Italy (General Knowledge)

Question 1

What are the latitudinal ranges in Italy?

Answer 1

35°-47°N

Question 2

What are the three mountain ranges of Italy? Where are they located?

Answer 2

The Dolomites in the northeast

The Italian Alps in the north and northwest

The Apennines, which run south through the center of the peninsula

Question 3

What are the four seas surrounding Italy?

Answer 3

Ligurian
Adriatic
Ionian
Tyrrhenian

Question 4

What is the influence of Italy’s four seas on viticultural regions?

Answer 4

Fairly dominant, though there are some inland areas that are not heavily impacted by them.

Question 5

What is the climate found in a majority of winegrowing regions in Italy?

Answer 5

Warm Mediterranean

Question 6

What changes in vineyard management has occurred in Italy since WWII?

Answer 6

A transition from Pergola training in the north, mixed planting in Tuscany, and bush vines in the south to a more universal specialization in vineyard area and trellising.

Question 7

Where might you still find pergola and bush trained vines in Italy?

Answer 7

Pergola might be found in hot, sunny regions or areas of high humidity as it can shade bunches and encourage air flow

Bush vines are still common in the some parts of the south as they are adapted to hot climates and much work is still done by hand

Question 8

How many grape varieties are cultivated in Italy? How many are indigenous varieties?

Answer 8

There are countless indigenous and local varieties planted in Italy, though some estimates suggest that 375-500 cultivars are native to Italy.

Question 9

True or False

Some of Italy’s native varieties are strongly linked to specific regions

Answer 9

True, such as Cesanese to Lazio and Nerello Mascalese to Sicilia

Question 10

What are the top ten most planted varieties in Italy? What does this mean for regionality of grape varieties?

Answer 10

Some of Italy’s autochthonous (indigenous) grapes are heavily planted in their homes while others have sporadic and/or intense planting across the country. In order, the most planted varieties are

Sangiovese, Pinot Grigio, Trebbiano (all forms), Glera, Montepulciano, Cataratto, Merlot, Chardonnay, Primitivo, Barbera

Question 11

What has been the influence of Germany and France on Italian winemaking? Are these influences still present?

Answer 11

Stainless steel and temperature control for white wine production arrived from Germany and is still present in Italian winemaking.

The use of new oak in smaller barrel formats for red winemaking came from France and disrupted the traditional use of large, old oak barrels. The 1980s and 1990s saw a turn to use new oak for all Italian red wines, but today’s Italian red winemakers using native grapes (with the exception of Barbera) have largely been trending back to the use of neutral oak vessels.

Question 12

When were the first laws regarding the establishment of a wine region introduced in Italy? What was the area that was defined?

Answer 12

Cosimo III de Medici outlined the areas of Chianti, Pomino (Chianti Rufino), Carmignano, and Val d’Arno di Sopra in 1716.

It seems the law was never used but was intended to prevent fraud.

Question 13

When was the DOC system introduced to Italy? What was it based on?

Answer 13

In 1967, based on the French AOC system.

Question 14

What does DOC stand for? What does DOCG stand for?

Answer 14

Denominazione d’Origine Controllata

Denominacione d’Origine Controllata e Garantita

Question 15

What was the first region in Italy to become a DOC?

Answer 15

Vernaccia di San Gimignano in 1966

Question 16

What were the first regions in Italy to become a DOCG?

Answer 16

Barolo
Barbaresco
Brunello di Montalcino
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

Question 17

How was the Vino da Tavola classification used in Italy?

Answer 17

For accessible, everyday wines or for wines that did not adhere to DOC guidelines on wine production.

Several high quality productions were made as Vino da Tavola, such as Sassicaia and Le Pergole Torte. Sassicaia is now part of the Bolgheri Sassicaia DOCG while Montevertine continues to produce Le Pergole Torte as an IGT

Question 18

When was DOCG introduced? What is the general reason for its existence?

Answer 18

It was established in 1980 to further distinguish the prestigious Italian denominations.

Question 19

What are three legally defined labeling terms for Italian DOC and DOCG wines?

Answer 19

Classico: grapes must come from a defined historical area within the DOC or DOCG

Superiore: higher alcohol levels (typically .5%) achieved from harvesting riper grapes

Riserva: longer maturation periods, at least one year for white wines and two years for red wines

Question 20

When was the IGT system introduced? How does it differ from Vino da Tavola?

Answer 20

In 1992 to apply a large geographical regionality to wines that fall outside of PDO rules. The IGT wines are typically labeled with the state they are grown in, can be made in any style, and use any registered varieties.

Question 21

What does IGT stand for?

Answer 21

Indicazione Geografica Tipica

Question 22

When was the Italian DOC/DOCG system incorporated into the EU? How does this affect wine labeling?

Answer 22

It was incorporated in 2008. Produces may decide to use PDO and PGI (DOP and IGP in Italian) instead of the DOC/DOCG system. Honestly, though, why would they if provided the choice? The majority wouldn’t (and don’t).

Question 23

Where did Italy rank in wine production and exports in 2020?

Answer 23

It was the top wine producing country with 49.1 million hL. It also exported the most wine, 20.8 million hL.

Question 24

What is the average vineyard holding size in Italy? How does this affect wine production?

Answer 24

Less than 2 ha, leading growers to sell their fruit to merchants or large companies. Some use cooperatives to produce wine.

Question 25

What is the largest winemaking cooperative in Italy? How much wine does it produce?

Answer 25

Caviro, which operates in seven Italian states and processes 10% of all wine grapes.

Question 26

What are the largest Italian winemaking companies?

Answer 26

Caviro
Cantine Riunite
Gruppo Italiano Vini
Santa Margherita
Zonin

Question 27

What has been the trend in wine consumption in Italy?

Answer 27

A sharp decline, with consumption at 33% of 100 years earlier. Spirits and beer have increased in consumption over that time.

Question 28

What is the split in exports of Italian still and sparkling wine by volume and value?

Answer 28

Still and sparkling wine are exported in roughly equal volume, but value of still wines comprises 65% of exports.

Question 29

How did Italy’s wine exports by value compare to France and Spain in 2020?

Answer 29

Italy had a wine export value of $7.2 billion, trailing France’s $10 billion and ahead of Spain’s $3.1 billion

(values are USD)