Italy - North-East Flashcards
Trentino - Climate
Where is it located and what is the climate?
- North of Italy, in sight of the Alps
- Moderate continental climate with cooling influences
- High daytime temps in summer (mountains protect from cool winds)
- Moderating influence through Lake Garda to the south
- Large diurnal range (cold air from mountains)
- -> retained acidity and prolonged growing season
Trentino - Grape varieties
What is planted to white/black varieties and what are max yields?
- 75% white, 25% black
- 100 hL/ha (white), 90 hL/ha (black)
Trentino - Grape varieties
What are the 4 most grown white varieties (incl. % plantings)
- Pinot Grigio (31%)
- Chardonnay (28%)
- Müller Thurgau
- Nosiola (spring frost + powdery + rot, distinctive whites with hazelnut flavor, semi-dried fruit version called “Vino Santo”
Trentino - Grape varieties
What are the five black varieties (incl. characteristics)?
- Teroldego (best clones: 145, 152)
- Merlot
- Marzemino (botrytis and powdery)
- Lagrein (needs warm site, poor fruit set, deep color, also used as Rosé)
- Moscato Rosa (poor fruit set + botrytis, sweet rosé wines through appassimento or late harvest, premium prices)
Trentino - Winemaking
How are white wines typically made?
- Soft pressing
- Fermentation in stainless steel at low temps
- May be briefly aged on lees
- Soon released
- Some top whites may be aged in small oak barrels to add a layer of vanilla and spice notes
Trentino - Winemaking
How are red wines typically made?
- Fruity style (mostly)
- Maceration on the skins during alcoholic fermentation
- Moderate fermentation temps
- Brief ageing in stainless steel or old, neutral wood
- Premium reds
- Longer maceration after fermentation
- Warm fermentation temps
- Aged in small oak barrels (some new)
Trentino
What is the avg. vineyard size and what does it mean?
- 1.2 ha
- Co-ops (80% of production) and merchants are important
- Smaller estates (only 10% of production)
Trentino
What is the typical quality and price of wines?
- Good to very good quality (some outstanding)
- Inexp. to mid-priced (some premium and super-premium)
Alto-Adige
What is the typical quality and price of wines?
- Good to very good quality (some outstanding)
- Inexp. to mid-priced (some premium)
Alto-Adige
What is the ratio between white and black varieties?
- 60% white
- 40% black
Alto-Adige
What is the climate and climatic influences?
- Alpine continental climate
- Protected from cold winds
- 300-700m altitude
- Nearly 300 days of sunshine
- Large diurnal range -> retained acidity
- Sufficient rainfall
Alto-Adige
How are vines typically trained and what do they require in terms of vineyard management
- Pergola or Guyot
- Careful leaf management to avoid the risk of fruit burning or drying out
- Work on steeper slopes by hand
Alto-Adige
What are the 5 most important varieties?
- Schiava (b)
- Pinot Grigio
- Gewürztraminer
- Pinot Blanc
- Chardonnay
Alto-Adige
What is the variety Schiava otherwise known as? What is its vigor, color, aromas, body, tannins?
- Vernatsch (in Germany)
- High vigor -> pergola
- Pale ruby
- Violet, strawberry
- Light to medium body
- Low tannins
Alto-Adige
What is the general aim of winemaking?
- Aim is to preserve fruit aromas
- -> Low to moderate fermentation temps
- -> Stainless steel
- Some are kept on fine lees
- Some are aged in French barriques
Alto-Adige
What is the avg. vineyard size and what does it mean?
- 1 ha
- Co-ops very important (70% of production)
Alto-Adige
How much is exported/how much consumed domestically? What are the main export markets?
- 25% exported
- Germany, USA
- 75% domestically -> tourist business and hospitality sector
Friuli
What is the ratio between white and black varieties?
- 75% white
- 25% black
Friuli
What is the climate and climatic influences?
- Warm maritime climate with cooling influences from the Alps
- High rainfall (1,200mm)
- -> High humidity and risk of fungal diseases
Friuli
Where are vineyards located?
- Flat alluvial plain near the Adriatic Sea
- -> higher yields
- -> everyday Pinot Grigio and Merlot
- Low hills, e.g., Collio DOC and Collio Orientali del Friuli DOC
- -> some altitude (200m), good drainage, lower yields
Friuli
What are the 5 most grown varieties (in descending order)?
- Pinot Grigio
- Merlot (b)
- Friulano
- Chardonnay
- Sauvignon Blanc
Friuli
What three varieties does it specialize in?
- Friulano (resistant to high rainfall)
- Ribolla Gialla (citrus, pepper notes and high acidity)
- Refosco (most planted local black variety, red and herbal notes with high tannins)
Friuli
How are white wines typically made? What are recent experiments?
- Mainly unoaked white wines
- Mostly temp-controlled stainless steel, and cultured yeast
- Some experiments with late harvested fruit, skin maceration, lees stirring and oak
Friuli
What region is known for orange wines and how are they made?
- Friuli, and especially the small Oslavia sub-region of Collio
- Long maceration on the skins (8 days up to 6-8 months)
- Long ageing (2-6 years) in large oak
- Often with traditional methods, like organic, use of local varieties, ambient yeasts, no temperature control, no fining or filtration, low or no added SO2
Friuli
What is the typical style of orange wines from Friuli? (color, intensity, aromas, tannins, price)
- Amber, orange or gold color
- Pronounced intensity
- Dried fruits, dried herbs, hay and nuts
- Medium tannins
- Premium prices