Italy Flashcards
What are the three Italian PDO wines?
DOP, DOC and DOCG
What are the two interchangeable terms for IGP wines in Italy?
IGP and IGT
What are two other labelling terms used in Italy?
Classico and Reserva
What does the term Classico mean?
Wines have been made solely from originally classified lands and includes best wines from the areas
What does Riserva mean in Italy?
wines have both higher alcohol and longer ageing minimums than stipulated by law
What is the overall climate of N. Italy?
Moderate climate with short dry summers
What are two climatic effects on N. Italy vineyards?
The Alps shelter the vineyards from the rains and the local rivers and lakes (River Po and Lake Garda) provide moderating influence to inland areas
What is a climatic problem for vineyards that are near the sea in N. Italy? And what do they do to mitigate?
Fungal problems. Historically planted complex “Pergolas” which is a trellising system but now mostly use VSP
What is Italy’s most northerly wine region?
Alto Adige
Why is Alto Adige especially well-suited to produce aromatic whites and elegant red wines?
large diurnal range due to the altitudes
What is Alto Adige mostly know for an what style of wine is it?
Pinot Grigio and it is dry, light-med body, high acid and citrus and green fruit flavors
Where is Trentino located relative to Alto Adige?
the South.
How are the vineyards different in Trentino than Alto Adige?
vines planted on valley floor, slightly warmer climate
How are the wines different in Trentino than Alto Adige?
Pinot Grigio is medium bodied, medium acid and ripe stone fruit flavors
What appellation are Alto Adige and Trentino made under?
DOC
Where is Friuli-Venezia Giulia located? and what is the climate?
In Italy’s NE corner. Climate is moderate and continental and cooled by mountain cold air. Except for the vineyards to the east experience warm maritime climate from the Adriatic sea
What are the two most common grapes in Friuli?
Pinot Grigio and Merlot
Who produces the richest Pinot Grigio in Italy?
Friuli-Venezia
What is the flavor profile of a fruili-venezia Pinot Grigio?
med to full bodied with juicy peach and tropical fruit flavors
What is one of Italy’s largest wine-producing region and home to its best known wines? And what are the names of the best known wines from here?
Veneto and the wines are Soave and Valpolicella
Where is the Veneto region located?
From the southern end of Lake Garda in the west to Venice in the east and ranges from the Alps foothills in the North to the flat plains of the Po in the South
What is the wine style from the Veneto wines?
inexpensive high volume brands, International grape varieties such as Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Merlot and some Italian grapes
What is Prosecco and where is it located?
It is a sparkling wine DOC and it is mostly located in Veneto but some vineyards are located in Friuli-Venezia Guilia
What is the main grape varietal of the plains in Soave?
The italian white grape Garganega
What are the two distinct parts of the Soave? And what are they labelled as?
Foothills to the North (labelled Soave Classico DOC) and flat plains in the south (near the River Po) labelled Soave DOC
In both Soave and Valpolicella what two types of soils are there?
The foothills have limestone, clay and volcanic rocks and the plains have gravel and sand
What is the main grape in Valpolicella?
Corvina
What are the characteristics of the Corvina grape?
Thin skin, moderate color, low to med tannins and high acidity
What is the wine style of the Valpolicella region?
simple, fruity, light tannins, red cherry flavors, rarely oaked and ready to drink
What are the two labels used in Valpolicella?
The entire region can be labelled as Valpolicella DOC and the wines from the foothills can be labelled as Valpolicella Classico DOC
Where is the passito method commonly used?
The Veneto region
Why is the passito method commonly used?
To increase structure and flavor concentration (and color in red wines)
Describe how the passito method works?
Grapes are picked early when high in acid and then dried indoors, concentrating sugars and flavors
What are the two types of passito wine Valpolicella?
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG are dry or off-dry and the Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG are sweet wines
Describe the characteristics of both the passito method wines regardless of sweetness?
Intense fruit flavors, full-bodied, high alcohol and med to high tannins
What is the ripasso method?
Uses grape skins from a fermenting Amarone della Valpilocella, shortly before fermentation ends the Amarone is drained off skins, skins are unpressed and added to a vat of Valpilocella that has finished fermentation. Yeast ferment the rest of the sugar on the Amarone grape skins.
What are the wines called made in the Ripasso Method?
Valpolicella Ripasso DOC
What is the climate of Piemonte?
Moderate and Continental
What are 3 natural climatic factors in Piemonte?
Mountains in North provide rain shadow protecting region from Northern winds and rain, and Moderating influences from the River Po in the south and the Lake Maggiore in the north. Foothills provide various aspects and altitudes for grape growing
What are the five main grape varietals in Piemonte?
Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto (Black) / Cortese and Muscato aka Muscat (white)
What is the labelling structure in Piemonte?
There is no IGT or IGP for the region only DOC or DOCG
What are the two most prestigious areas of Piemonte?
Barolo DOCG and Barbaresco DOCG
What are some of the characteristics of the Nebbiolo grape?
High levels of acidity and tannins but little color
What is the flavor profile of the Nebbiolo grape?
Perfumed aromas of cherries, herbs and dried flowers, full-bodied, high acidity, high tannins and age worthy
How long must Barolo DOCG be aged before release?
3 years, 18 months in oak
What extra aromas and flavors does oak give Barolo?
Softens tannins and gives aromas of truffles, tar and leather
Is Barbaresco region larger or smaller than Barolo?
Smaller
Which has higher altitudes Barolo or Barbaresco?
Barolo
Describe the difference between Barolo and Barbaresco and why?
Nebbiolo from Barbaresco is similar acidiy and tannins but fruiter and less perfumed because of lower altitude and the influence of the local river moderates
What are the ageing requirements for Barbaresco?
2 years and 9 months in oak
What is the grape varietal most know in Asti and Alba?
Barbera
What are the two labelled Barberas? Which one is more prestigious?
Barbera d’Alba DOC and Barbera D’Asti DOCG (most prestigious)
What are the characteristics of the Barbera grape?
Late ripening grape, med to deep color, low to med tannins, high acidity, aromas of red cherries and plums and black pepper
What are the two styles Barbera can be made in?
youthful and fruity with no oak, or barrel aged to bring out spice
Describe the flavor profile of a Dolcetto?
deep often purple color, med to high tannins and med acidity, black fruit and dried herbs.
Can Barbera and Dolcetto be drunk young or ageworthy?
They both can be drunk young but the best examples can age
What are the two sparkling wines in Northern Italy? And how are they both made?
Prosecco and Asti , both made using the tank method.
Where is Gavi located in Piemonte?
South eastern
What is the grape used in Gavi?
Cortese
What is flavor profile of Gavi?
pale, light-bodied, high acid and floral, citrus, green apples and pears
What grape varietal is most associated with Central Italy and what is the wine called?
Sangiovese and Chianti
What is the climate of Central Italy?
Hot climate
What are the 2 climatic influences on Central Italy?
The Apennine mountain range altitude provides moderating cooling influence and the coastal regions benefit from the cooling breezes from the sea
Where is Tuscany located?
It stretches down the western coast of Central Italy
What are the characteristics of the Sangiovese grape?
high acidity, high tannin, late to ripen so needs warm climate
What are aromas and flavors of Sangiovese?
red cherries, plums and dried herbs, bottle age creates meaty and gamey aromas
What is the style of Sangiovese produced in Tuscany?
aged in oak to soften tannins and add spicey flavors
What are the three main areas of Tuscany?
Chianti, Southern Tuscany and The Coast
What are the three labels of Chianti?
Chianti DOCG, Chianti Classico DOCG and Chianti Classico Reserva DOCG
What is different about the Chianti Classico DOCG wines?
Vineyards at higher altitudes resulting in higher acid wines and more herbal aromas. Must be aged for 12 months
What is different about Chianti Classico Reserva DOCG wines?
must be aged for 24 months
What is the highest designation for Chianti?
Gran Selezione, grapes sourced from single estate and wines aged for 6 months longer than Riserva
Is oak used in Chianti?
no stipulations, producers decision but vast majority are oaked
What is the climate in Southern Tuscany like?
lower altitudes and warmer climate, cool maritime breezes from the SW moderate temps
What are the best known appellations in Southern Tuscany?
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG
What are the wines like in Southern Tuscany?
warmer climate creates more intense, fuller bodied than Chianti
What are the requirements for winemaking in Brunello di Montalcino?
Must be entirely Sangiovese and undergo 5 years minimum ageing, 2 years in oak
What are the requirements for winemaking in Vino Nobile di Montelpulciano DOCG?
can be a blend of Sangiovese and others and must be aged for 2 years
What is the Coast of Tuscany known for?
The Super Tuscans
What are the two classifications for Super Tuscans?
Toscana IGT and Bolgheri DOC
What is often included in Super Tuscans?
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah
What is Umbria climate?
Similar to Tuscany but more continental and no influence from the Mediterranean
What is the Umbria region known for and what is the style?
Orvieto DOC which is blend of Grechetto and Trebbiano, light-bodied, med to high acidity and flavors of ripe grapefruit and peaches
What is the Lazio region known for and what is its style?
Frascati DOC which is blend of Malvasia and Trebbiano, fresh unoaked, med bodied, high acid, citrus flavors
What is Marche know for and what is the style?
White wines from the Verdicchio grape, high acid, green apples, citrus, fennel, simple and fruity but can age
What is Abruzzo known for and what is its style?
black varietal Montepulciano, called Montelpulciano d’Abruzzo DOC, deep color, high tannins, med acid and black fruit flavors, mostly simple and fruity but best ones can age
What is the climate of Southern Italy?
Hot and dry inland and more humid near the coast
What style of wines is Southern Italy best know for?
Full-bodied red from varietals such as Aglianico, Primitivo and Negroamaro
What are the four main regions in Southern Italy?
Campania, Basilicata, Puglia and Sicily
What grapes produce the best whites from the Campania region?
Fiano and Greco
What is the difference between the Fianos and the Grecos?
Fianos med acid, med to full body, stone fruit, melons and mango, drunk young but can be aged. Greco has more acidity and leaner in body, green apples, stone fruit and passion fruit, stainless steel but also oak.
What is the most prestigious black grape in Southern Italy? And what are the characteristics?
Aglianico and it is deep colored, high acid, high tannins, flavors of black fruit, matured in oak
What is Basilicata known for?
Extreme mountain region, best wine is Anglianico del Vulture DOC
What is climate of Puglia and what varietals are best known?
Hot and Negroamaro and Primitivo (Zinfandel)
What is the style of Puglia wines?
High yields are simple, fruity and early drinking; controlled yields bring higher quality, fuller body more complex
What is the dominant black grape in Sicily? and what is the style?
Nero d’Avola; med to full bodied, med acid and tannins and black fruits
What is the best appellation in Sicily and known for what?
Etna DOC and Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Capuccio blends fragrant with high acid and tannins and sour cherries
