Italy - General Facts Flashcards
Put the following regions in order from west to east (1 = westernmost, 5 = easternmost). A. Alto Adige B. Piedmont C. Veneto D. Friuli E. Lombardia
A. Alto Adige - 3 B. Piedmont - 1 C. Veneto - 4 D. Friuli - 5 E. Lombardia - 2
Mandated in the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ DOCG, appassimento is the process of drying grapes for several months before fermentation to concentrate sugars and extract. A. Amarone della Valpolicella B.Gavi C.Franciacorta D.Barolo E.Valtellina Superiore
A. Amarone della Valpolicella
What is the process called that is used to make Amarone della Valpolicella?
Appassimento is the process of drying grapes for several months before fermentation to concentrate sugars and extract.
Orange wine was revived in the late 1990s by producers in which region of Italy? A.Emilia-Romagna B.Friuli C.Alto Adige D.Piedmont E.Veneto
B.Friuli
From the mid 1990s there has been a revival of amber wine production in the Friuli which involves leaving the white wine grapes in extended maceration with their grape skins. The resulting wines have a hint of color pigments that give them an orange hue.
Select the principal grape used in Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG wines. A.Merlot B.Cabernet Sauvignon C.Sangiovese D.Nebbiolo E.Corvina
E.Corvina
Select the Nebbiolo-based wine(s). A.Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG B.Barbaresco DOCG C.Barolo DOCG D.Chianti Classico DOCG E.Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
B.Barbaresco DOCG
C.Barolo DOCG
Moscato d'Asti DOCG wines are most commonly produced in which of the following styles? A.Frizzante B.Still C.Rosé D.Dry E.Spumante
Frizzante
Südtirol is the German name for which of the following regions? A. Friuli B. Piedmont C. Valle d'Aosta D. Alto Adige E. Veneto
D. Alto Adige
The Gavi DOCG is located in which region? A.Piemonte B.Veneto C.Friuli D.Lombardia E.Alto Adige
A.Piemonte
Most Prosecco is released as vintage wine.
A.True
B.False
B.False
Select the grape(s) commonly grown in Alto Adige. A.Sauvignon Blanc B.Corvina C.Nebbiolo D.Pinot Grigio E.Pinot Noir
D.Pinot Grigio
Italian Wine Law - What are the classifications?
Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) / Denominazione di Origine Protetta (DOP) - 75
Donominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) / Denominazione di Origine Protetta (DOP) - 332
Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT) / Indicazione Geografica Protetta (IGP) - 118
Vino (formerly Vino da Tavola)
When was the DOCG system introduced?
1963 - DOC
1980 - DOCG
1992 - IGT via Goria’s Law
What were the first 4 DOCGs?
Brunello di Montalcino (Tuscany)
Vino Nobile di Montalpuciano (Tuscany)
Barolo (Piedmonte)
Barbaresco (Piedmonte)
What was the first white DOCG and when was it established?
Albana di Emilia-Romana in 1987
Which Italian region has the most DOCGs? The 2nd most?
Piedmonte - 17 DOCGs
Tuscany - 11 DOCGs
How many DOCGs are there in Piedmont?
Piedmont is home to more DOC zones than any other region in Italy—as of 2018, Piedmont could claim 17 DOCGs and 42 DOCs—and almost half of the region’s vinous production is of at least DOC quality.
What was the first wine given DOC status in Italy?
The Tuscan white vernaccia di San Gimignano
What was the most recent DOCG?
The Abruzzese denomination Tullum, aka Terre Tollesi, has become the first Italian DOC to be elevated to DOCG status in 8 years, raising the count of DOCGs to 75. Tullum DOCG will primarily feature varietal wines made from red Montepulciano and whites Passerina and Pecorino.
An obscure denomination in Abruzzo that goes by the twin names of Terre Tollesi and Tullum has jumped into the spotlight as the newest member of Italy’s top tier of quality wines—the DOCGs. As DOCG number 75, Terre Tollesi/Tullum becomes the first DOC to be raised to DOCG status since 2011’s mad rush of denomination-making leading up to the implementation of EU control over the process.
What is the Super Tuscan Tignanello classified as under the Italian DOP system?
Tignanello - IGT
Created by Piero Antinori
What is the Super Tuscan Sassicaia classified as under the Italian DOP system?
Sassicaia - DOC
Made by Tenuta San Guido in Tuscany’s Bolgheri zone
What is the most important river in Italy? Where does it begin?
The Po river. It begins in Piedmont and flows to the Adriatic sea
What is Italy’s smallest wine region and where is it located?
Valle d’Aosta
What is Barolo Chinato? Who was its creator?
Barolo Chinato is a curiosity; a DOCG aromatized wine that is flavored with quinine.
An infusion of Barolo with quinine bark, clove, wormwood and cinnamon and a small amount of cane sugar.
Guiseppe Cappellano created the first version.
La Morra, Serralunga d’Alba, and Monforte d’Alba are communes included in which of the following DOCGs?
Barolo
Gavi di Gavi
Amarone della Valpolicella
Barbaresco
Valtellina Superiore
Barolo
The vast majority of Lambrusco production occurs in which of the following regions? A.Emilia-Romagna B.Veneto C.Piedmont D.Liguria E.Lombardia
A.Emilia-Romagna
Modern Barolo and Barbaresco producers commonly use new oak barriques and shortened macerations.
A.False
B.True
B.True
Which region produces the most wine in Italy?
Veneto, with its capital at Venice, is the most significant of the three regions that comprise the Tre Venezie. It produces more wine than any other region in Italy, yet much of this falls at a lower level—an ocean of neutral, cheap Pinot Grigio (Pinot Gris) and sparkling wines comprises much of the bottom tier of Venetian winemaking.
How many DOCG’s are there in Trentino-Alto Adige?
Trentino-Alto Adige does not contain any DOCG zones; however, as of 2000 over 75% of the region’s production is of DOC quality, placing it foremost amongst Italy’s twenty regions in relative percentage of DOC production.
10% of Europe’s entire production of apples occurs in which region?
10% of Europe’s entire production of apples occurs in Trentino-Alto Adige
What are the aging requirements for Barolo and Barbaresco? Reserva for each?
Barolo - 38 months - 18 of these months MUST be in oak
Barolo Reserva - 62 months - 18 of these months MUST be in oak
Barbaresco - 26 months - 9 of these months MUST be in oak
Barbaresco Riserva - 50 months - 9 of these months MUST be in oak
How long must you wait after becoming a DOC to apply for DOCG status?
5 years
Legal aging requirements for Barolo prior to 2010? After 2010?
Barolo is a massively tannic wine by nature, and prior to 2010, regulations called for a minimum three years of aging before release, two of which were in oak—or, rarely, chestnut—casks. Today, Barolo must be aged at least 38 months from November 1 of the harvest year, but only 18 months need be in oak.
Select the grapes commonly grown in Alto-Adige: Nebbiolo Pinot Noir Sauvignon Blanc Pinot Grigio Corvina
Select the grapes commonly grown in Alto-Adige:
Pinot Noir
Sauvignon Blanc
Pinot Grigio
Legal aging requirements for Barolo prior to 2010? After 2010?
Prior to 2010, regulations called for a minimum three years of aging before release, two of which were in oak—or, rarely, chestnut—casks. Today, Barolo must be aged at least 38 months from November 1 of the harvest year, but only 18 months need be in oak.
What is Chiavennasca?
It is the Nebbiolo grape, it is called this in Valtellina DOC and Valtellina Superiore DOCG in Lombardy
It is the Nebbiolo grape, it is called this in Valtellina DOC and Valtellina Superiore DOCG in Lombardy
QUIZ: Match em’ up according to the European Union
IGT PDO
DOC/G PGI
IGT - PGI
DOC/G - PDO
Today, IGT wines are considered PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) by the European Union, whereas DOC and DOCG wines are considered PDO (Protected Designation of Origin), on par with France’s AOC/AOP.
Define sorì.
Which famous producer makes a wine from a vineyard that includes this name?
South-facing part of a slope where in winter, the snow melts first.
Angelo Gaja makes a Barbaresco from a vineyard called Sori Tildin
Define bricco.
Which famous producer makes a wine from a vineyard that includes this name?
Bricco is the sun-catching crest of a hill.
Ceretto makes a famous Barolo from a vineyard called Bricco Roche
QUIZ: Modern Vs. Traditional (M or T) Giacomo Conterno Bartolo Mascarello Giuseppe Rinaldi Paolo Scavino Luciano Sandrone Elio Altare
Barolo was divided between the “traditionalists” who retained faith in older winemaking techniques—Giacomo Conterno, Bartolo Mascarello, Giuseppe Rinaldi—and the “modernists” who embraced barriques, shorter macerations, and a rounder style of wine—Paolo Scavino, Luciano Sandrone, Elio Altare.
TRADITIONAL
Giacomo Conterno
Bartolo Mascarello
Giuseppe Rinaldi
MODERN
Paolo Scavino
Luciano Sandrone
Elio Altare
Barolo was divided between the “traditionalists” who retained faith in older winemaking techniques—Giacomo Conterno, Bartolo Mascarello, Giuseppe Rinaldi—and the “modernists” who embraced barriques, shorter macerations, and a rounder style of wine—Paolo Scavino, Luciano Sandrone, Elio Altare.
What is the largest DOCG in Italy?
Asti is the largest DOCG in Italy.
What is the smallest DOCG in Italy?
Valle d’Aosta
What is Nebbiolio grape known as in Gattinara DOCG and Ghemme DOCG.? What is is called in Valtellina?
Spanna - Gattinara DOCG and Ghemme DOCG.
Chiavennasca - Valtellina
