Italy (intro)

Question 1

When did the Roman Empire end?

Answer 1

5th Century CE

Question 2

Old families that made money in e.g. banking, trading and then mamde wine

Answer 2

Antinori

Frescobaldi

Question 3

Modern era of Italian wine started to emerge when?

Answer 3

19th century

Question 4

Italy unification when

Answer 4

1861

Question 5

Examples of Italian regions with continental climate?

Answer 5

Trentino-Alto Adige

Veneto

Question 6

Broadly speaking: what kind of vineyard management was popular in a) north of Italy, b) Tuscany, c) South of Italy before modern specialised trellising?

Answer 6

a) North of Italy: pergola training
b) Tuscany: mixed planting (olives, vegetables, grain)
c) South: bush vines

Question 7

Traditionally, mixed planting (of vines with olive trees, vegetables and grain) was associated with what part of Italy?

Answer 7

Tuscany

Question 8

Estimate of indigenous grapes in Italy?

Answer 8

375-500, conservatively

Question 9

Most planted grape in Italy?

Answer 9

Sangiovese

Question 10

Most planted white grape and most planted red grape in Italy?

Answer 10

White: Pinot Grigio
Red: Sangiovese (most planted overall)

Question 11

Top three planted white grapes in Italy

Answer 11

1. Pinot Grigio
2. “Trebbiano”
3. Glera

Question 12

Top three planted red grapes in Italy

Answer 12

1. Sangiovese
2. Montepulciano
3. Merlot

Question 13

Modern Italian winemaking influenced by what country for white and what country for red?

Answer 13

White: Germany (stainless steel, temp control)
Red: France (small new French oak etc)

Question 14

What is the trend in Italy re new oak?

Answer 14

Traditionally: large old oak, Slavonian
Then: small, new, French
Now: a move back towards larger vessels, less new oak. sometimes concrete etc

Question 15

When was Bolgheri DOC adapted to accommodate the Super Tuscans?

Answer 15

1994

Question 16

Why didn’t Le Pergole Torte fit Chianti Classico DOCG rules?

Answer 16

It was 100% Sangiovese at a time when that wasn’t allowed (needed to be a blend inc. white grapes)

Question 17

“Superiore” means what

Answer 17

Higher minimum alcohol level, typically 0.5%

Question 18

“Riserva” means what

Answer 18

Certain ageing period (varies by DOC/G)

Question 19

When did Italy introduce IGT/PGI?

Answer 19

1992

Question 20

When was Italian appellation system incorporated into EU-wide system?

Answer 20

2008

Introduction of PGI and PDO

Question 21

Average vineyard size in Italy

Answer 21

Small

Less than 2ha

Question 22

Breakdown of Italian production: PDO, PGI, Vino

Answer 22

PDO: 42%
IGP: 25%
Vino: 33%

Question 23

Largest producers in Italy?

Answer 23

Caviro (giant co-op, 7 regions, 10% of all Italy grapes)
Cantine Riunite
Gruppo Italiano Vini
Santa Margherita
Zonin

Question 24

What way is domestic wine consumption trending in Italy?

Answer 24

Long-term decline
Now 1/3 level of a century ago
(spirits and beer have grown in that time)

Question 25

Domestic/export split of Italian wine?

Answer 25

3/5s domestic

2/5s export