Italy

Question 1

Aosta: 7 sub-regions

Answer 1

• 7 sub appellations: Arnad-Montjovet, Morgex de la Salle, Donnas, Chambave, Enfer d’Arvier, Nus and Torette
• Prie Rouge (Premetta) – red; Prie Blanc – white

Question 2

Piedmonte

Answer 2

• Nebbiolo DOCGs (5)
  Barolo, Barbaresco, Roero, Ghemme, Gattinara
• Barbera DOCGs’(3)
  Barbera d’Asti, Nizza, Barbera del Monferrato Superiore
• Dolcetto DOCGs (3)
  Dogliani, Dolcetto d’Ovada Superiore, Dolcetto Diano d’Alba
• White DOCGs (2)
  Gavi and Erbaluce di Caluso (Erbaluce is the grape)
• Sparkling DOCGs (4)
  Asti/Moscato d’Asti DOCG, Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG, Alta Langa DOCG (min 90% Char + PN), Canelli DOCG (sweet frizzante of 100% Muscato Bianco)
• Other Red DOCGs
  Ruche di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG and Terre Alfieri DOCG (Red-Nebbiolo, White-Arneis)

Question 3

Barolo DOCG

Answer 3

38 mths with 18mths in wood. Riserva is 62 mths with 18mths in wood

Question 4

Barolo famous MGAs 1

Answer 4

Question 5

Barolo famous MGAs 2

Answer 5

Question 6

Barbaresco DOCG

Answer 6

26 mths with 9mths in
wood. Riserva is 50 mths
with 9mths in wood

Question 7

Barbaresco famous MGAs

Answer 7

Question 8

Rest of Piedmonte

Answer 8

• Ghemme & Gattinara DOCG
  Nebbiolo based wines known as Spanna
• Lessona, Sizzano, Carema DOCs
  Popular DOCs for cheaper Nebbiolo based wines.
• Asti/Moscato d’Asti DOCG
  3 subzones: Canelli (now DOCG), Strevi, Saint Vittoria d’Alba
  Max pressure of 2.5 atmospheres.
• Alta Langa DOCG
  Sparkling wine made from Pinot and Chardonnay. 30months on lees with riserva 36months

Question 9

Lombardy

Answer 9

Sparkling DOCGs
Franciacorta DOCG and Oltrepo Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG
Nebbiolo DOCGs
Valtellina Superiore DOCG and Sfursat di Valtellina DOCG
Sweet DOCG
Moscato di Scanso DOCG
Notable DOCs
Curtefranca DOC
(still wines both red and white from Franciacorta)
Lambrusco Mantovano DOC

Question 10

Franciacorta DOCG (Important),
Oltrepo Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG

Answer 10

• Franciacorta DOCG
  Chardonnay, Pinot Nero and Pinot Bianco
  NV must be 25 months aging with 18mths on lees. Vintage is 37 months aging with 30 mths on lees. Riserva is 67 months aging with 60 months on lees. Rose wines are made from 35% min Pinot Nero grapes and made by blending.
  Dosage same as Champagne
• Oltrepo Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG
  Mostly Pinot Nero driven, min 70% PN. 15mths on lees for NV and Vintage is 24mths. Still wines are Oltrepo Pavese DOC

Question 11

Valtellina Superiore DOCG, Sfursat di Valtellina DOCG & Moscato di Scanzo DOCG

Answer 11

• Valtellina Superiore DOCG & Sfursat di Valtellina DOCG:
  Nebbiolo based called Chiavennesca
  5 Subzones: Inferno, Grumello, Sassella, Valgella, Maroggia. Stagafassli can be labelled if the wine is bottled in Switzerland, 24mths aging (12 in oak) and 36 mths for Riserva
• Sfursat or Sforzato is Recioto style wine aged 2yrs minimum
• Moscato di Scanzo DOCG
  Red Moscato made in a passito style. Aged 2 years bottled in a future bottle (500ml)

Question 12

Liguria

Answer 12

• Colli di Luni DOC
  The most famous Vermentino DOC in Liguria
• Rossese di Dolceacqua DOC
  Rossese red wine, also known as Tibouren in Provence
• Riviera di Ligure di Ponente DOC
  Vermentino is known as Pigato and Ormeasco is Dolcetto

Question 13

Emilia Romagna

Answer 13

• 2 White Wine DOCGs
  Albana Romagna DOCG from the Albana grape
  Colli Bolognesi Classico Pignoletto DOCG – fresh tart white wine from Grechetto
• The Lambrusco DOCs (try to remember all)
  Lambrusco di Grasparossa di Castelvetro DOC is the most tannic one
  Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce DOC is the elegant one
  Lambrusco di Sorbara DOC is the mass production
  Lambrusco Mantovano is in Lombardy

Question 14

Trentino-Alto-Adige

Answer 14

• Valle d’Isarco: Gewurztraminer, Kerner (Schiava x Riesling), Veltliner
• Terlano subzone: Char, Pinot Bianco, Sauvignon Blends
• Santa Maddelena subzone: Schaiva (a light-bodied red wine (like Pinot Noir, cotton candy)
• Reds include Lagrein and PN, do well in Alto-Adige
• In Trentino, Teroldego Rotaliano DOC making ancient varietal Teroldego
• Marzemino – another ancient variety grown in Trentino

Question 15

Veneto

Answer 15

• The Appassimento DOCGs (6)
  Amarone della Valpolicella, Recioto di Gambellara, Recioto di Soave, Recioto della Valpolicella, Piave Malanotte, Friularo di Bagnoli DOCG
• The Sparkling DOCGs (2)
  Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco and Asolo Prosecco DOCGs
• The Sweet DOCG (1)
  Colli Euganei Fior d’Arancio DOCG from Moscato Giallo grapes. Dry, Sparkling, Sweet styles.
• White DOCGs (2)
  Soave Superiore DOCG and Lison DOCG (Tai or Friulano)
• Red DOCGs (3)
  Bardolino Superiore DOCG (Corvina) and Montello Rosso DOCG (Cab/Merlot)
  Colli di Conegliano DOCG makes both red and white. Red is Bdx blend. White is Manzoni Bianco

Question 16

Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG

Answer 16

• Corvina, Rondinella with accessories of Molinara, Oseleta and Negrara. These are dried on Graticci (Racks) in Fruttai (lofts for grape drying)
• The wines spend 2yrs in barrel before release and riservas are 4yrs.
• Within the Classico subzones are 5 districts: San Pietro in Cariano, Negrar, Marano, Fumane, Sant Ambrogio
• Valpolicella Ripasso is 12.5% min alc. Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore is 13%

Question 17

Soave DOC

Answer 17

Within Soave DOC there is Soave Superiore DOCG and Recioto di Soave DOCG. 70% Gargenega min with Trebbiano di Soave and Chardonnay. Recioto di Soave are grapes dried 4 to 6 mths. Soave Superiore must be aged 6 mths and 1yr for Riserva. The Classico zone is : Soave and Monteforte d’Alpone

Question 18

Gambellara DOC

Answer 18

• Gargenega grape same as Soave but in a higher 80% min. Recioto di Gambellara DOCG is 100% dried Gargenega.
• Breganze DOC make international varieties and is famous for Breganze Torcolato – A passito wine made from Vespaiolo.

Question 19

Conegliano-Valdobbiadene DOCG
& Asolo Prosecco DOCG

Answer 19

• Glera grape is the main. The best area is arguably the hills of Cartizze.107ha of 8000ha. Labelled as Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze. It is generally dry with 17-35 g of RS. Rive is single vineyard. Got 43 of them.
• Prosecco Col Fondo is a refermented Prosecco in bottle but not disgorged (cloudy and funky)
• Friularo di Bagnoli DOCG is Raboso Piave still and Passito
• Piave Malanotte DOCG is Appassimento from Raboso Piave
• Colli Euganei Fior d’Arancio DOCG is dry, sparkling, passito from Moscato Giallo.

Question 20

Friuli-Venezia Giulia – The Passito DOCGs

Answer 20

• The Passito DOCGs (2)
  Ramandolo and Colli-Orientali del Friuli-Picolit DOCG
• Ramandolo DOCG – Makes Passito wines from Verduzzo Gialla
• Colli-Orientali del Friuli-Picolit DOCG – Makes passito wines from Picolit grape.

Question 21

Friuli-Venezia Giulia – The Friulano DOCGs

Answer 21

• The Friulano DOCGs (2)
  Rosazzo and Lison DOCG
• Rosazzo and Lison DOCG – Makes still whites from Friulano

Question 22

Other Friuli Grapes and Regions

Answer 22

Collio DOC and Colli Orientali del Friuli DOC produce varietally labelled red and white wines and Ribolla Gialla making orange wines

Question 23

Toscana

Answer 23

Question 24

Chianti and Chianti Classico DOCG

Answer 24

• 7 subzones: Colli Aretini, Colli Fiorentine, Colli Senesi, Colli Pisane, Classico, Montespertoli, Montalbano, Rufina
• 4 Classic villages: Radda, Castellina, Greve, and Gaiole. Panzano, Gaiole, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Poggibonsi, Tavernelle, San Casciano were added later.
• Chianti DOCG is min 70% Sangiovese with not more than 15% Cab S whilst Chianti Classico is min 80% Sangiovese.
• Chianti DOCG requires 1yr aging whilst Riserva requires 2yrs.
  Chianti Classico DOCG is 2yrs and 3mths bottle for Riserva and 2.5yrs and 3mths bottle for Gran Selezione.

Question 25

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG

Answer 25

**Prugnolo Gentile**(Sangiovese) is the **main grape at 70%** the rest can be maximum 30% other Tuscan varieties with no more than 5% white grapes. The wines must be **aged for 2yrs** whilst **Riserva must be 3yrs.**

Question 26

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

Answer 26

* Brunello -- **Min 2 years in wood** plus **4 months in bottle**, **total ageing 5 yrs**. * Brunello *Riserva* -- **Min 2 years in wood** plus **6 months in bottle**, **total ageing 6 yrs**.

Question 27

Morellino di Scansano DOCG & Cabernet with Sangiovese DOCGs

Answer 27

* **Morellino di Scansano DOCG** -- **85% Sangiovese** aged minimum 2yrs for Riserva * *Cabernet with Sangiovese DOCGs* **Carmignano DOCG** is **50% Sangiovese min**, **Suvereto DOCG** is **min 85% Cab/Merlot** and **Rosso della Val di Cornia DOCG** is **40% min Sangiovese**, rest CabS or Merlot

Question 28

Super Tuscans

Answer 28

Started off with Sassicaia and Tignanello in 1971.1992 the region was given IGT status. 1983 Bolgheri was given DOC status. In **2013 Bolgheri Sassicaia (Min 80% CabS) became its own DOC status**. **Bolgheri DOC** can use pure or mix international varietals with 2yrs of aging (1 in oak)

Question 29

Famous Super Tuscans to remember 1

Answer 29

Tignanello, Solaia, Guado al Tasso

Question 30

Famous Super Tuscans to remember 2

Answer 30

Le Pergole Torte, Ornellaia, Masseto

Question 31

Famous Super Tuscans to remember 3

Answer 31

Sassicaia

Question 32

Rest of Tuscany

Answer 32

* **Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG** The first DOC for white in Italy, and the **only white DOCG in Tuscany** * ***The Sweet Wines of Tuscany*** 1. **Elba Aleatico Passito DOCG** is an island off the coast making red passito wines from Aleatico. 2. **Vin Santo del Chianti DOCG** is made from *Trebbiano* and *Malvasia*. A rose version **“Orcchio di Pernice”** is made by adding *50% Sangiovese*. Traditionally aged in Chestnut oak.

Question 33

Umbria

Answer 33

* **Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG** This holy wine is made to age. **100% Sagrantino** aged **min of 3yrs with 12 months in wood.** * **Torgiano Rosso Riserva DOCG** 70-100% Sangiovese aged min of 3 years with 6 months in bottle * **Orvieto DOC** Workhorse of the region with **Grechetto and Trebbiano Toscano** (***Procanico***) There is a red wine region from CabS blends produced on the famous tuffeau soils of **Lago di Corbara DOC**

Question 34

Marche

Answer 34

* The Verdicchio DOCGs **Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Riserva** -- coastal producing **rounder and fuller styles** **Verdicchio di Matelica Riserva DOCG** -- *higher altitude* and *further inland*, more refreshing crispy style * **Conero Rosso Riserva DOCG** -- 85% Montepulciano and 15% Sangiovese * **Offida DOCG** This is *Montepulciano --red*, and *Pecorino and Passerina -- whites*. * **Vernaccia di Serrapetrona DOCG** **Vernaccia** is a **red grape** in Marche. This DOCG makes **sparkling reds** with **min 40% passito grapes**. * **Lacrima di Morro DOC** is a fruity red from the Lacrima grape

Question 35

Abruzzo

Answer 35

* **Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC**: 5 subzones within. The DOC requires *85% Montepulciano* but certain subzones like Teate and Vestini require 90%. Casauria requires 100% Montepulciano. * **Colline Terramane Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOCG**: ***requires 90% Montepulciano*** * **Trebbiano d’Abruzzo DOC**: **major white grape planted in Abruzzo** * **Tullum DOCG** The latest DOCG for **90% Passerina or Pecorino** / **90% Montepulciano**

Question 36

Latium (Lazio)

Answer 36

* **Cesanese del Piglio DOCG**: The only Red DOCG in Lazio from Cesanese grape that is spicy and peppery. * **Frascati Superiore DOCG**: **white wine DOCG** from **Malvasia Bianca di Candia** * **Cannellino di Frascati DOCG**: Late harvested wine from Malvasia Bianca di Candia * **Est! Est! Est! di Montefiascone DOC**: **Trebbiano Toscano** is the main grape

Question 37

Molise

Answer 37

* Molise has **4 DOCs**: **Biferno, Molise, Tintilia del Molise and Pentro di Isernia DOC.** * **Tintilia** is the *native grape*. **Tintilia del Molise** requiring **95% Tintilia with 2yrs aging**.

Question 38

Basilicata

Answer 38

* Basilicata has **one DOCG** of **Aglianico del Vulture Superiore** from the native Aglianico cultivar. * The white in Basilicata is Malvasia Bianca di Basilicata

Question 39

Campania

Answer 39

* **The Aglianico DOCGs** The 2 DOCGs are **Taurasi** and **Aglianico del Taburno**. Taurasi -- 3yrs aging and 4yrs for Riserva. Aglianico del Taburno -- 2yrs and 3yrs for riserva * The White DOCGs (2) **Greco di Tufo DOCG** and **Fiano di Avellino DOCG** are the 2 main DOCGs from **Greco** and **Fiano grapes 85% min** * **Other DOCs**: **Falanghina whites** -- coastal *Sannio DOC* and *Falanghina del Sannio DOC* **Biancolella** partners Falanghina in *Campei Flegrei DOC* and *Costa d’Amalfi DOCs*. The Red is **Piedirosso** the most planted red native grape after Aglianico. **Biancolella** works with **Forastera** in **Ischia DOC** **Coda di Volpe** and **Verdeca** make **Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio** in *Vesuvio DOC*

Question 40

Puglia

Answer 40

* Northern Puglia -- 3 DOCGs **Castel del Monte Rosso Riserva**, **Castel del Monte Nero di Troia Riserva** -- still reds from *Nero di Troia* **Castel del Monte Bombino Nero** is a **Rosato only DOCG** from **Bombino Nero** * The Salento Peninsula **Negro amaro** -- *Salice Salentino DOC* and *Brindisi DOC* * The Western Coast **Primitivo** is the star here with *Primitivo di Manduria DOC* near Salentino and **Primitivo di Manduria Dolce Naturale DOCG.** Dry to sweet styles can be made

Question 41

Calabria

Answer 41

Ciro DOC -- The main DOC for quality red wine made from **Gaglioppo**

Question 42

Sicilia

Answer 42

* **Etna DOC** *Nerello Mascalese* is the main grape varietal here whilst the whites are Carricante and *Catarratto Bianco* Etna Bianco Superiore must be 80% Carricante * **Faro DOC**: Nerello Mascalese mixed with Nerello Cappuccio * *Southeast Sicily* 1 DOCG of Sicily -- **Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG**. **Nero d’Avola** and **Frappato** * *Western Sicily* **Marsala DOC** -- fortified wine with grapes of **Grillo, Inzolia, Catarratto and Damaschino** Aging Requirements: **Fine**: **Min. 1 year in oak** or cherry wood **Superiore**: **Min. 2 years in oak** or cherry wood Superiore Riserva: Min. 4 years in oak or cherry wood Vergine/Solera: Min. 5 years in oak or cherry wood **Vergine Riserva**/Solera Riserva/Vergine and Solera Stravecchio: **Min. 10 years** in oak or cherry wood **Inzolia** and **Grillo** -- best grapes

Question 43

Sweet Wine DOCs of Sicily

Answer 43

* 3 Moscato based DOCs * **Moscato di Siracusa, Moscato di Noto** -- grape **Moscato Bianco** * **Moscato di Pantelleria DOC** -- grape **Zibibbo** (*Muscat Alexandria*)

Question 44

Sardegna

Answer 44

The Still Wines of Sardegna * 1 White based DOCG of **Vermentino di Gallura DOCG** -- in the north * **Cannonau de Sardegna DOC** is split into **3 subzones**: **Jerzu, Oliena and Capo Ferrato** * **Nuragus di Cagliari DOC** makes *whites* from **Nuragus** in **Cagliari** The Rare Pokemons * *Malvasia di Bosa DOC* -- very sweet * *Vernaccia di Oristano DOC* -- oxidative sherry flavored white wine