Italy Flashcards
What is the climate of Italy?
Varies from Alpine in the north to Mediterranean in the south, with coastal and inland influences.
What are the key climatic influences in Italian wine regions?
Alps (cooling effect in the north), Mediterranean Sea (moderates temperatures), and Apennine Mountains.
What is the Italian wine quality structure?
IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica), DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata), DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita).
What are the major wine-producing regions of Italy? (10)
Piedmont, Tuscany, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Sicily, Puglia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Trentino-Alto Adige, Lombardy, Campania.
Where is Barolo produced?
Piedmont, made from 100% Nebbiolo.
Where is Barbaresco produced?
Piedmont, made from 100% Nebbiolo, softer and earlier drinking than Barolo.
Where is Chianti produced?
Tuscany, made primarily from Sangiovese.
Where is Brunello di Montalcino produced?
Tuscany, made from 100% Sangiovese (Brunello clone).
Where is Vino Nobile di Montepulciano produced?
Tuscany, made primarily from Sangiovese (Prugnolo Gentile).
What are the sub-zones of Chianti? (8)
- Chianti Colli Fiorentini
- Chianti Rufina
- Chiant Classico
- Chianti Colli Aretini
- Chianti Colli Senesi (incl the Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano)
- Chianti Colli Pisane
- Chianti Montespertoli
- Chianti Montalbano
What are the DOCG subzones of Chianti?
All Chianti sub-zones fall under DOCG status, but only Chianti Classico is considered a separate DOCG from the broader Chianti DOCG.
What are the principal grape varieties of Italy? (6R/5W)
Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Barbera, Dolcetto, Montepulciano, Aglianico (reds);
Trebbiano, Verdicchio, Vermentino, Cortese, Garganega (whites).
What is the Recioto production method?
A passito method where dried grapes are used to produce a sweet wine.
What is the Ripasso production method?
A technique where Valpolicella wine is re-fermented with Amarone pomace for added body and complexity.
What is Amarone della Valpolicella?
A dry, full-bodied red wine made from dried Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara grapes.
What is Vin Santo?
A sweet or dry dessert wine made from dried Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes in Tuscany.
What are some common Italian wine labeling terms?
‘Classico’ (historic growing area), ‘Superiore’ (higher alcohol), ‘Riserva’ (longer aging).
What are the quality levels of Prosecco?
Prosecco DOC, Prosecco DOCG (Conegliano-Valdobbiadene, Asolo).
What is the production method for Prosecco?
Tank method (Charmat), with secondary fermentation in stainless steel.
What are the DOCG wines of Piedmont?
Barolo, Barbaresco, Gattinara, Ghemme, Roero, Asti, Moscato d’Asti, Barbera d’Asti.
What are the DOCG wines of Tuscany?
Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Morellino di Scansano.
What are the DOCG wines of Veneto?
Amarone della Valpolicella, Recioto della Valpolicella, Soave Superiore, Bardolino Superiore, Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore.
What are the aging requirements for Barolo?
Minimum 38 months total aging, with at least 18 months in oak.
What are the aging requirements for Barbaresco?
Minimum 24 months total aging, with at least 9 months in oak.
What are the aging requirements for Chianti Classico Riserva?
Minimum 24 months aging, including time in oak and 3m in bottle.
What are the aging requirements for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano?
Minimum 24 months aging, with various options for oak and bottle aging.
What are the aging requirements for Brunello di Montalcino?
Minimum 5 years total aging, with at least 2 years in oak and 4 months in bottle.
