aromatic, ripe stone fruit, lemon pith, golden apple, peach skin, apricot, fresh cut hay, green almond, peanut shell, lees, crushed gravel, ginger, spice
Acid: M, Alcohol: M, Body: M, Compl: M, Phenolic bitterness
Pairing: light pasta with cream sauce
Other wines: Gruener Veltliner, Chablis Chardonnay, Melon de Bourgogne
Trentino DOC, Alto-Adige (Sudtiroler) DOC
Veneto (region)
Location: NE Italy
City: Venice, Verona
Geography: Foothills of Alps
Climate: Continental to warm maritime (coast)
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG, Soave Superiore, Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG, Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG
Other DOCGs: Bagnoli Friularo, Bardolino Superiore, Colli Asolani Prosecco, Colli di Conegliano, Colli Euganei Fior d’Arancio, Lison, Montello Rosso, Piave Malanotte, Recioto di Gambellara, Recioto di Soave
Veneto DOC & DOCG and Grapes
Garganega, some Trebbiano di Soave - Soave DOC, Soave Superiore DOCG, Recioto di Soave DOCG
Light & unoaked
Glera - Prosecco DOC, Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG, Asolo / Colli Asolani-Prosecco DOCG
* Charmat/ tank method sparkling wine, no lees, light & fresh
Pairing: Crispy, salty cheese, mortadella
Corvina & some Rondinella - Valpolicella DOC, Valpolicella Ripasso DOC
Dry and still red wine
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG
* Grapes are harvested and dried, dry or off-dry, high alcohol 14-16% ABV
Black fig, raisin, prune
Pairing: Stews, braised, tomato sauce, olive