Italy: Northeast Flashcards
Just over ___% of the wines in Trentino are produced by cooperatives
80
*70% in Alto-Adige, but typically higher quality than Trentino
What are the cooling and warming influences in Trentino?
Cooling influences from mtns, esp at night (diurnal shift)
Mtns block worst of cold northerly winds
Lake Garda warms
What three closely related black varieties are specialties of Trentino?
Teroldego
Marzemino
Lagrein
Why are there questions of quality within the Trentino DOC category?
Because of the high yields permitted; quality is not necessarily uniform (has encouraged some high quality producers not to use the DOC)
What is the difference in climate between Trentino and Alto-Adige?
Trentino has a moderate continental climate, Alto-Adige has a mild Alpine continental climate and is more affected by higher altitudes and the mtns
What percentage of wines produced in Alto-Adige are DOC?
98%
*yields are slightly lower than in Trentino
Where are the wines of Alto-Adige principally sold?
In Italy—just under half its production in the province in tourism sector
Italian hospitality sector, specialist wine shops
Germany, USA export mkts
Describe the growing conditions in Friuli.
South: flat plains, very high rainfall (1200mm/yr)
North: low hills, better quality wines (more drainage, better circulation)
Where will you most likely find Ribolla Gialla, Picolit, Refosco, and Pignolo?
Friuli
What are synonyms for Friulano?
Sauvignon Vert, Sauvignonasse
What is the style of winemaking like in Friuli? Who spearheaded this style?
Clean, unoaked, dry white wines; Mario Schiopetto in late 1960s
What are the four important grapes in the Collio/Collio Orientale?
Ribolla Gialla
Friulano
Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay
What are the two sweet wine DOCGs in Friuli? How are they made?
Colli Orientale del Friuli Picolit DOCG
Ramandolo DOCG
Made from air-dried grapes
What grape is used in Ramandolo DOCG?
Verduzzo
Friulian wines tend to do best in which market sectors?
Italian restaurant and specialist retail markets
Exports grew about 50% in last 5yrs
Friulian wines tend to do best in which market sectors?
Italian restaurant and specialist retail markets
Exports grew about 50% in last 5yrs
What is Italy’s largest wine producing region?
The Veneto
Why is organic viticulture difficult in the veneto?
Much of the Veneto has flat plains which are affected by most air and fog from the River Adige and the Po River Valley, so there is an increased amount of spraying needed to combat disease and rot.
What is the most planted variety planted in the Veneto?
Glera
Where is Soave located?
East of Verona, near the River Adige
What are the soils in Soave like? How do they affect the wines?
Hillsides: limestone and clay and/or volcanic rock (basalt); the cool soils plus altitude slows down ripening, grapes have full flavor but high acidity
Plain: fertile, sandy, alluvial; medium acidity wines and fruity; meant to be drunk young
What are the three main DOCs for dry wines in Soave?
Soave—entire region; 105hl/ha (80% prod)
Soave Classico—Classico region, 98hl/ha (20%)
Soave Superiore—delimited hilly zone, 70hl/ha
*all have slightly rising minimum alcohol levels
What is Recioto di Soave?
Semi-dried grapes from min 70% Garganega; 36hl/ha from a delimited hilly zone
Less than ___% of Soave wine is bottled by small family wineries.
10%
What is Soave‘s largest cooperative, and how much does it produce?
Cantina di Soave, just under half
What has the Soave Consorzio done to elevate the quality reputation for the wines?
Classification of single vineyards across the region based on studies of soils, aspects, elevations, and their combined effect on the wines
Where is Valpolicella located?
Immediately north of Verona, including northern foothills and southern plains
Which important Veneto grape is still commonly trained on pergolas, and why?
Corvina; late budding and sunburn risk are mitigated by the extra shading. Pergolas give good air circulation to help reduce disease. Temps are significantly lower.
What wine made single-variety Corvina famous?
Allegrini La Poja
What qualities about Rondinella make it useful for Valpolicella, and also Recioto?
Reliable, productive, good disease resistance
Accumulates sugar fast
Describe winemaking for inexpensive Valpolicella
Fermentation at slightly cooler, controlled temperatures
Short maceration times
Aged in stainless steel/large neutral oak for 6-8 mos before release
Describe the appassimento method.
Grapes picked (potentially early to retain acidity and ensure healthy bunches), allowed to reach semi-dry state before crush (stored for 3-4 mos in drying lofts)
How does Valpolicella Superiore differ from other classifications?
Higher alcohol minimum, often aged in large oak vessels for 1 yr; basically a higher grade of the basic DOC
Describe the production method for Valpolicella Ripasso
New wine is added to Amarone/Recioto grape skins for second maceration; up to 15% of Amarone wine can also be added
In terms of marketability, what are the differences between Recioto and Amarone? Ripasso vs Valpolicella?
Recioto has remained very niche
Amarone has grown 6x since 90s
Ripasso has grown 4x
Valpolicella has dropped significantly
Where do grapes for wine labeled Pinot Grigio delle Venezie have to come from, and how much production is this DOC responsible for?
Must be grown in the Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Trentino
Accounts for 85% of Italy’s PG production (40% of world production!)
Which moderating influence does Bardolino have? What style of wines are produced here?
Lake Garda
Light bodied reds, rosés (Chiaretto)
What grape is used in Lugano wines?
Turbiana (Verdicchio)
Most of Lugana’s vineyards are in the region of _____ but most wine is bottled in _____.
Lombardy
Veneto
What is the other name for Trebbiano di Soave?
Verdicchio
