Italy NW: Valle d'Aoste, Emilia Romagna, Liguria

Question 1

sub appellations of the Valle d’Aosta DOC

Answer 1

Arnad-Montjovet (nebbiolo)
Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle
Chambave (p. rouge, chambave muscat)
Donnas (nebbiolo)
Enfer d’Arvier (petite rouge)
Nus (malvoisie)
Torrette (petite rouge)

Question 2

What synonym for Nebbiolo is used in the Aosta Valley?

Answer 2

Picoutener / Picotendro (in Donnas and Arnad-Montjovet)

Question 3

La Salle

Answer 3

subzone in Valle d’Aosta

Prie Blanc / Blanc de la Morgex
still, sparkling, late harvest

Question 4

Which grapes are likely to be bottled varietally in Valle d’Aosta?

Answer 4

Petite Arvine
Gamay
Petite Rouge
Fumin
Prematta

Question 5

What is the mountain near Aosta Valley?

Answer 5

Mont Blanc (Western Alps)
(Monte Bianco)

Question 6

Along which river are most of the vineyards in the Valle d’Aosta?

Answer 6

Dora Baltea, a tributary of the Po

Question 7

Name 3 producers Valle d’Aosta

Answer 7

Ermese Pavese - Blanc de Morgex
Ottin - Pinot Noir
Grosjean - Pinot Noir, Petite Arvine

Question 8

Top red and white grapes in Liguria?

Answer 8

White: Pigato (Vermentino), Bosco

Red: Rosesse (Tibouren), and Ormeasco (Dolcetto)

Question 9

List the DOCs of Liguria

Answer 9

most well known: Cinque Terre DOC

higher quality: Colli di Luni
Riviera Ligure di Ponente

Question 10

What was Italy’s first white wine DOCG? Where is it?

Answer 10

Romagna Albana DOCG, in Emilia Romagna. 1987

Question 11

What are the two DOCGs in Emilia Romagna? Styles of wine made in each?

Answer 11

Romagna Albana - golden white wines made from Albana

Colli Bolognesi Pignoletto - tart dry white wines made from Grechetto

Question 12

Lambrusco DOCs

Answer 12

Lambrusco di Sorbara DOC
Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro DOC
Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce DOC

Question 13

Aosta Valley unofficial growing areas

Answer 13

Alta Valle- up to 1300 m (4300’)
Media Valle
Bassa Valle- close to Carema, in Piedmont (nebbiolo here)

Question 14

Aosta Valley soils / climate

Answer 14

glacial moraininc, deposits of granite, sand. large stones

continental, large diurnal shifts

Question 15

Valle d’Aosta DOC

Answer 15

white, rose, red
spumante
novello
vendemmia tardiva
flétri passito)

red grapes are nearly 60% of production

Question 16

Liguria climate / geography

Answer 16

Mediterranean, mountains protecting vineyard areas from the cold northern winds and exposing grapes to the warm breezes of the sea. The capital city of Genoa essentially divides Liguria in half, with the Ponente in the west and the Levante in the east.

very mountainous- where the Alps and Appenines meet.

Question 17

Pigato

Answer 17

from “pigau” in Ligurian dialect, meaning “spotted.”

genetically identical to Vermentino, though different biotypes. Pigato typically planted in higher hills of western Ponente in Liguria, Vermentino planted in the eastern Levante, closer to the sea

Question 18

sgruttu

Answer 18

marly clay soils in western Liguria- Rosesse (Tibouren) planted on it

Question 19

Sciacchetrà

Answer 19

sweet passito wine found in the Cinque Terre DOC of the Levante. It is a specialty of the Spezia province that is made by air-drying a blend of white grapes, including a minimum of 80% Bosco, Albarola, and/or Vermentino