Italy - Northern Italy - Lombardy & Emilia-Romagna

Question 1

Where’s Lombardy and where’s Emilia-Romangna?

Answer 1

Lombardy: Northern Italy on the border of Switzerland.

Emilia-Romagna: Straddles North and Central Italy.

Question 2

What are the climates for these two regions?

Answer 2

Cool Continental

Question 3

What are some physical features of these regions?

Answer 3

Lombardy:
Mountains: Foothills of the Alps
Bodies of Water: Many lakes influence the region

Emilia-Romagna:
Mountains: Apennine Mountains

Question 4

What are some unique wines made in these regions?

Answer 4

Metodo Classico Sparkling Wines

Lombardy: Passito wines made from dried grapes.

Emilia-Romagna:

Frizzante or spumante sparkling wines

Lambrusco: Commonly cuve close but can be Metodo Classico or Methode Ancestrale and can be frizzante or spumante.

Question 5

What are the white grape variety names of these regions?

Answer 5

Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco (Pinot Blanc)

Question 6

What are red grape variety names of these regions?

Answer 6

Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir)

Lambrusco: Lambrusco

Chiavennasca: Local name for Nebbiolo in Valtellina

Question 7

Where’s Valtellina?

Question 8

What are the classifications in these regions?

Answer 8

IGP, DOC, DOCG

Question 9

What’s Franciacorta?

Answer 9

Franciacorta DOCG:
Pinot Nero, Chardonnay, Pinot BiancoSpumante, metodo classico sparkling wine. Min 18 months aging on the lees, 25 months total aging from the date of harvest.

Question 10

What are label terms for Franciacorta?

Answer 10

Metodo Classico, Spumante, Millesimato, Frizzante

Question 11

In Lombardy, what’s Valtellina Superiore DOCG, Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG and Franciacorta Satèn DOCG?

Answer 11

Lombardy:

Valtellina Superiore DOCG: Dry red wines from Nebbiolo locally known as Chiavennasca.

Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG: Passito-dried Chiavennasca.

Franciacorta Satèn DOCG: Brut only, max pressure of 5 atmospheres, Chardonnay with a max of up to 50% Pinot Bianco.

Question 12

In Emilia-Romagna, what’s Lambrusco DOC, the style, subzones and sweetness levels?

Answer 12

Emilia-Romagna:

Lambrusco DOC:

Style: Frizzante or spumante

Subzones: Lambrusco di Sorbara DOC, Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro DOC, Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce DOC

Sweetness levels: Secco, Amabile, Dolce

Question 13

Some other label terms?

Answer 13

Secco, Amabile, Dolce

Question 14

What are some producers proprietary brands of Franciacorta?

Answer 14

Bellavista, Ca’ del Bosco. Look them up.

Question 15

How would you serve Lambrusco?

Answer 15

CMS-A published Sparkling Wine Service Standards. Lambrusco is served as you would any other sparkling wine, cold and in a flute or wine glass.

Question 16

What to pair with Lambrusco?
What to pair with Franciacorta?

Answer 16

Lambrusco: In Emilia-Romagna, the breadbasket of Italy, near Modena and Reggio known for Parmesan, salami, Balsamic Vinegar.

Franciacorta: Very flexible with food pairings like Champagne.

Question 17

Something to know of Lambrusco regarding the business of the sommelier?

Answer 17

Limited shelf life of effervescence for Lambrusco if pouring by the glass.