Italy - Marsala (Sicily) Flashcards
Name a top quality producer of
Marsala
Marco de Bartoli
Florio
Carlo Pellegrino
Curatolo
Martinez
What are the White grapes of Marsala?
Grillo
Inzolia
Catarratto
Damaschino
(used in Oro, or Ambre)
==========
Rubino varietals
Perricone, Nero d’Avola, Nerello Mascalese,
(plus+ 30% max white grapes)
What are the Red grapes of Marsala?
Perricone
Nero d’Avola
Nerello Mascalese
(plus+ 30% max white grapes)
==========
Oro/Ambre varietals
Grillo, Inzolia, Catarratto, Damaschino
What is the maximum amount of white grapes
that can be used in Marsala Rubino?
30% maximum
(Cattarato, Inzolia, Grillo, Damaschino)
70% min combined:
- Perricone, Nero d’Avola, and Nerello Mascalese
What is Siphone?
A sweetening agent of Marsala
Fortified unfermented must of overripe grapes
What is
Concia?
The name for the practice of adding
‘Mosto Cotto’ to Marsala Ambra.
Not allowed in Oro or Rubino
Not allowed in Vergine…?
What is
Mosto Cotto?
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
What are the 2 sweetening agents of Marsala?
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.
Sweetness levels of
Marsala DOC
Secco - 40 g/l Max RS
Semisecco - 40-100 g/l RS
Dolce - 100 g/l min RS
Residual Sugar Level of
Marsala DOC (Secco)
40 g/l Max RS
Residual Sugar Level of
Marsala DOC (Semisecco)
40-100 g/l RS
Residual Sugar Level of
Marsala DOC (Dolce)
100 g/l min RS
What are the
Historical Label Indications
of Marsala?
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.
Aging levels of
Marsala DOC
Fine
Superiore/Vecchio
Superiore Riserva
Vergine
Solera
Vergine Riserva - Vergine Stravecchio
Solera Riserva - Solera Stravecchio
What is the minimum ABV of Marsala?
natural
~12%~
Fine
~17%~
after fortification
All other higher levels
~18%~
after fortification