Italy Flashcards
When was the DOC system introduced ?
When the first DOCG awarded?
1963
1st DOCG: 1980
1992 Goria’s law
Introduced the IGT category = more relaxed regulation , offering producers wider freedom
The Italian system is based on what model?
French AOC system
Where are most of the vineyards in Piedmont?
In the foothills south of the Po River, in the province of Asti, Alessandria and Cuneo (Monferrato and Langhe Hills)
Piedmont climate
Continental
Alps rain shadow
Autumn hail
Main varieties in Piedmont
Nebbiolo : thin skin, high acidity, high alcohol, high tannins
Dolcetto: earliest to ripen, tannic, fruity, lower acidity than Nebbiolo, youthful consumption
Barbera: most planted red grape, high acidity, low tannins
Moscato Bianco: muscat blanc a petit grain , most planted white grape
+ Arneis, Cortese
How many Doc/DOCG in Piedmont?
19 DOCG / 41 DOC
Langhe Doc
Large area that comprise Barolo and Barbaresco
How many communes in Barolo?
List the most important
11 communes
La morra
Barolo
Serralunga d’alba
Monforte d’alba
Castiglione Falletto
Types of soil in Barolo DOCG
Tortonian soils: higher proportion of calcareous Marl
(La morra, Barolo = softer style, ruby coloured, faster maturing)
Serravallian Sandstone(Helvetian): red sandstone and quartziferous sand
(Monforte d’alba, Serralunga d’alba, Castiglione Falletto = more structured, garnet colour, higher tannin, slower maturing)
Barolo DOCG aging requirements
Barolo normale: 38 months / 18 in oak
Barolo riserva: 62 months
Traditionalist Barolo producers
Giacomo Conterno
Bartolo Mascarello
Giuseppe Rinaldi
Modernist Barolo producers
Paolo Scavino
Elio Altare
Luciano Sandrone
Meaning of “Bricco/Bric” in Piedmont
Vineyard on top of a hill
Meaning of “Sori” in Piedmont
South facing slope
Barbaresco DOCG main communes
Neive
Treiso
Barbaresco
Style of Barbaresco vs Barolo
Lighter in body and more elegant
Barbaresco aging requirements
Barbaresco normale: 26 months / 9 in oak
Barbaresco riserva: 50 months
Top barbaresco producers
Bruno Giacosa, Angelo Gaja, produttori del Barbaresco
Barolo Chinato
Fortified aromatic Barolo = digestif
Min 16.5% abv
Quinine + rhubarb + gentian root + cardamom + sugar
12 months cask aging
Roero DOCG
North West Bank of the Tanaro River / opposite Barolo and Barbaresco
95% Nebbiolo + Arneis
Sandi soils / lighter styles of Barolo and barbaresco
Gattinara DOCG / Ghemme DOCG
Hills north of the Po river
99% Nebbiolo + vespolina , Bonarda
Lighter / higher acidity
Nebbiolo = SPANNA
Barbera DOCG
Barbera d’asti: 4 months aging (normale)
Barbera d’alba
Barbera del Monferrato : 14 months aging / 6 in oak (must be Superiore)
Dry / high acidity / low tannin / sometimes off dry
Appellations for Dolcetto
Dolcetto di Ovadia superiore DOCG
Dogliani docg
Diano d’alba docg
Easy drinking light red
12 months aging / 6 in wood
Gavi / cortese di gavi DOCG
Cortese grape
Still / frizzante / spumante
Asti DOCG / Moscato d’asti DOCG
Largest producer in Italy / 650000 hl per year
Muscat blanc / charmat method (Martinotti) / 1 single fermentation/ no lees character / only primary fruit flavours
Frizzante / 4.5 -6.5% abv / slightly sweet
Alta Langa DOCG
Pinot Noir / Chardonnay
Traditional method
30 months on lees
36 months (riserva)
Bracchetto d’acqui DOCG
Light / alcoholic / sweet / effervescent / red dessert wine
2nd fermentation in bottle or tank for 1 month
Min 6% abv // 11% for passito
Franciacorta DOCG
DOCG since 1995 / production dates back to 1570
First modern Italian sparkling : Berlucchi 1960
Chardonnay + Pinot noir + max 50% Pinot blanc
Franciacorta styles and aging
Non vintage : 18 months on lees
Riserva : min 5 years on lees
Saten: blanc de blanc / lower pressure
Rose : min 35% Pinot noir / blending rather than saignee method
Millesimato: vintage / not released until after the 37th month / 85% of the grapes must be from stated vintage
Oltrepo’ Pavese metodo classico DOCG
Extreme southwest of Lombardy
White and rose : Pinot noir , Pinot Gris , Pinot blanc , Chardonnay
Valtellina superiore
North of Franciacorta
Red wine region of Lombardy
Nebbiolo grape ( Chiavennasca)
24 months aging / 12 in oak
Riserva = 3 years
Moscato di Scanzo DOCG
Surround Bergamo / west of Franciacorta
Sweet passito red wine
Min 2 years aging
Romagna albana DOCG
Italys first white wine DOCG
Albana grape / all styles / passito most famous
Colli bolognesi pignoletto DOCG
Since 2011
Grechetto grape
Tart, dry white wine
Trentino Alto Adige grape varieties
Chardonnay / Pinot bianco / Pinot Grigio / muller thurgau / Sauvignon blanc
What’s the largest producing region in Italy?
Veneto