Italy - Marsala (Sicily)

Question 1

Name a top quality producer of

Marsala

Answer 1

Marco de Bartoli

Florio

Carlo Pellegrino

Curatolo

Martinez

Question 2

What are the White grapes of Marsala?

Answer 2

Grillo

Inzolia

Catarratto

Damaschino

(used in Oro, or Ambre)

==========

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

Question 3

What are the Red grapes of Marsala?

Answer 3

Perricone

Nero d’Avola

Nerello Mascalese

(plus+ 30% max white grapes)

==========

Oro/Ambre varietals
Grillo, Inzolia, Catarratto, Damaschino

Question 4

What is the maximum amount of white grapes

that can be used in Marsala Rubino?

Answer 4

30% maximum

(Cattarato, Inzolia, Grillo, Damaschino)

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

Question 5

What is Siphone?

Answer 5

A sweetening agent of Marsala

Fortified unfermented must of overripe grapes

Question 6

What is

Concia?

Answer 6

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

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

Question 7

What is

Mosto Cotto?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

What are the 2 sweetening agents of Marsala?

Answer 8

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.

Question 9

Sweetness levels of

Marsala DOC

Answer 9

Secco - 40 g/l Max RS

Semisecco - 40-100 g/l RS

Dolce - 100 g/l min RS

Question 10

Residual Sugar Level of

Marsala DOC (Secco)

Answer 10

40 g/l Max RS

Question 11

Residual Sugar Level of

Marsala DOC (Semisecco)

Answer 11

40-100 g/l RS

Question 12

Residual Sugar Level of

Marsala DOC (Dolce)

Answer 12

100 g/l min RS

Question 13

What are the

Historical Label Indications

of Marsala?

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

Aging levels of

Marsala DOC

Answer 14

Fine

Superiore/Vecchio

Superiore Riserva

Vergine
Solera

Vergine Riserva - Vergine Stravecchio
Solera Riserva - Solera Stravecchio

Question 15

What is the minimum ABV of Marsala?

Answer 15

natural
~12%~

Fine
~17%~
after fortification

All other higher levels
~18%~
after fortification

Question 16

Aging Requirements of

Marsala ‘Fine’

Answer 16

*12 months min in Oak or Cherry

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

~17% min ABV~

Question 17

Aging Requirement of

Marsala ‘Vergine Riserva’

Answer 17

*120 months in Oak or Cherry

~18% min ABV~

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

Question 18

Aging Requirement of

Marsala ‘Solera Stravecchio’

Answer 18

*120 months in Oak or Cherry

~18% min ABV~

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

Question 19

Aging Requirement of

Marsala ‘Vecchio’

Answer 19

(aka: Superiore)

*24 months in Oak or Cherry

~18% min ABV~

Question 20

Aging Requirement of

Marsala ‘Superiore’

Answer 20

(aka: Vecchio)

*24 months in Oak or Cherry

~18% min ABV~

Question 21

Aging Requirement of

Marsala ‘Vergine’

Answer 21

*60 months in Oak or Cherry

~18% min ABV~

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

Question 22

Aging Requirement of

Marsala ‘Solera’

Answer 22

*60 months in Oak or Cherry

~18% min ABV~

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

Question 23

Aging Requirement of

Marsala ‘Vergine Stravecchio’

Answer 23

*120 months in Oak or Cherry

~18% min ABV~

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

Question 24

Aging Requirement of

Marsala ‘Superiore Riserva’

Answer 24

*48 months in Oak or Cherry

~18% min ABV~

Question 25

Aging Requirement of

Marsala ‘Solera Riserva’

Answer 25

*120 months in Oak or Cherry

~18% min ABV~

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

Question 26

Marsala DOC

Answer 26

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