Italy - General

Question 1

History

1. 4th BC
2. Roman times - viti
3. 11/14C Double IT pop
4. 1861 Unification of IT
5. 1963 wine laws

Answer 1

1. 4th BC: vines introduced by Greeks & Etruscans in Sicily, Puglia and Tuscany. Quickly spread to other regions.
2. Roman times: viticulture essential to Roman Empire that spread viticulture to the rest of Europe. Pliny played a key role by documenting viticulture and winemaking techniques that drove quality without precedent.
3. 11th-14th: doubling of Italian population; rise of luxury industry
4. 1861: unification of Italy
5. 1963: wine laws

Question 2

1. 1,000 wines in 300 diff geo ind, each has own rule + reg
2. First App 1716 Tus Carmignano. 4 Diff Q Levels est 1963 wine law
   
   1. V d T
      
      1. Basic
      2. no geo source, no V or V on label
      3. S of IT + Sicily
   2. IGP/IGT
      
      1. Intro 1992 = FR VdP
      2. Incorps wines from V + Tech not trad to area of Prod
   3. DOC
      
      1. Sim to FR AC - zone, V, Y, tech, style
      2. 300 DOCs, extend beyond original area, Cl for original zone
   4. DOCG
      
      1. Same as DOC + bottled in regions + tasting by MoA
      2. 36 DOCG - Most Imp: Md’A, Barb, Bar, BdM, Ch, ChCl, VndM

Other Terms:

Cl - Hist zone of DOC/DOCG

Ris - Ext ageing + hi abv. Ageing not nec in W

Sup - DOC w/hi min abv

Answer 2

1. Over 1,000 wines produced in over 300 different recognised geographical indications with each individual region with their own rule and regulations
2. First appellation creation in 1716 w Tuscan’s Carmignano red wine. 4 different quality levels established by wine laws in 1963:
   
   1. Vino da Tavola
      
      1. Basic wine; declining in importance
      2. Must not state the geographical source, variety or vintage on the label.
      3. Mainly produced in the South of Italy and Sicily
   2. IGP/IGT
      
      1. Introduced in 1992; equivalent to French VdP
      2. Incorporates wines made from varieties and techniques not traditional to area of production
   3. DOC
      
      1. Similar to French AC: specifies zone, varieties, yields, techniques, wine styles, etc.
      2. Over 300 individual DOCs; often extending further vs. original area so term Classico for original zone
   4. DOCG
      
      1. Same criteria as DOC + bottled in region and must undergo a tasting by Ministry of Agriculture
      2. 36 DOCG wines with most important being Moscato d’Asti, Barbaresco, Barolo, Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti, Chianti Classico, Vino nobile di Montepulciano

Other terms:

• Classico: refers to historic zone of DOC/DOCG
• Riserva: wine with extended ageing and higher minimum abv (+0.5-1%). Ageing not necessarily wood.
• Superiore: DOC with higher minimum abv (+0.5%-1%)

Question 3

2,000 Varieties: 5 Most planted

1. Sang
2. Cat B
3. Treb T
4. Mont
5. Barb

Answer 3

Estimated to be around 2,000 grape varieties with 5 most planted varieties are:

1. Sangiovese – 10%
2. Catarrato Bianco - 6%
3. Trebbiano Toscano 6%
4. Montepulciano – 4%
5. Barbera – 4%

Question 4

1. Fragmented
2. Strong Co-Ops
3. Top 5 Companies = 4% of Prod
4. Key Terms
   
   1. Azienda Agricola
   2. Cantina
   3. Casa Vinicola
   4. Consorzio - most famous CCC
   5. Enoteca
   6. Fattoria
   7. Tenuta

Answer 4

1. Fragmented ownership with 600,000 growers & avg holding of 1.5ha
2. Strong role of cooperatives: 50% of production; top 4 companies are cooperatives
3. Top 5 companies produce 4% production
4. Key terms:
   
   1. Azienda Agricola: equivalent to Domaine / Azienda Vinicola: may buy grapes from elsewhere
   2. Cantina: wine shop or winery. Cantina Sociale: cooperative winery
   3. Casa Vinicola: equivalent to French négociants i.e. buys in grapes or wine
   4. Consorzio: association of wine-growers; most famous is Consorzio Chianti Classico
   5. Enoteca: wine shop w high quality wines
   6. Fattoria: ‘farm’ but also used for wine estate / Podere: small farm as part of bigger estate
   7. Tenuta: large agricultural estate

Question 5

60m hl/yr

2nd largest w/prod country

Important regions

1. Veneto
2. Puglia
3. Emilia Romagna

N Italy (incl Piemonte + Veneto) represent 49% of all DOC/DOCG wines

Answer 5

~60m hl/yr: 2nd largest wine producing country w 22% of global production

Most important regions:

1. Veneto -18% (> Australia)
2. Puglia – 16%
3. Emilia Romagna – 14.4%

Northern Italy (incl. Piemonte & Veneto) represent 49% of all DOC/DOCG wines

Question 6

Luigi V

1. Deceased wine critic
2. championed cause of small peasants vs big wineries
3. influential in spreading use of small oak barrel agine

Answer 6

Luigi Veronelli: deceased wine critic, championed the cause of small peasants vs. big wineries (in DOC system especially) and influential in spreading the use of small oak barrel ageing.

Question 7

1. Indigenous grapes
2. perfect climate
3. Centre for train/research: Conegliano (V), San Michele (Alto-Adige)
4. All wine style + Q

Answer 7

Strengths

1. (+) Fantastic breadth of indigenous grape varieties
2. (+) Perfect climate for wine growing (ripeness almost guaranteed in most regions)
3. (+) Regional centre of excellences in training & researching: Conegliano (in Veneto), San Michele all’Adige (in Trento)
4. (+) Covers all wine styles and levels of quality

Question 8

Weaknesses

1. Fragmented
2. Behind in v/y management
3. Slow to innovate/adapt global mkt
4. Political System

Answer 8

Weaknesses

(-) Fragmented ownership
(-) Behind in the vineyard management (tendone)

(-) Slow to innovate / adapt to global markets
(-) Unproductive political system

Question 9

Opps

1. US Market
2. New Gen Winemakers

Threat: Political Instability

Answer 9

Opportunities

[O] US market growth
[O] New generation of winemakers

Threat - Political Instability