Italy Fundamentals

Question 1

What is the famed sparkling white wine from the Veneto region?

Answer 1

Prosecco

Question 2

What is the unabbreviated version of DOC?

Answer 2

Denominazione di Origine Controllata

Question 3

In which region would you find Chianti DOCG, Bolgheri DOC and Toscana IGT?

Answer 3

Tuscany

Question 4

Are Classico areas more likely to be located on hillsides or lowlands?

Answer 4

Hillsides

Question 5

What term is added onto a DOC or DOCG to indicate the wine was made in the historical centre?

Answer 5

Classico

Question 6

What does DOCG stand for?

Answer 6

Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita

Question 7

What does IGT stand for?

Answer 7

Indicazione Geografica Tipica

Question 8

Before being released onto the market, wines labelled as Amarone must have a legal minimum alcohol percentage of what?

Answer 8

14%

Question 9

Are Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG red wines typically sweet and light bodied or dry and full bodied?

Answer 9

Dry and full bodied

Question 10

What civilization is believed to have first planted vines on Italy’s hillsides?

Answer 10

The Romans

Question 11

What fermentation method is used to make Prosecco?

Answer 11

The tank/Charmat method

Question 12

Between spumante and frizzante wines, which one is fully sparkling and bottled at a higher pressure?

Answer 12

Spumante wines are fully sparkling and bottled at a higher pressure than frizzante

Question 13

Your wine is sparkling, sweet and light-bodied with low alcohol, what is it most likely to be?

Answer 13

Moscato d’Asti DOCG

Question 14

Which has the lighter sparkle out of Asti and Prosecco wines?

Answer 14

Asti

Question 15

If a wine is labelled as ‘Vendemmia Tardiva’, what does this signify?

Answer 15

Late harvest

Question 16

If a wine is labelled as Rosato, what color wine is it?

Answer 16

Rosé

Question 17

If a wine comes from the hilltop town of Montalcino, what is it most likely to be called?

Answer 17

Brunello di Montalcino

Question 18

Name the famous sparkling wine made in Lombardy using the Champagne method

Answer 18

Franciacorta

Question 19

Which method is used to make Franciacorta sparkling wine?

Answer 19

Champagne/traditional method

Question 20

Which year was the DOC system introduced to Italian wine law?

Answer 20

1963

Question 21

What are Italy’s three main soil groups?

Answer 21

Alluvial, Marine and Volcanic

Question 22

What special drying process do grapes go through to make Passito wines?

Answer 22

Appassimento; when the grapes are either air or sun dried

Question 23

Who introduced Sangiovese to Italy?

Answer 23

The Etruscans

Question 24

What is the system of high trellising vines known as in Italy?

Answer 24

Pergola

Question 25

By law, what is the minimum time period Nebbiolo wines from Barolo DOCG should be aged for?

Answer 25

3 years, including 18 months in oak

Question 26

Which grape variety is used to make Asti DOCG sparkling wine?

Answer 26

Moscato Bianco

Question 27

What is the name for a traditional raffia basket Chianti flask?

Answer 27

Fiasco

Question 28

What kind of vessel are Asti wines fermented in?

Answer 28

Pressurized tanks

Question 29

Prosecco used to be the name for both the sparkling wine and its grape variety, which year was this changed?

Answer 29

2009

Question 30

Which animal do you find on the crest of Chianti Classico?

Answer 30

A black rooster

Question 31

By what name is Tuscany known as in Italy?

Answer 31

Toscana

Question 32

what does 'pergola' refer to in Italian viticulture?

Answer 32

A system of high trellising vines