ITALY BASICS

Question 1

BAROLO AGING (post 2010)

Answer 1

38 MONTHS (18 WOOD); RISERVA: 62 MOS (18 WOOD)

Question 2

BARBARESCO AGING (post 2010)

Answer 2

26 MONTHS (9 WOOD); RISERVA: 50 MOS (9 WOOD)

Question 3

BAROLO/BARBARESCO EXCEPTIONAL VINTAGES OF 2000s

Answer 3

‘01, ‘04, ‘06, ‘10 (2002 worst of decade, but maybe Monfortino’s best vintage)

Question 4

BAROLO AGING (prior to 2010)

Answer 4

Normale: 3 years (2 in oak)
Riserva: 5 years (3 in oak)

Question 5

FRANCIACORTA AGING

Answer 5

NV = 25 mos, incl. 18 mos. on lees
VINTAGE = 37 mos, incl. 30 mos on lees
RISERVA = 67 mos, including 60 mos on lees

Question 6

OLTREPO PAVESE METODO CLASSICO AGING

Answer 6

NV = 15 MOS LEES
VINTAGE = 24 MOS LEES

Question 7

AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA AGING

Answer 7

MIN. 3 MONTHS DRYING OF GRAPES

Normale: 2 YEARS FROM JAN 1 AFTER HARVEST

RISERVA: 4 YEARS “ “

RECIOTO = NO AGING REQUIREMENTS OTHER THAN EXTRA MONTH OF GRAPE DRYING

Question 8

SOAVE BLEND

Answer 8

MIN. 70 GARGANEGA, MAX 30% COMBINED TREBB. DI SOAVE AND CHARDONNAY (plus max 5 non-aromatic white of verona)

Question 9

AMARONE (AND RECIOTO AND VALPO) BLEND

Answer 9

45-95 CORVINA, 5-30 RONDINELLA, MAX 25 OTHER (NO SINGLE CAN EXCEED 10). (of 25, max 15 non-arom. suitable for verona, max 10 native italian red suitable for verona)

Question 10

PROSECCO DOCGS

Answer 10

CONEGLIANO VALDOBBIADENE PROSECCO
ASOLO PROSECCO (formerly PROSECCO MONTELLO E COLLIO ASOLANI)

most noteworthy cru = Cartizze

Question 11

Sangiovese dominant DOCGs

Answer 11

Chianti, Chianti Classico, Carmignano, Morellino de Scansano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Montecucco Sangiovese and Brunello di Montalcino (sole grape)

Question 12

CHIANTI DOCG 8 SUBZONES (est. 1932, DOCG 1984)

Answer 12

Classico, Colline Pisane, Colli Aretini, Senesi, Montalbano, Rufina, Colli Fiorentini, Montespertoli (added ‘97)

Question 13

CHIANTI AGING

Answer 13

70% Sangio (Senesi - 75%)

Normale - March 1 year following harvest
(Rufina & Colli Fiorentini: Sep 1, Montespertoli: June 1)

Superiore - Sep 1 year following (plus .5% higher abv and lower yields)

Riserva - 2 years

Question 14

CHIANTI CLASSICO SUBS

Answer 14

Siena: 
Radda in Chianti
Gaiole in Chianti
Castellina in Chianti
Castelnuovo Beradenga
Poggibonsi

Florence: 
Greve in Chianti
Barberino Val d'Elsa
San Casciano Val di Pesa
Tavernelle Val di Pesa

Question 15

CHIANTI CLASSICO AGING

Answer 15

80% Sangio

Normale - Oct 1 of year following harvest

Riserva - 2 years from Jan 1 after harvest, including 3 months in bottle

Gran Selezione - 30 months from Jan 1, incl. 3 months in bottle

Question 16

BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO AGING

Answer 16

100% Sangio

Normale - 2 years in wood, plus 4 months in bottle; not released until Jan 1 fifth year after harvest

Riserva - 2 years in wood, plus 6 months in bottle; not released until Jan 1 sixth year after harvest

Question 17

VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO AGING

Answer 17

70% Sangio

Normale - 2 years, from Jan 1 after harvest, w/ option:
24 mos oak OR min. 18 mos oak plus 6 mos. alternate container OR mn. 12 mos oak plus 6 mos. in bottle with remainder in alternate container

Riserva - 3 years, including 6 months in bottle, from Jan 1 after harvest

Question 18

MORELLINO DI SCANSANO AGING

Answer 18

85% Sangio

Normale: March 1 after harvest
Riserva: 2 years (1 in wood)

Question 19

TAURASI AGING

Answer 19

min. 85% Aglianico

Normale: min. 3 years (incl. 1 year in wood)
Riserva: 4 years ( incl. 18 mos in wood)

Question 20

AGLIANICO DEL TABURNO AGING

Answer 20

min. 85% Aglianico

Normale: 2 years
Riserva: 3 years ( incl. 1 year in wood and 6 mos in btl)

Question 21

SICILIY DESSERT DOCS

Answer 21

Moscato di Siracusa - SE Sicily
Moscato di Noto - SE Sicily
Moscato di Pantelleria - island off African coast
Malvasia delle Lipari - island off of NE Sicily
Marsala (sweeter styles)

Question 22

VALTELLINA SUPERIORE DOCG SUBS

Answer 22

Maroggia
Inferno
Valgella
Grumello
Sassella