Italy: Northern Flashcards
When was the DOC system first introduced?
1963
What year was the first DOCG awarded, and to what appellations?
1980; Barolo, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montalcino
What does DOCG stand for?
Denominazione de Origine Controllata e Garantina
What is the most planted white grape of Piedmont?
Moscato
Order these grapes from earliest ripening to latest: Barbera, Dolcetto, Nebbiolo.
Dolcetto, Barbera, Nebbiolo.
What is the most planted red grape in Piedmont?
Barbera
Name 4 synonyms of Nebbiolo and where they’re from.
Spanna (Ghemme; Gattinara),
Chiavennasca (Valtellina),
Picotendro (Vallee d’Aosta),
Picoutener (Carema)
What climate and soils define Piedmont?
Continental Climate – hot summers, warm spring and fall, cold, snowy winters.
Soil – thinner, calcerous marl and sandstone soils with clay and sand.
What are the three main provinces for grape growing in Piedmont? Which does Barolo and Barbaresco fall under?
Alessandria, Cuneo, Asti. Cuneo is where Barolo and Barbaresco are.
What are the cepage requirements of Franciacorta?
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Bianco are allowed, with a max. of 50% Pinot Bianco.
What are the cepage requirements for Roero DOCG reds and whites?
Min. 95% Nebbiolo/Min. 95% Arneis
What grape is commonly used to make rose in the Vallée d’Aosta?
Prematta
Where would you find Mont Blanc?
Vallée d’Aosta
What grape is grown in Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle?
Prié Blanc
What grape dominates the Arnad-Montjovet and Donnas subzones of ____________?
Picotendro (Nebbiolo); Vallée d’Aosta
What grape can be found in the Chambave, Enfer d’Arvier, and Torrette subzones of _____________?
Petite Rouge; Vallée d’Aosta
What are the seven sub appellations of Vallée d’Aosta?
Enfer d’Arvier, Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle, Torrette, Arnad-Montjovet, Donnas, Chambave, Nus
What river runs through Vallée d’Aosta?
Dora Baltea
What regions vineyard sites surround the Dora Baltea river?
Vallée d’Aosta
What is Italy’s smallest, least populous region?
Vallée d’Aosta
What kind of wines are made from the Alta Langa DOCG?
Metodo Classico spumante wines from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
What is the main difference between wines labeled Asti DOCG vs. Moscato d’Asti DOCG?
Asti must be spumante; Moscato d’Asti must be frizzante (max. 2 atmospheres)
Asti undergoes secondary fermentation via Charmat/Martinotti method (or in bottle, if labeled ‘metodo classico’)
Moscato d’Asti is not subject to secondary fermentatiion
What province is the Gavi DOCG located in?
Alessandria
What was the first DOCG for dry white wine in Piedmont?
Gavi di Gavi DOCG
Name the 3 DOCG wines produced from 100% Dolcetto.
Dogliani, Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore, Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba
Name 3 DOCGs in the Monferrato hills.
Barbera d’Asti, Barbera del Monferrato Superiore, Ruché di Castagnole Monferrato
Who makes Bric del Fiasc? From where?
Paolo Scavino; Castiglione Falletto’s Fiasco cru.
Who makes Cà d’Morissio? What is it?
Giuseppe Mascarello. “Super riserva” Monprivato.
All michét clone of Nebbiolo. First vintage 1993.
Name the DOCGs for Barbera. Where in Piedmont are they? What are the cepage requirements for each?
Barbera d’Asti & Barbera del Monferrato Superiore, in the Monferrato Hills. Min. 85% Barbera for both.
Where exactly is the Carema DOC?
In NW Piedmont, on the border of Vallée d’Aosta.
What two grapes are often blended with Nebbiolo in the:
Ghemme DOCG?
Gattinara DOCG?
Vespolina
Bonarda
What river lies between the Ghemme and Gattinara DOCGs?
Sesia River
What is the grape of the Lessona DOC? Where is it?
Nebbiolo; in northern Piedmont, near Ghemme & Gattinara
What two DOCGs straddle the Sesia River?
Ghemme & Gattinara
Name 5 crus of Treiso.
Pajoré, Bricco di Treiso, Rombone, Valeirano, Giacosa
Name 4 crus of Neive.
Serraboella, Gallina, Basarin, Albesani
Who makes Cuvee Annamaria Clementi? What is it?
Ca’ del Bosco. Franciacorta, rosé and brut versions. 7 years on the lees.
What are the aging requirements for NV Franciacorta, Vintage, and Vintage Riserva?
NV: 25 months (18 on lees)
V: 37 months (30 on lees)
Riserva: 67 mos. (60 on lees)
What can still wines made in the Franciacorta DOCG be released as?
Curtefranca DOC or Sebino IGT
What would it mean to find “Stagafassli” on a bottle of Valtellina Superiore?
It was bottled in the neighboring territory of Switzerland.
What are the cepage requirements of Franciacorta rose?
At least 25% Pinot Noir (produced by blending rather than saigneé).
What does it mean to see “Satén” on a bottle of Franciacorta?
All white grapes and no more than 5 atmospheres of pressure (max. 20 g/L RS PRIOR to tirage). Aged 31 months total, with at least 24 on the lees. Can only be made in a brut style (less than 12 g/L RS).
What are the 5 subzones of Valtellina Superiore DOCG?
Valgella, Inferno, Grumello, Sassella, Maroggia
What is the synonym for Nebbiolo in Valtellina?
Chiavennasca
What are the two DOCG zones of Valtellina?
Valtellina Superiore and Sforzato di Valtellina
Who makes Darmagi? What is the cepage? What does Darmagi mean?
Gaja
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
“What a shame”
Who makes Sperrs? Where from and what does it mean?
Gaja
Barolo from Serralunga
Piemontese for “Nostalgia”
What is the Piemontese synonym for Vermentino?
Favorita
Where is Moscato di Scanzo DOCG and what kind of what is made there?
Lombardy, west of Franciacorta; sweet, passito red wines from the moscato grape; 2 years age, no barrel required.
What are the lees aging requirements for NV/V Oltrepo Pavese Metodo Classico?
NV: 15 months, V: 24 months.
What are the cepage requirements of Oltrepo Pavese Metodo Classico/Rose DOCG? What are the secondary grapes?
Min. 70% Pinot Nero; Min. 85% Pinot Nero if labeled “Pinot Nero”. Secondary grapes are Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco, and Chardonnay
What river flows through Piedmont? What rivers flow through Langhe?
Po
Stura di Demonte & Tanaro
What two mountain ranges cradle Piedmont?
Alps & Apennines
What Italian region has the most DOCG zones and how many?
Piedmont; 16
What does the term “sori” refer to?
Prized southern exposures of the hills of Langhe and Monferrato
How many total communes are there in Barolo?
Which five are responsible for 90% of Barolo’s DOCG output?
Name two others.
11 total
La Morra, Barolo, Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga d’Alba, Monforte d’Alba
Verduno, Novello
When was the first IGT in Italy awarded?
1994
When was the DOC system first introduced? When were the first DOCGs awarded and to who?
1963
1980 – Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Barolo
Who makes Rocche di Falletto Riserva?
Bruno Giacosa
In what commune is the Ceretta cru of Barolo? Who owns 3 ha. there?
Serralunga d’Alba; Giacamo Conterno
Who makes Monfortino? What is the primary vineyard site, and what commune of Barolo does it come from?
Giacamo Conterno; Cascina Francia in Serralunga d’Alba
Who makes Barolo Granbussia? From what sites?
Aldo Conterno; Romirasco, Cicala & Colonello on the Bussia slope.
What are the aging requirements for Barolo, Barolo Rsva., Barbaresco, and Barbaresco Rsva.?
Barbaresco: 26 months from 11/1 of harvest year (at least 9 months in oak). Barolo: 38 (18). Barbaresco Rsva: 50 (9). Barolo Rsva: 62 (18).
Name 5 crus of the Barbaresco commune?
Asili, Roncagliette, Martinenga, Rabajà, Pajé, Ovello, Montefico, Cole, Montestefano, Secondine, Muncagota, Pora, Rio Sordo
Name 5 crus of Monforte d’Alba?
Bussia, Ginestra, Santo Stefano (part of Perno), Perno, Castelletto, Ginestra, Mosconi
Name 5 crus of Castiglione Falletto.
Bricco Rocche, Monprivato, Villero, Bricco Fiasco, Bricco Boschis, Vignolo, Codana, Scarrone, Pira, Rocche di Castiglione
Name 5 crus of Serralunga d’Alba.
Lazzarito, Cerretta, Cascina Francia, Fontanafredda, Baudana, Gabutti, Brea, Parafada, Marenca, Rivette, Vignarionda, Broglio, Colombaro, Ornato, Falletto
Name 3 crus of La Morra.
Brunate, Cerequio, Le Rocche, Serradenari, Bricco San Biagio, Annunziata, Arborina, Gattera, Rocche dell’Annuziata
Name 3 crus of the Barolo commune.
Brunate, Cannubi, Sarmassa, Fossati, Rue, San Pietro, Cerequio, San Lorenzo, Castellero, Vignane, Monrobiolo di Bussia, Paiagallo, Le Coste, Bricco delle Viole
How many hectares comprise Barolo? Barbaresco?
1800; 700
What are the four communes of Barbaresco?
Barbaresco, Neive, Treiso, San Rocco Seno d’Elvio
What are the three main provinces for grape growing in Piedmont? Which does Barolo and Barbaresco fall under?
Tortonian: calcerous marl; La Morra & Barolo (west side), softer style of wine. Helvetian: sandstone, lime, and chalk; Castiglione Falletto, Monforte d’Alba & Serralunga d’Alba (east side); more structure.
What does “bricco” mean? Why is it important in Piedmont?
Bricco is the summit of the hill; prized site for Nebbiolo, which needs sun exposure.
What are the three Barbaresco crus that Gaja makes wine from? Name the cru that two of them are sub-zones of?
Sori Tildin, Sori San Lorenzo, Costa Bussi. Costa Bussi and Sori Tildin are sub-zones of Roncagliette (part of the Barbaresco commune)
What DOCG do Veneto & Friuli share?
Lison
What are the two dry white wine DOCGs of Friuli? What are the cepage requirements?
Rosazzo DOCG: min. 50% Friulano. Lison DOCG (shared with Veneto): min. 85% Friulano (aka Tai).
What region does Veneto’s Prosecco DOC extend into?
Friuli-Venezia-Giulia
Name three indigenous red grapes of Friuli.
Refosco, Schiopettino, Pignolo
What is the most planted grape in Friuli?
Merlot
What is the sub-zone of Colli-Orientali del Friuli Picolit? What are its additional requirements for normale and riserva?
Cialla; higher min. alcohol (16% vs. 15%) and one more year of age (2 vs.1). Cialla also must be 100% Picolit vs. 85% for the DOCG. Cialla Riserva requires 4 years of aging.
What is the grape of Ramandolo DOCG?
Verduzzo
What are the two DOCGs for sweet passito wine in Friuli-Venezia Giulia?
Colli-Orientali del Friuli Picolit and Ramandolo
What is the most significant cru of Conegliano Valdobbiadene?
Cartizze
What is the name of the Prosecco grape?
Glera
What are the 2 DOCG zones of Prosecco?
Asolo Prosecco DOCG and Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG
What is the required range of atmospheres of pressures for Prosecco spumante/frizzante?
Spumante: greater than 3.5. Frizzante: 1-2.5
Who makes Alzero? What is it?
Quintarelli; Cab Franc made through appassimento.
Who makes Ca del Merlo? What is it?
Quintarelli; single vineyard Ripasso Valpolicella. “House of the Blackbird”
Name the three Recioto DOCGs of Veneto, from east to west?
Recioto di Gambellara, Recioto di Soave, Recioto della Valpolicella
Who is the sole proprietor of Breganze Torcolato DOC? What style of wine is made?
Maculan; 100% Vespaiolo passito.
Where is the Breganze DOC?
In Venento.
What is the primary grape of the Gambellara DOC? What other grapes are allowed in what amounts?
What are the cepage requirements for Recioto di Gambellara DOCG?
Garganega; Trebbiano Toscano & Trebbiano di Soave, no more than 20% combined.
Recioto = 100% Garganega
What are the aging requirements for Soave Superiore DOCG, normale and riserva?
1 year (3 months in bottle), Riserva: 2 years.
What sub-regions must grapes come from to qualify for Soave Superiore and Recioto di Soave DOCGs?
Classico and/or Colli Scaligeri
Name the two DOCGs of Soave.
Recioto di Soave DOCG & Soave Superiore DOCG
What are the cepage requirements for Soave DOC? Gambellara DOC?
Min. 70% Garganega, with Trebbiano di Soave and Chardonnay.
Gambellara = Min. 80% with Trebbiano di Soave, Chardonnay, and Pinot Bianco
What is the rose made in Bardolino called?
Bardolino Chiaretto
What borders Bardolino on the west & east?
West: Lake Garda. East: Valpolicella Classico.
Define ripasso.
Refermented with unpressed grape skins previously fermented for Amarone or Recioto
Who makes CampoFiorin? What is it known for?
Masi; the first Ripasso.
Who is credited with inventing ripasso?
Ex-Masi oenologist Nino Franceschetti
What is the required alcohol for Valpolicella Ripasso and Ripasso Superiore DOCs?
12.5%/13%
What is corvinone?
An ancient clone of Corvina with low yields. Hard to grow.
What regions may be appended onto the Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG?
Classico or Valpantena
What is the minimum alcohol for Amarone?
14%
What are the aging requirements for Riserva Amarone? Normale?
Normale: 2 years from 1/1 of year after harvest. Riserva: 4 years from 11/1 of harvest year.
How long are Amarone & Recioto grapes normally dried?
Amarone: 100-120 days. Recioto: Usually an additional month. Grapes may not be vinified before 12/1 of harvest year.
What are the lofts that grapes are dried in for Amarone called?
Fruttai
Where does the Classico region of Valpolicella lie?
On the western end of the region, near Bardolino and Lake Garda.
What is required to garner Valpolicella Superiore DOC?
Higher min. alcohol by 1% and 1 year aging.
What are the cepage requirements for Valpolicella DOC?
45-95% Corvina (Corvinone may be up to 50%), blended with Rondinella. Molinara, Negrara, and Oseleta may not exceed 15%.
What is the DOC for 100% Teroldego in Trentino?
Teroldego Rotaliano DOC
What is the predominant red grape of Alto Adige? What is the premier sub-zone for it?
Schiava; Santa Maddelena
What are the DOCs that spans both Trentino and Alto Adige?
Valdadige DOC, Lago di Caldaro DOC
Which DOC spans the border between Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy?
Lambrusco Montovano
What region of Italy is most Lambrusco made in? Where else can it be made?
Emilia-Romagna; Lombardy
Albana and Pignoletto – red or white grapes?
White!
What was Italy’s first DOCG for white wine and when was it awarded?
1987, Albana di Romagna
Name the two DOCGs of Emilia Romagna.
Albana di Romagna, Colli Bolognesi Classico Pignoletto
What is the sole grape of Dolceaqua DOC? Where is it?
Rossese; Liguria
What is Dolcetto known as in Liguria?
Ormeasca
What is the grape of Colli di Luni DOC? Where is it?
Pigato; Liguria
What are the aging requirements for Valtellina Superiore and Superiore Riserva?
Superiore: 24 months (12 in cask).
Riserva: 36 months.
What are the aging and min. alcohol requirements for Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG?
Aged at least 2 years (Minimum 20 months of aging from April 1 of the year following the harvest, including at least 12 months in wood); 14% ABV
What style of wine is made in the Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG?
Recioto from Nebbiolo grapes (min. 90%)
What is ponca? What is it called in Slovenia?
Limestone/clay marl common in Friuli; Opoka
What does Torcolato refer to in Maculan’s wine of the same name?
Maculan produces the sweet wine Torcolato from the Breganze DOC in Veneto. It is made from 100% Vespaiolo grapes, which are dried for 4 months, twisted around a twine rope. “Torcolato” = “Twisted” and is a style of wine implying passito treatment from the Breganze DOC.
What is another name for Friulano in the Rosazzo DOCG?
Tai
What are the subzones of Alto Adige?
Colli di Bolzano (Bozner Leiten) Meranese (Meraner) Santa Maddalena (St. Magdalener) and Santa Maddalena Classico Terlano (Terlaner) Valle Isarco (Eisacktaler) Valle Venosta (Vinschgau)
What is the German name for Alto Adige?
Südtirol