Italy Flashcards
Where is Piemonte?
North East Italy
It means at the foot of the mountains
It is enclosed to the north and west by the Alps and to the South by the Apennines
What are the two renowned wines of Piemonte?
Barolo and Barbaresco
What is the climate in Piemonte?
Continental
Severe winter and long summers and warm, dry autumns
What are the principle black grapes in Piemonte?
Nebbiolo
Barbera
Dolcetto
What are the principle white grapes in Piemonte?
Moscato
Córtese
Arneis
What is the most noble variety in Italy?
Nebbiolo
When does Nebbiolo ripen?
Very late
Harvest typically take place in mid to late October after the autumn figs (Nebbie) have risen
In which DOCs and DOCGs can you find Nebbiolo?
Bartolo
Barbaresco
Roero
Gattinara
Which three wine regions in Italy obtained the first DOCGs?
Barolo
Brunello di Montalcino
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
What are the five main communes in Barolo DOCG?
Barolo La Morra Castiglione Falleto Monforte d’Alba Serralunga d’Alba
What are the two valleys in Barolo DOCG?
Central Valley encompassing the communes of Barolo and La Morra
And
Serralunga Valley encompassing the communes of Castiglione Falleto, Montforte d’Alba and Serralunga d’Alba
How long must a Barolo be aged for according to DOCG rules?
38 months minimum ageing
62 months for Riserva of which 18 in oak, traditionally large casks to avoid contributing even more tannins to the wine
What is the typically style of Barolo?
Full bodied but light in colour, typically with a garnet tinge that makes it seem older than it is
Nose - potentially very complex
Tar and roses
Damson, mulberry, dried fruit, violets, herbs, dark chocolate, liquorice
With age
Leather, tobacco, mushroom, truffle, tar
Palate Full body, Medium to high alcohol High acidity And very high tannins, the best examples will be silky, velvety in texture
Where is Barberesco?
North East Italy
East of Alba
10 miles from Barolo
What is the size of Barbaresco in comparison to Barolo?
The deliminated area is three times smaller than that of Barolo
What is the climate in Barbaresco?
Continental but warmer and drier than Barolo allowing grapes to ripen a full fortnight earlier
What is the main difference between Barolo and Barbaresco?
Stylistically there is some overlap,
Although Barbaresco is said to be more feminine, aromatic, elegant and refined with softer fruit and suppler, riper tannins.
Although tight and tannic in youth it requires less cellaring time and is less long lived.
According to DOCG regulation is must be aged for one year fewer than Barolo
Where is Roero DOCG?
Piemonte, North East Italy
Left bank of the river Tanaro, directly across from Langhe
Produces significant quantities of Nebbiolo and Arneis
What is grown in Roero DOCG?
Nebbiolo & Arneis
What is required by DOCG regulations in terms of grape varieties in Roero DOCG?
Roero must contain 95-98% Nebbiolo and 2-5% Arneis and be aged for 20 months (32 months for the Riserva) of which six are in cask
What was the historical function of Arneis?
To soften and perfume Nebbiolo
Still used for this effect in Roero DOCG
What is Arneis?
White grape variety found in Italy
Historically used to soften and perfume Nebbiolo, still is in Roero DOCG where 2-5% of Arneis is required by DOCG rules
Difficult to grow
Naturally lacking in acidity and prone to oxidation
Can yield delicate and characterful wines
Most at home as a single varietal in Roero Arneis DOCG or Langhe ROCG
Full bodied with dominate notes of ripe pears, apricots, white flowers and hops with a dry finish and end note of almonds
What is the principle white grape of Piemonte?
Moscato which underpins sparking Asti and Semi sparking Moscato d’Asti
When will you find Gavi di Gavi on a label?
A Cortese di Gavi wine from Gavi itself is labelled Gavi di Gavi
What was the first Italian white wine to garner international acclaim?
Cortese di Gavi DOCG
What characterises Cortese wines?
Zesty acidity
It is light, dry, fruity and floral
Notes of lime, peach and white flowers with hints of herbs and a citrusy finish.
The wine can improve with cellaring
Can Cortese age?
Yes the wine can improve with cellaring
Where is Cortese grown?
Gavi, south east corner of Piemonte in NE Italy
Specially on the steel chalk, clay hills around Gavi
What sites is Dolcetto grown on?
Cooler, less favoured sites to preserve its precious acidity
What is the role in a Dolcetto in a winemakers portfolio?
To generate income for the producer while Nebbiolo and Barberas mature
It is generally made in a simple and undemanding early to market style
Where is Dolcetto grown?
Piemonte, North East Italy
When does Dolcetto ripen?
Early
What is the colour of Dolcetto?
Deep ruby to purple
What is often thought of as Italy’s answer to Beaujolais?
Dolcetto - but it is mostly darker, driers and more tannic than Beaujolais with a more Italian aroma profile of cherries and bitter almonds
What is the flavour profile of Dolcetto?
deep colour but soft, fruity and approachable with notes of black cherry, soft spice and liquorice, low acidity, high alcohol and a characteristic dry, bitter almond finish
What are the two most notable DOCs/DOCGs for Dolcetto?
Dogliani DOCG
Dolcetto d’Alba DOC
What is the finest region for Dolcetto?
Dogliani DOCG in Piemonte
What grape accounts for half of Piemonte plantings?
Barbera but it plays second fiddle to Nebbiolo despite producing wines of great distinction
Where is the best Barbera found?
Piemonte
Barbera d’Asti DOCG
Barbera d’Alba DOC (which overland with Barolo and Barbaresco)
Barbera del Monferrato Superiore
Which Barbera DOC overlaps with Barolo and Barbaresco?
Barbera d’Alba
What scandal rocked Barbera?
In the mid 1980s a number of Piemonte producers added methanol to their Barberas, killing over 30 people and blinding many more
Barbera’s reputation is still recovering from this crime
What is the typical style of Barbera?
Deep ruby in colour
An intensive mouth filling fruitiness
Notes of black and red cherries
Cocoa, earth, leather and soft spice
Very high in acidity, medium alcohol, low or medium tannins and a dry finish
What is grown in Gattinara DOCG?
Nebbiolo
Climates are cooler than in the Langhe and despite the south facing slopes, the wines are even more tannic, acidic and long lived than Barolo
What is Gattinara known for?
Long history of high quality Nebbiolo (known locally as Spanna)
Long lived wines, substantial ageing in oak
What is the style of wine produced in Moscato d’Asti DOCG?
White, slightly sparking
Moscato grape
Highly perfumed, grapey, designed to be drunk young and fresh
What is Nebbiolo d’Alba DOC?
A satellite appellation of Barolo
Producing softer, less intense and faster maturing Nebbiolo than is produced in Barolo or Barbaresco
What is the style of Dolcetto d’Alba DOC?
Dolcetto grape
Soft and fruity
Damsons
Light tannin and low acidity
What are the two styles of wine made in Barbera d’Asti and Barbera d’Alba DOCG?
Barbera Grape
Light, sour cherry fruit to be drunk young
Or
Oak aged, higher tannin, complex and needing bottle age to show potential
Where will you find Barolo or Barbersco style wines at a lower price point?
Langhe DOC
What is the make up of a Gattinara DOCG wine?
90% Nebbiolo (Spanna)
Along with Bonarda & Vespolina fo soften the wine
What are the three significant wine areas in Lombardy?
There are 14 wine producing areas in Lombardy
The most significant are
- Valtellina DOC - Nebbiolo
- Oltrepo Pavese DOC - largest area - large range of wines produced, generic Barbera reds dominate
- Terra di Franciacorta DOC - international varieties alongside sparking
Where is the best Nebbiolo from outside Piemonte grown?
Valtellina Superiore DOCG in Lombardy
How does the style of Nebbiolo from Valtellina Superiore DOCG differ from Piemonte?
Less acidic and tannic than Piemonte counterparts
