Italy Flashcards
What are the acronyms for Italian PDO wines, what do they mean and what conditions are attached?
DOC - Denominazione di Origine Controllata
Subject to; Geographical boundaries, Limits on grape varieties and rules on production methods.
DOCG - Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita
As above plus Must be bottled in area of prodn and subject to Min Ag tasting
What are Italian Classico wines?
Give an example
Wines made solely from the ORIGINAL, not expanded, land.
Soave from the plains
Soave Classico from the hillsides
What does ‘Riserva’ on an Italian wine mean?
Wine with both higher alc and longer ageing than the minimum for the appelation
What is the ageing requirement for Chianti Gran Selezione
Chianti Gran Selezione 30 months, oak optional but usual
What are the ageing requirements for
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Brunello di Montalcino
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Min 2 years
Brunello di Montalcino 5 years, 2 in oak
What are the ageing conditions for:
Barolo
Barbaresco
Barolo. 3yrs,
Barbaresco. 2 yrs,
Generally, what is the climate of Northern Italy?
What role do the Alps play?
What is the influence of rivers e.g. River Po and lakes e.g. Lake Garda?
What happens in areas nearer the sea and name one risk
Moderate climate with dry, short, summers
The Alps provide a Northern barrier providing shelter from Northerly rain
Rivers and glacial lakes give a moderating influence to hotter inland areas
Nearer the sea, higher rainfall increasing the risk of fungal disease = more spraying
In Northern Italy how were grapes traditionally trained and, increasingly, how are they trained now?
What is a major benefit of this change?
Traditionally - high yield vines planted with low density.
Pergola, vine canopy with grapes hanging down = good airflow = less rot and shade against grape sunburn. Still used for high acid, low sugar grapes e.g. For sparkling wine.
Modern - VSP training allows higher density but fewer grapes per vine = better quality grapes. Overall increased prodn per hectare
What are the characteristics of Pinot Grigio
At altitude?
On the plains?
@ Altitude - dry, light to med body, hi acid, citrus and green fruit
On the plains - Med body, med acid with ripe stone fruit flavours
Pinot Grigio is key in which 6 regions?
Alto Adige, Trentino, Friulli-Venezia Giulia, Collio, Colli Oriental and Veneto.
Where is Gargenega, primarily, grown?
Gargenega = Soave
What is Trebbiano like and what is it used for?
High yield grape, usually simple and fruity for IGT wines
What are IGT wines?
PGI wines of Italy
IGT = Indicazione Geographica Tipica
Where is Chardonnay largely grown, in Northern Italy, and what is it used for?
Largely grown on Veneto plains and used in IGT wines
What is Cortese, what does it taste like and where is it, predominantly used?
White grape, high acidity, floral, pale, light, body with aromas citrus, green apple and pear.
Mainly used in Gavi
What is Nebbiolo, what does it taste like and where is it mainly used?
Black grape, high acidity and tannin but light colour.
At altitude it has aromas of sour cherries, roses, herbs and dried flowers. With age develops Tar, truffle and leather
Used in Barolo and Barbaresco
What is Barbera, what’s it like and where is it mainly used?
Black grape, similar to Nebbiolo but lower tannin and higher acidity.),
Aromas of red cherries, plums and sometimes black pepper. Can be youthful and fruity or barrel aged for spicy flavours.
Mainly Barbera d’Alba DOC and the higher quality Barbera d’Asti DOCG
What is Dolcetto like and where is it mainly used?
Black grape, likes cooler sites. Deep colour, high tannin (double t in its name!), med acidity. Aromas black plums, red cherries and dried herbs. Drunk young or aged
Mainly used Dolcetta d’Alba DOC
What is Corvina like and where is it mainly used?
Black grape, thin skin, moderate colour, low~med tannin with hi acidity (more at altitude) giving red cherry flavour.
Mainly used in Valpolicella
Which is Italy’s most northerly wine region and what is mainly produced there?
Alto Adige
Aromatic whites mainly from Pinot Grigio but also Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc
Where is Trentino DOC, where are vines planted and what is mainly grown there?
Just south of Alto Adige
Vines on both slopes and valley floor
Mainly Pinot Grigio plus some Chardonnay
Where is Friuli - Venezia Giulia, what is the climate like and what grapes are mainly grown there and what is the style like?
NE corner of Italy, stretches from foothills of Alps to near the Adriatic coast.
Near the Alps - Moderate continental, cooled by mountain air
Nearer the coast - Warm Maritime
Mainly Pinot Grigio - med to full body, juicy peach.
Also some Merlot
What are the DOCs of Friuli - Venezia Giulia and what is the style of wine from each?
Friuli Grave DOC - wines from the plain, white, simple, fruity
Collio DOC and Colli Orientali DOC - Hills, more concentrated whites
What are the WSET regions of Northern Italy? 5
Alto Adige Trentino Friuli-Venezia Giulia Veneto Piemonte