ITALY Flashcards
What are the four official tiers of the Italian wine Classification?
- DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) is the highest classification for Italian wines
- DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) is the main tier of Italian wine classification, and covers almost every traditional Italian wine style
- IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) was introduced in 1992, to allow a certain level of freedom to Italy’s winemakers
- Vino da Tavola: means ‘table wine’ in Italian, and represents the most basic level of Italian wine.
What are the “Super Tuscans”?
- A particular set of high-quality Tuscan wines which were precluded from claiming DOC or DOCG status because they broke traditional Italian winemaking norms (foreign grape varieties were used, and the wines were often matured in small, new oak barrels).
- Originally these wines had to be labeled as Vino da Tavola because they contravened the stringent, tradition-focused DOC laws. This situation ultimately led to the creation of the IGT category, with its relatively relaxed production rules.
What do “Classico” and “Riserva” stands for?
- Classico, denotes the traditional, theoretically superior, vineyard area within a DOC/G zone.
- Riserva, Literally ‘reserve’. Denotes extended ageing (in cask, then in bottle) before the wine is sent to market.
What does “Superiore” stands for?
- wines with greater concentration and higher alcoholic strength
What is the main grape variety of Barolo, Barbareso, Gattinara and Roero DOCGs?
- Nebbiolo
What is the most widely planted grape variety in Piedmonte?
- Barbera
What are the five communes of Barolo?
- Barolo
- La Morra
- Serranglunga d’Alba
- Castiglione-Falleto
- Monforte d’Alba
What are the main types of soil in Barolo?
- Tortonian Soil: La morra and Barolo (more aromatic, fruitier styles, softer and faster maturing wines of Barolo).
- Helvetian Soil: Castiglione-Falleto, Serralunga d’Alba and Monforte (bigger in structure, higher in tannins and requires a longer time to age)
Where is “Dolcetto” grape produced?
- Dogliani DOCG (Piedmont)
What are the communes of Barbaresco?
- Barbaresco
- Neive
- Treiso
- San Rocco Senodelvio
Name the two DOCGs of sparkling wine in Piedmonte:
- Alta Langha Metodo Classico DOCG (Chardonnay/Pinot Noir)
- Asti DOCG (Moscato Bianco)
What large zone or sub-region of Piedmonte that encompassed Barolo, Barbaresco, Asti and Dogliani?
- Langhe DOC
What DOCG produces a sweet effervescent red dessert wine made from Brachetto grapes?
- Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG
What are the ageing requirements of Barolo DOCG?
- Barolo: aged min. 38 months ,min. 18 months in wood
- Barolo Riserva: total of 62 months, min. 18 months in wood
What are the ageing requirements for Barbaresco DOCG?
- Barbaresco: aged min. 26 months, min. 9 months in wood
- Barbaresco Riserva: total of 50 months, min 9 months in wood
What are the three labelling terms of Italian wines?
- Classico
- Riserva
- Superiore
What is the grape variety of Gavi/Cortese di Gavi DOCG?
- Cortese grape (white)
What is the grape variety blend of Gattinara and Ghemme DOCGs?
- Nebbiolo, Vespolina and Bonarda (Uva rara)
What is the white grape variety of Roero?
- Arneis
Where is located Colli Tortonesi DOC?
- Piedmonte
Which region produces a fortified aromatized wines that has a bitter flavour of quinine by steeping the bark of the chinchona tree in the wine?
- Barolo Chinato DOCG
What grape variety was also known as “Spanna”?
- Nebbiolo
List of Barolo Modernists:
- Paolo Scavino
- Luciano Sandrone
- Elio Altare
(Smaller Barriques, short maceration and rounder style of wine)
List of Barolo Traditionalist:
- Giacomo Corterno
- Bartolo Mascarello
- Guiseppe Rinaldi
(Longer aging periods, large neutral casks and extended maceration of 30-50 days)
What is “SORI” and “BRICO mean in piedmontese dialect?
- Sori: Southern exposure in the Langhe and Monderrato Hils.
- Brico: Highest part/top of the slope
Where is Franciacorta DOCG located?
- Lombardy
What are the sparkling wines DOCGs of Lombardy?
- Franciacorta DOCG
- Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG
What are the grape variety used for Franciacorta production?
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Bianco
- Pinot Nero
- Erbamat
What grape is known as “Chiavennasca” in Lombardy?
- Nebbiolo (Valtellina Superiore DOCG)
Where is Valtellina Superiore DODG located?
- Lombardy
What is the grape variety of Valtellina Superiore DOCG?
- 90% Nebbiolo
What wine is made from semi-dried grapes of Nebbiolo produces a deep colored concentrated wine similar to Amarone style in Lombardy?
- Sforzato or Sfurzat di Valtellina DOCG
What is the grape variety of Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico?
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Bianco
- Pinot Gris
- Pinot Nero
What are the styles of Franciacorta?
- Franciacorta Classico
- Franciacorta Satén
- Franciacorta Rosado
- Franciacorta Millesimato
- Franciacorta Riserva
Where is Alto Adige or Südtirol DOC located?
- Trentino Alto Adige
What is the main grape variety of Trentino?
- Schiava, Teroldego, Langrein (Reds)
Where is Bardolino located?
- Veneto
Where is Ramandolo DOCG situated?
- Friuli-Venezia Giulia
What is the grape variety of Bardolino?
- Corvina
- Rondinela
- Molinara
Where is Gambellara DOC located?
- Veneto
What is the grape variety of Gambellara?
- Garganega
- Chardonnay
- Trebbiano di Soave
Where is Pinot Grigio DOC situated?
- Veneto
What is the grape variety of Soave?
- Garganega
- Chardonnay
- Trebbiano di Soave
Where is Lambrusco DOC situated?
- Emilia-Romagna