Italy Overview: Wine Law, Geography, DOC system, Labeling Terms Flashcards
Learn quality levels, wine law, and labeling terminology.
Which 2 ancient civilizations produced wine in Italy before the Romans?
- Etruscans
- Greeks
Approximately how many registered grape varietals does Italy have?:
- 250
- 800
- 1300
1300
Some experts have pegged the number greater than 2,000, several hundred of which are native to Italy.
How many regions does Italy have?
20
What are the countries that border Italy?
West: France
North: Switzerland, Austria
East: Slovenia
What are the seas that surround Italy?
West: Tyrrhenian + Ligurian Seas
East: Adriatic Sea
South: Ionian Sea
What mountain range runs along most of Italy’s northern border?
The Alps
What is the mountain range that runs down the center of the Italian peninsula?
The Apennines
What is the general climate of Italy?
North: cool Continental
South: warm Mediterranean
Approximately how many registered vineyards does Italy have?
~900,000
In Italy, wines without geographic indication are labeled as ____.
Vino
When Italian wines are just labeled as Vino, what colors can they be?
Can they have the vintage on the label?
Vino can be:
- rosso, bianco or rosato
- can be labeled with OR without the vintage
Wines with a geographical indication are split into ____ and ____.
- IGP
- DOP
What does IGP stand for?
Indicazione Geografica Protetta
OF NOTE:
- IGP designation includes IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica)
- both IGP/IGT are considered PGI by the EU and are interchangeable
- IGP wines range from the most basic to some of the most sought after in Italy
What 2 Italian wine classifications are within DOP?
- DOC
- DOCG
On their wine labels, can Italians use either DOP or DOC/DOCG?
Yes
Though most old school producers will use DOCG if they’re in a DOCG zone and have historically used DOCG on their label.
In what year was the DOC system introduced in Italy?
1963
Why was the DOC system launched in Italy?
- To protect Italy’s wine appellations
- To formalize the production area and methods for each wine
What are Italy’s wine classifications from largest to smallest?
- Vino
- IGT
- DOC
- DOCG
Italian Labeling Terms:
Classico
The original, smaller zone and the best part of an area.
e.g. Chianti, Chianti Classico
Italian Labeling Terms:
Riserva
Usually indicates:
- extended aging, usually both in cask and bottle
- usually denotes lower yields
- usually denotes higher alcohol
Riserva is a legally defined term in Italy, unlike in the U.S. or South America.
Italian Labeling Terms:
Superiore
Usually indicates:
- higher alcohol
- longer aging (depends on appellation)
Italian Labeling Terms:
Spumante
Fully sparkling
Italian Labeling Terms:
Frizzante
Gently sparkling
Italian Labeling Terms:
Metodo Classico
Traditional Method used to make sparkling wine.
Heads up! Metodo Classico is the same as méthode champenoise, the method used in Champagne.
Italian Labeling Terms:
Secco
Dry
Italian Labeling Terms:
Amabile
Off-dry
Italian Labeling Terms:
Dolce
Sweet
Italian Labeling Terms:
Recioto + Passito
Both indicate the wine was made from dried grapes.
These wines are almost always sweet.
