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WSET 4 Unit 3 > Italy > Flashcards

Italy Flashcards

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1
Q

Where is Piemonte?

A

North East Italy

It means at the foot of the mountains

It is enclosed to the north and west by the Alps and to the South by the Apennines

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2
Q

What are the two renowned wines of Piemonte?

A

Barolo and Barbaresco

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3
Q

What is the climate in Piemonte?

A

Continental

Severe winter and long summers and warm, dry autumns

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4
Q

What are the principle black grapes in Piemonte?

A

Nebbiolo
Barbera
Dolcetto

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5
Q

What are the principle white grapes in Piemonte?

A

Moscato
Córtese
Arneis

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6
Q

What is the most noble variety in Italy?

A

Nebbiolo

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7
Q

When does Nebbiolo ripen?

A

Very late

Harvest typically take place in mid to late October after the autumn figs (Nebbie) have risen

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8
Q

In which DOCs and DOCGs can you find Nebbiolo?

A

Bartolo
Barbaresco
Roero
Gattinara

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9
Q

Which three wine regions in Italy obtained the first DOCGs?

A

Barolo
Brunello di Montalcino
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

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10
Q

What are the five main communes in Barolo DOCG?

A 
Barolo
La Morra
Castiglione Falleto
Monforte d’Alba 
Serralunga d’Alba
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11
Q

What are the two valleys in Barolo DOCG?

A

Central Valley encompassing the communes of Barolo and La Morra

And

Serralunga Valley encompassing the communes of Castiglione Falleto, Montforte d’Alba and Serralunga d’Alba

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12
Q

How long must a Barolo be aged for according to DOCG rules?

A

38 months minimum ageing

62 months for Riserva of which 18 in oak, traditionally large casks to avoid contributing even more tannins to the wine

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13
Q

What is the typically style of Barolo?

A

Full bodied but light in colour, typically with a garnet tinge that makes it seem older than it is

Nose - potentially very complex
Tar and roses

Damson, mulberry, dried fruit, violets, herbs, dark chocolate, liquorice

With age
Leather, tobacco, mushroom, truffle, tar

Palate
Full body, 
Medium to high alcohol
High acidity
And very high tannins, the best examples will be silky, velvety in texture
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14
Q

Where is Barberesco?

A

North East Italy

East of Alba

10 miles from Barolo

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15
Q

What is the size of Barbaresco in comparison to Barolo?

A

The deliminated area is three times smaller than that of Barolo

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16
Q

What is the climate in Barbaresco?

A

Continental but warmer and drier than Barolo allowing grapes to ripen a full fortnight earlier

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17
Q

What is the main difference between Barolo and Barbaresco?

A

Stylistically there is some overlap,

Although Barbaresco is said to be more feminine, aromatic, elegant and refined with softer fruit and suppler, riper tannins.

Although tight and tannic in youth it requires less cellaring time and is less long lived.

According to DOCG regulation is must be aged for one year fewer than Barolo

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18
Q

Where is Roero DOCG?

A

Piemonte, North East Italy

Left bank of the river Tanaro, directly across from Langhe

Produces significant quantities of Nebbiolo and Arneis

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19
Q

What is grown in Roero DOCG?

A

Nebbiolo & Arneis

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20
Q

What is required by DOCG regulations in terms of grape varieties in Roero DOCG?

A

Roero must contain 95-98% Nebbiolo and 2-5% Arneis and be aged for 20 months (32 months for the Riserva) of which six are in cask

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21
Q

What was the historical function of Arneis?

A

To soften and perfume Nebbiolo

Still used for this effect in Roero DOCG

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22
Q

What is Arneis?

A

White grape variety found in Italy

Historically used to soften and perfume Nebbiolo, still is in Roero DOCG where 2-5% of Arneis is required by DOCG rules

Difficult to grow

Naturally lacking in acidity and prone to oxidation

Can yield delicate and characterful wines

Most at home as a single varietal in Roero Arneis DOCG or Langhe ROCG

Full bodied with dominate notes of ripe pears, apricots, white flowers and hops with a dry finish and end note of almonds

23
Q

What is the principle white grape of Piemonte?

A

Moscato which underpins sparking Asti and Semi sparking Moscato d’Asti

24
Q

When will you find Gavi di Gavi on a label?

A

A Cortese di Gavi wine from Gavi itself is labelled Gavi di Gavi

25
Q

What was the first Italian white wine to garner international acclaim?

A

Cortese di Gavi DOCG

26
Q

What characterises Cortese wines?

A

Zesty acidity

It is light, dry, fruity and floral

Notes of lime, peach and white flowers with hints of herbs and a citrusy finish.

The wine can improve with cellaring

27
Q

Can Cortese age?

A

Yes the wine can improve with cellaring

28
Q

Where is Cortese grown?

A

Gavi, south east corner of Piemonte in NE Italy

Specially on the steel chalk, clay hills around Gavi

29
Q

What sites is Dolcetto grown on?

A

Cooler, less favoured sites to preserve its precious acidity

30
Q

What is the role in a Dolcetto in a winemakers portfolio?

A

To generate income for the producer while Nebbiolo and Barberas mature

It is generally made in a simple and undemanding early to market style

31
Q

Where is Dolcetto grown?

A

Piemonte, North East Italy

32
Q

When does Dolcetto ripen?

A

Early

33
Q

What is the colour of Dolcetto?

A

Deep ruby to purple

34
Q

What is often thought of as Italy’s answer to Beaujolais?

A

Dolcetto - but it is mostly darker, driers and more tannic than Beaujolais with a more Italian aroma profile of cherries and bitter almonds

35
Q

What is the flavour profile of Dolcetto?

A

deep colour but soft, fruity and approachable with notes of black cherry, soft spice and liquorice, low acidity, high alcohol and a characteristic dry, bitter almond finish

36
Q

What are the two most notable DOCs/DOCGs for Dolcetto?

A

Dogliani DOCG

Dolcetto d’Alba DOC

37
Q

What is the finest region for Dolcetto?

A

Dogliani DOCG in Piemonte

38
Q

What grape accounts for half of Piemonte plantings?

A

Barbera but it plays second fiddle to Nebbiolo despite producing wines of great distinction

39
Q

Where is the best Barbera found?

A

Piemonte

Barbera d’Asti DOCG
Barbera d’Alba DOC (which overland with Barolo and Barbaresco)
Barbera del Monferrato Superiore

40
Q

Which Barbera DOC overlaps with Barolo and Barbaresco?

A

Barbera d’Alba

41
Q

What scandal rocked Barbera?

A

In the mid 1980s a number of Piemonte producers added methanol to their Barberas, killing over 30 people and blinding many more

Barbera’s reputation is still recovering from this crime

42
Q

What is the typical style of Barbera?

A

Deep ruby in colour
An intensive mouth filling fruitiness
Notes of black and red cherries

Cocoa, earth, leather and soft spice

Very high in acidity, medium alcohol, low or medium tannins and a dry finish

43
Q

What is grown in Gattinara DOCG?

A

Nebbiolo

Climates are cooler than in the Langhe and despite the south facing slopes, the wines are even more tannic, acidic and long lived than Barolo

44
Q

What is Gattinara known for?

A

Long history of high quality Nebbiolo (known locally as Spanna)

Long lived wines, substantial ageing in oak

45
Q

What is the style of wine produced in Moscato d’Asti DOCG?

A

White, slightly sparking

Moscato grape

Highly perfumed, grapey, designed to be drunk young and fresh

46
Q

What is Nebbiolo d’Alba DOC?

A

A satellite appellation of Barolo

Producing softer, less intense and faster maturing Nebbiolo than is produced in Barolo or Barbaresco

47
Q

What is the style of Dolcetto d’Alba DOC?

A

Dolcetto grape
Soft and fruity
Damsons
Light tannin and low acidity

48
Q

What are the two styles of wine made in Barbera d’Asti and Barbera d’Alba DOCG?

A

Barbera Grape

Light, sour cherry fruit to be drunk young

Or

Oak aged, higher tannin, complex and needing bottle age to show potential

49
Q

Where will you find Barolo or Barbersco style wines at a lower price point?

A

Langhe DOC

50
Q

What is the make up of a Gattinara DOCG wine?

A

90% Nebbiolo (Spanna)

Along with Bonarda & Vespolina fo soften the wine

51
Q

What are the three significant wine areas in Lombardy?

A

There are 14 wine producing areas in Lombardy

The most significant are

  1. Valtellina DOC - Nebbiolo
  2. Oltrepo Pavese DOC - largest area - large range of wines produced, generic Barbera reds dominate
  3. Terra di Franciacorta DOC - international varieties alongside sparking
52
Q

Where is the best Nebbiolo from outside Piemonte grown?

A

Valtellina Superiore DOCG in Lombardy

53
Q

How does the style of Nebbiolo from Valtellina Superiore DOCG differ from Piemonte?

A

Less acidic and tannic than Piemonte counterparts

WSET 4 Unit 3 (42 decks)

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