Italy Flashcards
1
Q
Italy - Italian Wine Law
A
- Wines without geographic indication
- Vino: These are generic wines that can be blanco, rosso or rosato and labeled with or without a vintage
- Wines with geographic indication
- IGP: Indicazione Geografica Protetta
- Includeds IGT
- DOP: Denominazione di Origine Protetta
- Includes DOC and DOCG
- A producer may choose which term to use depending on one’s classification within the “old” system, meaning producers in a traditional DOCG zone most likly will not use the DOP acronym
- IGP: Indicazione Geografica Protetta
2
Q
Italy - Italian Wine Classification
A
- The Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) system was introduced in 1963 as a means of formalizing and protecting Italian wine appellations.
- DOCG > DOC > IGT > Vino
3
Q
Italy - Italian Label Terminology
A
- Classico: A traditional, theoretically superior vineyard area within a DOC or DOCG
- Reserva: Means “reserve” and is legally deffined. This term usually indicates extended ageing (in cask, then bottle) and can denote lower yields and higher alcohol depening on the appellation.
- Superiore: Denotes higher level of alcohol or longer aging depending on the appellation
- Spumante: Sparkling
- Frezzante: Lightly sparkling
- Metodo Classico: Traditiaonl method sparkling wines
- Secco: Dry
- Amabile: Off-Dry
- Dolce: Sweet
- Recioto / Passito: Wine made from dried grapes and is most often sweet
4
Q
Italy - Northern Italy - Piedmont Overveiw
A
- Climate: Continental with a rain shadow effect fromt he Alps
- Soil: Limestone and sandstone
- Grape Varieties
- White: Moscato, Cortese, Arneis
- Red: Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, Brachetto
5
Q
Italy - Northern Italy - Piedmont AOP
A
- Barolo and Barbaresco DOCG
- Red, 100% Nebbiolo
- The best vineyards are on hillsides with optimal exposure to ripen Nebbiolo
- Barolo requires 38 months total aging with a minimum of 18 months in oak
- Barbaresco requires 26 months total aging with a minimum 9 months in oak
- Moscato d’Asti / Asti DOCG
- White, Moscato
- Moscato d’Asti: Off-dry, frizzante sparkling wines
- Asti DOCG: White, spumante or metodo classico sparkling wines
- Barbera d’Asti DOCG
- Red, Barbera (dry)
- Gavi DOCG
- White, Cortese (dry)
- Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG
- Red, Brachetto (sweet, sparkling)
6
Q
Italy - Northern Italy - Lombardy AOP
A
- Franciacorta DOCG
- White: Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco
- Red: Pinot Nero
- Metodo classico sparkling wines only
- Valtellina Superiore DOCG
- Climate: high altitude and alpine. Abundant sunshine allows for a long, slow growing season
- Red: Nebbiolo
- Oak-aged
7
Q
Italy - Northern Italy - Trentino Alto Adige AOP
A
- Geography: Alpine border of Austria and Switzerland. Germanic to the north and Italian to the south.
- Climate: Continental with cold winters and warm summer.
- White: Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Bianco
- Red: Merlot Lagrein
- AOP
- Trentino DOC
- Alto Adige (Sudtiroler) DOC
8
Q
Italy - Northern Italy - Veneto AOP
A
- Climate: Continental with a warmer maritime climate near the coast
- Soave DOC
- Dry white: Garganega
- Soave Superiore DOCG
- Prosecco DOC
- White: Glera (Prosecco)
- Charmat/tank method sparkling wines
- Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG
- Valpolicella DOC
- Dry Red: Corvina (predominant), Rondinella
- Valpolicella Classico DOC
- Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG
- Red: Corvina (predominant), Rondinella
- Appassimento Process
- Grapes harvested and dried for several weeks
- Fruit dries and develops unique flavor characteristics
- Wine fermented dry or off-dry
- High alcohol wine 14~16% abv
9
Q
Italy - Northern Italy - Friuli Venezia Giulia AOP
A
- Climate: continental
- White: Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, Friulano
- Red: Merlot (most widely-planted)
10
Q
Italy - Northern Italy - Emilia Romagna AOP
A
- Climate: continental
- Considered the bread basket of Italy
- Lambrusco DOC
- Red: Lambrusco
- Red, sparkling wine (frizzante or spumante) made byt he Charmat/tank method
- Secco = dry, Amabile = off-dry
11
Q
Italy - Central Italy - Tuscany AOP
A
- White: Vernaccia
- Red: Sangiovese, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
- Chianti DOCG
- Dry red only: Sangiovese (minimum 70%)
- Chianti Classico DOCG
- Dry red only: Sangiovese (minimum 80%)
- Soil: Galestro (a soft marl-like soil)
- Brunello di Montalcino
- Dry red only: 100% Sangiovese (locally called Brunello)
- Soil: Clay and marine sediments at lower elevation. Galestro at higher elevation.
- Wines are required to be aged for a minimum of 2 years in wood plus 4 months in bottle
- They may not be sold before Jan 1st of the 5th year following the harvest
12
Q
Italy - Central Italy - Marches AOP
A
- Climate: Mediterranean
- Dry, unoaked white: Verdicchio
- Verdicchio di Matelica DOC
- Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC
13
Q
Italy - Southern Italy and Sicily - Campania AOP
A
- Climate: Mediterranean, sunny and warm
- Soil: Alluvial sediments, volcanic soils in the mountains to the east and on the famous Mt Vesuvius
- Fiano di Avellino DOCG
- Dry white: Fiano
- Greco di Tufo DOCG
- Dry white: Greco (an old grape variety planted by the ancient Greeks)
- Taurasi DOCG
- Dry, oak-aged, age-worthy red wine: Aglianico
- Wines must be aged for a minimum of 3 years with 1 year in wood
14
Q
Italy - Southern Italy and Sicily - Sicily AOP
A
- Climate: Overall Mediterranean but with important local variations. Maritime near the sea, hot inland becoming much cooler at higher elevations on Mt Etna.
- Soil: notably varied across different areas on this very large island, but famously volcanic on and near the slope of the active Mt Etna.
- Etna DOC
- Dry white: Carricante
- Dry red/rose: Nerello Mascalese
15
Q
Italy - The Alps provide ??? to the Piedmont wine region.
A
- A rainshadow
- Storms
- Heat
- A cooling affect
