Italy Flashcards
What are the main regions of Italy?
Valle d'Aosta Piedmont Lombardy Trentino-Alto Adige Friuli-Venezia Giulia Veneto Emilia Romagna Liguria Tuscany Umbria Latium Campania Molise Abruzzo Puglia Marche Basilicata Calabria Sardinia Sicily
Before the rise of the Romans, who were producing wines in Italy?
Etruscan and Greek settles.
Evidence indicates that vines were planted widely across Italy back to what century?
3rd.
Where does the peninsula of Italy located?
Between the Tyrrhenian and Ligurian Seas (west)
The Ionian Sea (south)
Adriatic Sea (east)
What mountain ranges can be found in Italy?
The Apennine Mountains run like a backbone down the center of the peninsula.
The Alps cover a large part of the Northern regions.
What is the climate in Italy?
Spans from cool, continental in the north (near the Alps_ and warm in the south towards Sicily.
How many grape varietals can you find in Italy?
Over 1,300 registered varieties.
How many (roughly) vineyards are their in Italy?
900,000 registered vineyards.
What is the Wine Law/Classification in Italy for wines with geographic indication?
IGP - Indicazione Geografica Protetta
(includes IGT)
DOP - Denominazione di Origine Protetta
(includes DOC and DOCG)
What is the DOC and what year was it first introduced?
Denominazione di Origine Controllata
(to formalize and protect Italian wine regions)
1963
What are the four basic levels of Wine Classification in Italy?
DOCG
DO
IGT
Vino
What does ‘classico’ refer to on an Italian wine label?
A traditional, theoretically superior vineyard area within a DOC or DOCG.
What does ‘riserva’ mean on an Italian wine label?
Means “reserve” and is legally defined. This term usually indicates extended aging (in cask, then bottle) and can denote lower yields and higher alcohol depending on the appellation.
What does ‘superiore’ refer to on an Italian wine label?
Denotes higher level of alcohol or longer aging depending on the appellation.
What does ‘spumate’ mean on an Italian wine label?
Sparkling wine.
What does ‘frizzante’ mean on an Italian wine label?
Lightly sparkling.
What is ‘metodo classico’ in Italy?
Tradition method for making sparkling wines.
What does ‘secco’ mean in Italy?
Dry.
What does ‘amabile’ mean in Italy?
Off-dry.
What does ‘dolce’ mean in Italy?
Sweet.
What does ‘recioto/passito’ mean in Italy?
A wine made from dried grapes that is often sweet.
What are the Northern wine regions of Italy?
Valle d'Aosta Lombardy Trentino-Alto Adige Friuli-Venezia Giulia Piedmont Liguria Emilia Romagna Veneto
‘Nebbia’ refers to what in Piedmont?
It is a pervasive fog that often settles over vineyards near harvest and is thought to be the inspiration for the name of the Nebbiolo grape.
Where is Piedmont located in Italy?
Northwestern, bordering both France and Switzerland.
‘Piedmont is a French word that means what?
“Foot of the Mountain”
What is the most important river of Piedmont?
The Po
What mountains cradle the region of Piedmont?
Alps to the north and west.
Apennine to the south and east.
What is the climate like in Piedmont?
Continental.
Rain shadow from the Alps.
What type of soils are found in Piedmont?
Limestone and sandstone.
What are the major grape varietals of Piedmont?
(white)
Moscato
Arneis
Cortese
(red) Barbera Nebbiolo Dolcetto Brachetto
What are the appellations of Piedmont?
Barolo and Barbaresco DOCG Moscato d'Asti and Asti DOCG Barbera d'Asti DOCG Gavi DOCG Brachetto d'Acqui DOCG
What grape(s) make up Barolo and Barbaresco wines?
100% Nebbiolo.
How are Barolo and Barbaresco wines vinified?
Dry red wines.
Long oak aging in large/small barriques.
Time in oak/minimum age regulate by law.
What are the minimum age requirements for Barbaresco?
26 months total
minimum of 9 months in oak
What are the minimum age requirements for Barolo?
38 months total
minimum of 18 months in oak
What is the main grape of Asti?
100% Moscato
How are Moscato d’Asti and Asti DOCG wines vinified?
Moscato d’Asti = off dry, frizzante wines
Asti DOCG = white, spumante, or metodo classico sparkling wines.
What is the main grape of Barbera d’Asti?
Barbera.