Italy

Question 1

Name the main river of N.W. Italy

Answer 1

River Po

Question 2

Generally, Northern Italy has what sort of climate?

Answer 2

Moderate with short dry summers

Question 3

Inland areas of N.E.Italy have a moderate climate further moderated by which bodies of water?

Answer 3

Lake Garda and the Rive Po

Question 4

Describe a pergola trained vine

Answer 4

A complex trellising system to train the vines high. Fruit hang below a canopy of leaves.

Question 5

Why use a pergola system for vines?

Answer 5

The overhead canopy protects against sunburn

To height keeps air flowing to protect against rot

Question 6

Which training system is replacing the Pergola in Northern Italy?

Answer 6

VSP

Vertical Shoot Positioning

Question 7

Describe the Italian

TRENTINO ALTO-ADIGE climate

Answer 7

Moderate
Vines face SE and SW
Short, dry summers
Large diurnal range

Question 8

Principle grape of Italian Alto-Adige

Answer 8

Pinot Grigio

Question 9

Body, acidity and primary notes of an Italian Alto Adige Pinot Grigio

Answer 9

Low to Medium body
High acidity
Citrus and green fruit (apple, lime)

Question 10

Regional AC for Alto Adige

Answer 10

Alto Adige AOC

Question 11

Trentino lies north or south of Alto Adige?

Answer 11

South

Climate is a bit warmer too

Question 12

Italy.

Trentino’s valley floor Pinot Grigio’s body, acidity and primary fruit?

Answer 12

Medium body,
Medium acidity
Ripe stone fruit flavours

Question 13

Roughly, where in Italy would you find Friuli-Venezia Giulia?

Answer 13

N.E. Italy

Question 14

Climate of Fruili-Venezia Giulia in Italy.

Answer 14

Moderate continental, with cool air from the Alps

In the south, near the Adriatic it becomes warm maritime

Question 15

Italy

Body, acidity and fruit of a Fruili-Venezia Giulia Pinot Grigio?

Answer 15

Medium to full bodied
(Acidity medium ? Text book doesn’t say)
Juicy peach and tropical fruits

Question 16

Bets known wine names from Veneto in N.Italy?

Answer 16

Valpolicella (all flavours)

Soave

Question 17

Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto and Fruili-Venezia Giulia are all found where in Italy?

Answer 17

North Eastern block opposite the Adriatic

Question 18

Italy

Veneto’s climate

Answer 18

Warm
Moderate rainfall
Cooled by Alpine altitude in the North (high diurnals)
Cooled by Lake Garda in the West
River Po’s plains plagued by moisture, fog and therefore rot.

Question 19

Italy

Veneto IGT wine style?

Answer 19

Usually “simple” (high yields)

Often Pinot Grigio

Question 20

Compare Garganega from the Italian foothills and the plains

Answer 20

Foothills Soave (Classico DOC) was ripened more slowly (altitude) and thus has more ripeness and acidity. It’ll keep too.

Plains Soave (DOC) is fruitier, less acidic and won’t keep

Question 20

Valpolicella Classico DOC differs from Valpolicella DOC how?

Answer 20

The Classico comes from the foothills where the grapes ripened more slowly (altitude) and thus have retained acidity.

The non-Classico has ripened more quickly and thus is fruitier.

Question 21

Corvina’s colour, tannin, acidity and flavour

Answer 21

Moderate colour
Low to medium tannin
High acidity
Simple, fruity, red cherry.
Drink now.

Question 22

Passito method. Describe.

Answer 22

Used for both white and red
Grapes picked early to capture acidity and concentrate the sugars, flavours.
Dried indoors until the winter

Question 23

Name the two types of Passito wine

Answer 23

Amarone

Recioto

Question 24

Describe Amarone DOCG

Answer 24

``` Dry to off-dry Full body High alcohol Med to high tannin Intense red berry and spice Usually oaked ```

Question 25

Describe a Recioto wine

Answer 25

Sweet (very) Intense red fruit High alcohol Med to high tannin

Question 26

Name two Recioto DOCGs

Answer 26

Della Valpolicella | Soave

Question 27

Describe the Ripasso method

Answer 27

Shortly before Amerone fermentation is complete, it is drained off the skins. It gets added to a vat of (post-fermentation) Valpolicella where the remaining Amerone sugar continues to ferment releasing further flavour, colour and tannin.

Question 28

Valpolicella Ripasso’s body, tannin and flavour?

Answer 28

Medium to full body Medium to high tannin Stewed red cherries, plums, raspberry

Question 29

Where in Italy is Piemonte?

Answer 29

North and West

Question 30

Climate of Piemonte?

Answer 30

Moderate continental | Alpine rain shadow from Northern wind and rain.

Question 31

Piemonte summers are like what?

Answer 31

Short and prone to thunderstorms, hail and fog. Long cold winters too. The Po and Lake Maggiore help to moderate extremes.

Question 32

Name the black grapes of Piemonte (3) | Cloudy sheep dance

Answer 32

Nebbiolo (Barolo DOCG and Barbaresco DOCG) Barbera (Barbera d’Asti DOCG) Dolcetto (Dolcetto d’Alba DOC)

Question 33

Nebbiolo acidity, tannin, colour and body

Answer 33

High pH, high tannin, low colour and full body in good years.

Question 34

Barolo flavours?

Answer 34

Perfumed aromas of sour cherries Herbs Dried flowers

Question 35

The best Barolos are identified how?

Answer 35

DOCG (of course) | The name of a village or better still, a vineyard.

Question 36

Difference between Barolo and Barbaresco maturation.

Answer 36

Barolo - 3 years (18 months in oak) before release | Barbaresco - 2 years (9 months in oak) before release.

Question 37

Barbera colour, tannin, acidity and flavour

Answer 37

``` Late ripener (higher acidity and fruit) Medium to dark colour Low to Medium tannin High acidity Red cherries, plums, black pepper ``` Unoaked and oaked

Question 38

Dolcetto colour, tannin, acidity

Answer 38

``` Earlier ripening than Nebbiolo or Barbera Likes cooler sites Deep, often Purple Medium to high tannin Medium acidity Black plums, red cherries, dried herbs ``` Good stuff ages well.

Question 39

Where is Gavi in Italy?

Answer 39

North West, Piemonte

Question 40

Gavi DOCG is made from which grape?

Answer 40

Cortese

Question 41

Cortese acidity, flavours, colour, body

Answer 41

Hills and sea breeze make for long ripening emphasising high acidity and floral character ``` Pale colour Light body Citrus, green apples, pears Rarely oaked Some lees stirring for autolytics ```

Question 42

Which grape is often used to blend with Gargenega to make Soave DOC?

Answer 42

Trebiano

Question 43

DOC(G)s using Sangioves-knee

Answer 43

Chiant-knee. Chianto Kneel di Montepulciano. Nobile di Montepulciano Bru-kneel-o di Montalcino. Brunelo di Montalcino

Question 44

Chianti Classico. | How old before release?

Answer 44

12 months

Question 45

Chianti Riserva. | How much age and how much of that in bottle?

Answer 45

24 months, of which 3 in bottle

Question 46

Tuscan wine that must have 100% of a grape?

Answer 46

Brunello di Montalcino - Sangiovese

Question 47

``` Brunello di Montalcino... A better class of Tuscan. Why? ```

Answer 47

Old grape vines 5 year’s maturation, 2 in oak Full body, high acid, high tannin

Question 48

Name the 100% Sangiovese wine from Tuscany

Answer 48

Brunello di Montalcino

Question 49

Chianti minimum ageing requirements: Classico. Total age, how much bottle age? Classico Reserva. Total age, how much in bottle?

Answer 49

Classico: Just 12 months. End of. Classico Reserva: 24 months, 3 in bottle. NB: Most producers age Chianti in oak.

Question 50

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, ageing. | How long in total and how much of that in oak?

Answer 50

5 years total. 2 of those in oak.

Question 51

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano ageing? | How is it different from Brunello di Montialcino?

Answer 51

VdiMontepulciano: Two years of ageing, and is a blend of Sangiovese with whatever. Brunello di Montalcino is 100% Sangiovese.