Italy Flashcards
What is the equivalent to the French AOC system in Italy?
DOC established in the mid-1960s—there are now 330 DOC apellations, all delimited geographically.
Wines from 29 Zones have been further distinguished as DOCG.
Wines must meet standards of typology and quality imposed by commissions of expe
What are the classifications of Italian wines and how do they differ?
Italian Categories
1. Vino de Tavola (table wine)—all 20 regions
2. Indacazione Geografiche Tipiche—120+ wines from 18 regions
- Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta have no IGTs
3. Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC)—300+ wines from 20 regions
- Regulates geography, grapes, yields, and in some cases aging
4. Denominazione di Orignie Controllata e Garantita (DOCG)—33 wines; 12 regions
Most restrictive; lowest yields
What are the principle grape varieties used to make the Benchmark wines of Italy e.g. Barolo, Chianti, Brunello? (Emphasis will be on the ones tasted in class.)
White
Pinot Grigio: Friuli, Venezia, Giulia
Trebbiano: countrywide
Moscato: Piedmont, Lombardy, Trentino Alto-Adige, Sicily
Red
Nebbiolo: Piedmont, Lombardy
Sangiovese: Tuscany, Umbria, Emilia-Rogna, S. Central
Aglianico: Campania Basilicata, Apulia
What are the most important Italian wine regions and what wines are they best known for?
Piedmont: Nebbiolo dominant; 52 DOC-DOCG zones, no IGT Barolo Barbaresco Gattinara (Bonarda and Nebbiolo) Ghemme Moscata d’Asti/Asti Brachetto d’Acqui Gavi di Gavi (Cortese) Dolcetti di Dogliani Superiore Roero (Arneis and Nebbiolo) Barbera d’Asti (Barbera) Dolcetto d’Alba (Dolcetto)
Tuscany: Sangiovese
Brunello di Montalcino
Chianti (Sangiovese, Canaiolo, and others)
Chianti Classico
Vino Nobile de Montepulciano (Prugnolo Gentile/Sangiovese, Caniolo, and others)
Carmignano (Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon)
Vernaccia di San Gimignano—Tuscany’s 1 st DOCG white wine
Tre Venezie: Pinot Grigio (also Trebbiano, Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay and others)
Soave (Garganega, Trebbiano, and others)
Valpolicella (Corvina, Rondilla, Molinara)
Amarone (same grapes; semi-dried)
Bardolino: Corvina, Rondilla Molinara (red)
How are Italian wines named?
- Grape Variety—used with an IGT or DOC, e.g. Pinot Grigio, Sangioevese
- Area/Zone of Productio, e.g. Barolo, Chianti, Gavi, Valpolicella
- Grape Variety and Area/Zone, e.g. Brunello di Montalcino, Brachetto d’Acqui
- Fantasy/Proprietary names—used with IGT or DOC, e.g. Excelsus, Summus
- Legend—based on folklore/traditon, e.g. Vino Nobile de Montepulciano
Classico
historic or “classic” growing area of a specific zone
Riserva
A wine which has been aged a longer, specified time than non-Riserva counterpart, applies to DOC and DOCG
Superiore
Higher level of alcohol or aging, sometimes special geographic origin, applies to DOC wines
Rosato
Rose
Rosso
Red wine
Secco
Dry
How does Italy’s climate influence wine styles produced in various regions?
Piedmont
- Climate is rigid by Italian standards, with distinct changes of season
- Winters are cold with plenty of snow; summers are mostly hot and dry
- Spring and fall are temperate to cool with fog normal at harvest time
- Majority of vineyards in the Langhe and Monferrato hills
- Some grown along foothills of the Alps to the north
What historical events influenced the growth of the wine industry in Italy?
- 4,000 years ago prehistoric people pressed wild grapes into juice that fermented into wine
- Ancient Greeks, expanding into Italy’s southernmost reaches dubbed the colonies
Oenotria, the land of the wine - Roman techiques were so sophisticated they wouldn’t be equaled again until 17 th c.
- 1761 Grand Dutch of Tuscany delimited the zones for important wines
- Set a precedent for modern legislation
- 19 th c. winemaking advanced rapidly
- Vini-viti methods improve
- Use of corks permitted orderly shopping of wine worldwide
How do Super Tuscans differ from other Italian wines made in Tuscany?
Super Tuscans are a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet, Merlot
· Produced outside of the Chianti Classico zone
· More expensive
How have the recent EU labeling regulations affected Italy?
Allow blends with/without vintage date
