Italy - Marsala (Sicily) Flashcards

1
Q

Name a top quality producer of

Marsala

A

Marco de Bartoli

Florio

Carlo Pellegrino

Curatolo

Martinez

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2
Q

What are the White grapes of Marsala?

A

Grillo

Inzolia

Catarratto

Damaschino

(used in Oro, or Ambre)

==========

Rubino varietals
Perricone, Nero d’Avola, Nerello Mascalese,
(plus+ 30% max white grapes)

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3
Q

What are the Red grapes of Marsala?

A

Perricone

Nero d’Avola

Nerello Mascalese

(plus+ 30% max white grapes)

==========

Oro/Ambre varietals
Grillo, Inzolia, Catarratto, Damaschino

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4
Q

What is the maximum amount of white grapes

that can be used in Marsala Rubino?

A

30% maximum

(Cattarato, Inzolia, Grillo, Damaschino)

70% min combined:
- Perricone, Nero d’Avola, and Nerello Mascalese

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5
Q

What is Siphone?

A

A sweetening agent of Marsala

Fortified unfermented must of overripe grapes

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6
Q

What is

Concia?

A

The name for the practice of adding
‘Mosto Cotto’ to Marsala Ambra.

Not allowed in Oro or Rubino
Not allowed in Vergine…?

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7
Q

What is

Mosto Cotto?

A

A sweetener/coloring agent
of Marsala

Juice that has been
reduced by 1/3
and caramelized

(source: Terlato Wines)

Required in Marsala Ambra.
(1% min ‘Mosto Cotto’)

Concia is the practice of adding ‘Mosto Cotto’

Note:

  • Concia is not allowed in Oro or Rubino
  • ‘Vergine’ may not be sweetened at all
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8
Q

What are the 2 sweetening agents of Marsala?

A
  • *Siphone**
  • Fortified unfermented must of overripe grapes
  • *Mosto Cotto**
  • Unfermented must that has been caramelized and reduced by 1/3 of its original volume.
  • Must be 1% of any Ambre wines.
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9
Q

Sweetness levels of

Marsala DOC

A

Secco - 40 g/l Max RS

Semisecco - 40-100 g/l RS

Dolce - 100 g/l min RS

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10
Q

Residual Sugar Level of

Marsala DOC (Secco)

A

40 g/l Max RS

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11
Q

Residual Sugar Level of

Marsala DOC (Semisecco)

A

40-100 g/l RS

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12
Q

Residual Sugar Level of

Marsala DOC (Dolce)

A

100 g/l min RS

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13
Q

What are the

Historical Label Indications

of Marsala?

A
  • *Vecchio**
  • (meets the requirements for Superiore)*
  • *Marsala Fine “IP”**
  • (Italy Particular)*
  • *Marsala Superiore “LP”**
  • (London Particular)*
  • *Marsala Superiore “SOM”**
  • (Superior Old Marsala)*
  • *Marsala Superiore “GD”**
  • (Garibaldi Dolce)
  • named after a 19th Century General -*

Note:
- These terms don’t have too much meaning. They were developed to appeal to consumers in different markets where Marsala wines were sold.

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14
Q

Aging levels of

Marsala DOC

A

Fine

Superiore/Vecchio

Superiore Riserva

Vergine
Solera

Vergine Riserva - Vergine Stravecchio
Solera Riserva - Solera Stravecchio

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15
Q

What is the minimum ABV of Marsala?

A

natural
~12%~

Fine

  • *~17%~**
  • after fortification*

All other higher levels

  • *~18%~**
  • after fortification*
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16
Q

Aging Requirements of

Marsala ‘Fine’

A

*12 months min in Oak or Cherry

(first 4 months can be in ‘alternative’ vessels)

~17% min ABV~

17
Q

Aging Requirement of

Marsala ‘Vergine Riserva’

A

*120 months in Oak or Cherry

~18% min ABV~

Same as:
Vergine Stravecchio
Solera Riserva - Solera Stravecchio
(‘Vergine’ may not be sweetened)

18
Q

Aging Requirement of

Marsala ‘Solera Stravecchio’

A

*120 months in Oak or Cherry

~18% min ABV~

Same as:
Solera Riserva
Vergine Riserva - Vergine Stravecchio
(‘Vergine’ may not be sweetened)

19
Q

Aging Requirement of

Marsala ‘Vecchio’

A

(aka: Superiore)

*24 months in Oak or Cherry

~18% min ABV~

20
Q

Aging Requirement of

Marsala ‘Superiore’

A

(aka: Vecchio)

*24 months in Oak or Cherry

~18% min ABV~

21
Q

Aging Requirement of

Marsala ‘Vergine’

A

*60 months in Oak or Cherry

~18% min ABV~

(same aging as ‘Solera’)
(‘Vergine’ may not be sweetened)

22
Q

Aging Requirement of

Marsala ‘Solera’

A

*60 months in Oak or Cherry

~18% min ABV~

(same as ‘Vergine’)
(‘Vergine’ may not be sweetened)

23
Q

Aging Requirement of

Marsala ‘Vergine Stravecchio’

A

*120 months in Oak or Cherry

~18% min ABV~

Same as:
Vergine Riserva
Solera Riserva - Solera Stravecchio
(‘Vergine’ may not be sweetened)

24
Q

Aging Requirement of

Marsala ‘Superiore Riserva’

A

*48 months in Oak or Cherry

~18% min ABV~

25
Q

Aging Requirement of

Marsala ‘Solera Riserva’

A

*120 months in Oak or Cherry

~18% min ABV~

Same as:
Solera Stravecchio
Vergine Riserva - Vergine Stravecchio
(‘Vergine’ may not be sweetened)

26
Q

Marsala DOC

A
  • *Oro - Ambra - Rubino**
  • Fine - Superiore - Vergine, **Solera - Riserva*
  • Secco*: 40 g/l Max RS
  • Semisecco*: 40-100 g/l RS
  • Dolce*: 100 g/l min RS

Oro/Ambre (varietals)
Grillo, Inzolia, Catarratto, Damaschino

Rubino (varietals)
Perricone, Nero d’Avola, Nerello Mascalese,
(plus+ 30% max white grapes)

Fine
(but really not a “fine wine”)
~17% min ABV~
*12 months in Oak, Cherry.. or “Other”

Superiore/Vecchio
~18% min ABV~
*24 months in Oak or Cherry

Superiore Riserva
~18% min ABV~
*48 months in Oak or Cherry

Vergine** - **Solera
~18% min ABV~
*60 months in Oak or Cherry
(Vergine may not be sweetened)

  • *Vergine Riserva**
  • *Vergine Stravecchio**
  • *Solera Riserva**
  • *Solera Stravecchio**

~18% min ABV~
*120 months in Oak or Cherry