Italy Flashcards
Italy Location / Geography
20 regions
Cool continental in north to warm Mediterranean in the south
1300 registered grape varieties
900,000 registered vineyards
Italian Wine Law and Classification
Vino - generic wine without geographic indication. Blanco, Rosso, or rosato and labeled without vintage.
With Geographic Indication:
-IGP - Indicazione Geografica Protetta, includes IGT - Indicazione Geografica Tipica
-DOP - Denominazione di Origine Protetta - includes DOC and DOCG
Classico - Italian definitions
Traditional, theoretically superior vineyard area within a DOC or DOCG
Riserva
Legally defined. Indicates extending ageing (cask, then bottle) and can denote lower yields and higher alcohol depending on the appellation.
Superiore
Higher level of alcohol or longer aging depending on appellation.
Metodo Classico
Traditional method for making sparking wines
Secco
Dry
Amabile
Off-dry
Recioto / Passito
Wine made from dried grapes that is often sweet
Piedmont (Northwest Italy) Factors of Production
Borders France / Switzerland
Continental with rain shadow effect from Alps
Mountains and foothills
Limestone / sandstone soil
White - Moscato, Cortes, Arneis
Red - Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, Brachetto
Barolo and Barbaresco DOCG Appellation (Piedmont)
Red - 100% Nebbiolo
Best vineyards on hillsides with exposure
Dry red wines
Long oak aging in large barrels or small barriques
Legal requirements for time in oak
- Barolo - 30 months total aging with min of 18 months in oak
- Barbaresco - 28 months aging with min of 9 months in oak
Moscato d’Asti DOCG (Piedmont)
White - Moscato
Moscato d’Asti - off-dry, frizzante sparking wines
Asti DOCG - white, Spumante, or metodo classico sparking wines
Barbera d’Asti DOCG (Piedmont)
Red - Barbera
Dry Red Wines
Gavi DOCG (Piedmont)
White - Cortese
Dry white wines
Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG (Piedmont)
Red - Brachetto
Sweet, sparking red wines
Lombardy (Piedmont)
Northeast of Milan / foothills of Alps
Cool continental
White - Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco
Red - Pinot Nero, Nebbiolo
Appellations of Lombardy (Piedmont)
Fanciacorta DOCG
-White- Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Red - Pinot Nero, Metodo Classico sparkling wines only
Valtellina Superiore DOCG
High altitude / alpine, abundant sunshine, long, slow growing season
- Red - Nebbiolo
Oak-aged, dry red wines
Trentino-Alto Adige Region
Border Austria & Switzerland
Continental with cold winters and warm summers
White - Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Bianco
Red - Merlot, Lagrein
Appellations of Trentino-Alto Adige
Trentino DOC
Aldo Adige (Südtiroler) DOC
Veneto Region
Northern Italy / foothills of alps / east of Adriatic
Continental with warmer maritime near coast
Veneto Appellations
Soave DOC
-White - garganega
-Dry white wines
-Superior sub zone: Soave Superiore DOCG
Prosecco DOC
-White - Glera (Prosecco)
-Charmat / tank method sparking wines
-Superior sub-zone: Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG
Valpolicella DOC
-Red - Corvina (dominant), Rondinella
-dry red wines
-Superior sub zone: Valpolicella Classico DOC
Amazon’s Della Valpolicella DOCG
