Italy Flashcards
What influences the climate of Northern Italy?
The Alps
What regions in Northern Italy have cooler climates?
Piedmont, Trentino, Friuli-Venezia Giulia
What types of wines are produced in cooler climates like Northern Italy?
High-acid white and red wines
What is the climate like in Central Italy?
A mix of coastal and inland regions with moderate temperatures
What kind of wines does Central Italy produce?
Balanced wines, especially reds like Sangiovese
Describe the climate of Southern Italy.
Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers and mild winters
What types of wines are produced in Southern Italy?
Full-bodied reds and rich whites
What is Vino da Tavola (VdT)?
Basic table wine, often without any geographic indication
What does Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT) mean?
Wines from specific regions with fewer regulations
What does Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) stand for?
A controlled designation for wines meeting strict regional regulations
What is Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG)?
The highest quality classification with rigorous standards
What is Piedmont famous for?
Barolo, Barbaresco, and Asti Spumante
What is Tuscany known for?
Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
What is Veneto famous for?
Amarone, Prosecco, and Valpolicella
What wines are produced in Emilia-Romagna?
Lambrusco and Albana di Romagna
What is Sicily known for?
Nero d’Avola, Marsala, and Cerasuolo di Vittoria
Where is Nebbiolo primarily found?
Piedmont, particularly in Barolo and Barbaresco
What grape is dominant in Tuscany?
Sangiovese
What is Corvina used for?
Amarone and Valpolicella wines in Veneto
What grape is used in Prosecco?
Glera
Where is Nero d’Avola grown?
Sicily
What grape is Barbera?
Grown in Piedmont, it produces high-acid wines
Where is Aglianico found?
Southern Italy, particularly in Campania and Basilicata
What wine is made from Nebbiolo in Piedmont?
Barolo and Barbaresco
What is Asti Spumante made from?
Moscato
What grape is Chianti primarily made from?
Sangiovese
What is Brunello di Montalcino made from?
100% Sangiovese (locally called Brunello)
What is Vino Nobile di Montepulciano made from?
Mainly Sangiovese, with some Canaiolo and Merlot
What grapes are used in Amarone della Valpolicella?
Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella
What grape is used in Valpolicella?
Primarily Corvina and Rondinella
What is Nero d’Avola?
A full-bodied red wine from Sicily
What is Marsala made from?
Grillo or Catarratto (fortified wine)
What is Recioto?
A sweet wine made from dried grapes
What is Ripasso?
A technique used in Valpolicella where basic Valpolicella wine is refermented on Amarone or Recioto skins
What is Amarone?
A dry red wine from the Valpolicella region made from partially dried grapes
What is Vin Santo?
A Tuscan dessert wine made from dried white grapes
What does Riserva mean?
A wine aged longer than the standard, indicating more complexity
What does Superiore indicate?
A wine of higher quality, often with higher alcohol content or extended aging
What does Classico refer to?
Wines made in the traditional or historic heart of a wine region
What is Gran Selezione?
A specific classification for top-tier Chianti Classico wines
What is Prosecco DOC?
Basic Prosecco made using the Charmat method (secondary fermentation in tanks)
What is Prosecco DOCG?
The highest quality Prosecco from specific regions with stricter quality controls
Which DOCGs are in Piedmont?
Barolo DOCG, Barbaresco DOCG, Asti DOCG
Which DOCGs are in Tuscany?
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Chianti Classico DOCG
Which DOCGs are in Veneto?
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG, Prosecco DOCG
Which DOCG is in Sicily?
Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG
Which DOCG is in Emilia-Romagna?
Colli Bolognesi Pignoletto DOCG
How long must Barolo Riserva be aged?
At least 5 years
How long must Barbaresco Riserva be aged?
At least 4 years
How long must Chianti Riserva be aged?
At least 2 years
How long must Chianti Superiore be aged?
At least 1 year, with higher alcohol content
How long must Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva be aged?
At least 3 years
How long must Brunello di Montalcino Riserva be aged?
At least 5 years
How long must Brunello di Montalcino age in oak barrels?
At least 2 years
What is Chianti Classico DOCG known for?
The traditional heart of the Chianti region
What is Chianti Rufina known for?
Higher-altitude vineyards with cooler climates
What is Chianti Colli Senesi known for?
Wines with more finesse, located around Siena
What is Chianti Colli Aretini known for?
Full-bodied style of Chianti
What is the role of the Alps in Northern Italy’s climate?
The Alps create cooler, temperate conditions in the northern regions
How does the Mediterranean climate in Southern Italy influence its wine production?
It allows for the production of full-bodied reds and rich whites due to hot summers and mild winters
Which regions in Central Italy benefit from a balanced climate?
Tuscany and Umbria
How does the coastal influence in Central Italy affect wine styles?
The coast moderates the temperatures, leading to wines with balanced acidity and ripeness
What type of wine does the Vino da Tavola classification represent?
A basic table wine, often without specific geographic indication
How does IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) allow flexibility in winemaking?
It allows winemakers to produce wines from specific regions but with fewer regulatory constraints
What kind of wines are classified under DOC?
Wines that meet strict regional standards, including vineyard practices and production methods
What does the DOCG classification guarantee?
It guarantees geographical origin and quality, with wines subjected to more rigorous standards, including tasting panels
What is Asti Spumante known for?
A sparkling wine made from Moscato grapes in Piedmont
Which grape varietal is used for Brunello di Montalcino?
100% Sangiovese
What is the key characteristic of the wine from the Veneto region?
Amarone and Prosecco are prominent, with Amarone being a dry, rich red and Prosecco a sparkling wine made from Glera
What type of wine is Lambrusco from Emilia-Romagna?
A sparkling red wine, often fruity and light
What grape is often used in Valpolicella wines?
Corvina, often blended with Rondinella
What wine is made from Glera in Veneto?
Prosecco
What is the characteristic of Nero d’Avola?
It is a full-bodied red wine, known for its dark fruit flavors and strong tannins
What is Barbera known for in Piedmont?
High acidity, producing wines that are fresh and vibrant
What is the notable feature of Aglianico wines from Southern Italy?
Full-bodied red wines with high tannins and acidity, known for aging potential
What grape is used in the production of Asti Spumante?
Moscato
What is the primary grape used in Chianti?
Sangiovese
Which wine is made from dried grapes in Veneto?
Amarone della Valpolicella
What is the main grape used in Marsala production?
Grillo or Catarratto (depending on style)
What method is used to make Recioto wines?
Grapes are partially dried before fermentation to concentrate sugars
How does the Ripasso method add complexity to Valpolicella wines?
By refermenting basic Valpolicella wine on the skins of Amarone or Recioto, it gains added richness and complexity
What is the Charmat method used for?
It’s used in Prosecco production, where secondary fermentation occurs in tanks rather than bottles
What makes Amarone unique compared to other red wines?
It’s made from partially dried grapes, resulting in higher alcohol content and rich, intense flavors
How does aging influence a wine with the Riserva label?
It indicates the wine has been aged longer than the typical requirement, often leading to more complex flavors
What does the term ‘Superiore’ on a wine label indicate?
The wine is of higher quality, typically with a higher alcohol content or longer aging time
What does the term ‘Classico’ mean when applied to a wine region?
It refers to wines made from the historic or traditional heart of a wine-producing region
What is Gran Selezione a classification for?
Top-tier Chianti Classico wines that undergo stricter production criteria
What method is used to produce Prosecco DOC?
The Charmat method (secondary fermentation in tanks)
What is the difference between Prosecco DOC and Prosecco DOCG?
Prosecco DOCG comes from stricter regions and follows more rigorous quality controls
Which DOCGs are found in Tuscany?
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Chianti Classico DOCG
What DOCG is found in Sicily?
Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG
Which DOCGs are found in Veneto?
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG, Prosecco DOCG
What is the DOCG found in Emilia-Romagna?
Colli Bolognesi Pignoletto DOCG
What are the aging requirements for Barolo?
Barolo Riserva must be aged for at least 5 years before release
How long must Barbaresco wine age before it can be labeled as Riserva?
At least 4 years
What are the aging requirements for Chianti Riserva?
At least 2 years of aging
How long must Brunello di Montalcino Riserva be aged?
At least 5 years, with a minimum of 2 years in oak barrels
What defines the Chianti Classico DOCG region?
It’s the traditional heart of the Chianti region, known for producing high-quality wines
How does Chianti Rufina differ from Chianti Classico?
Chianti Rufina wines come from higher-altitude vineyards, leading to cooler climates and more aromatic wines
What style of wine does Chianti Colli Senesi produce?
Wines with more finesse and elegance, especially from the area around Siena
What makes Chianti Colli Aretini wines distinct?
They are generally more full-bodied due to the warmer climate of the area
