Italy - SE of France

Question 1

Italy - Broad Regional Break Down:

Answer 1

Lombardy, N - Franciacorta DOCG, champagne rival
Piedmont, NW - Barolo, Barbersco, 
Veneto, NE - Amarone, prosecco
Emilia-Romagna - Parmigiano reggiano, Lambrusco
Tuscana, CW- 
Marche, CE - 
Campania, SW - 
Sicilly, S Island - 
Sardegna, CW Island -

Other:
Valle d’Aosta = Smallest, landlocked, mountainous Nestled in W Alps,
Trentino-Alto Adige = Know for whites, more reds, mountainous + landlocked
Friuli-Venezia Giulia =Orange wines

Question 2

Italy - Piedmont:

Answer 2

Reds: Nebbiolo, Barbera, + Dolcetto
Whites: Moscato Bianco, Cortese, Arneis, Erbaluce + Favorita (Vermentino)
Known for = Nebbiolo - Nebbia = Fog, thin skinned
Piedmont = “foot of the hills”, Po river
Modernist = 4-7 Day Maceration = More approachable
Traditionalist = 25-40 Day Maceration = wait 10 years
Barolo + Barberesco (King + Queen)

Barolo the king:
min againg = 38 months from Nov 1 of harvest year,
cask min = 18 months
Riserva = 62 months prior to release
Barolo Chinato = DOCG w/ quinine, Cappellano

Barberesco the queen:
Towns = Barbaresco, Neive + Treiso
Min aging = 2 years 
Cask min = 9 months in cask prior to release
Riserva = 4 Years 

100% Dolcetto DOCGs:
Dogliani, Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore (Ovada), + Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba (Diano d’Alba)

1st dry Piedmonte white:
Gavi (Cortese di Gavi) = Cortese grape

Sparkling:
DOCG = Asti/Moscato d’Asti DOCG
Moscato Bianco grape = 100%
full sparkle = spumante > semi sparkle = frizzante
DOCG = Alta Langa - champagne style/Franciacorta
Grapes = Pinot Noir + Chardonnay grapes
Supamante = 30 month release wait
riserva = 3 full years
Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG = nebbiolo sparkling reds

Question 3

Italy - Tuscana/Tuscany:

Answer 3

Reds: Sangiovese, Aglianico
Known for: Super Tuscans + Chianti + Brunello
Chianti = 70% Sangiovese
Chianti Classico = 80% Sangiovese

Question 4

Italy - Wine Regulations:

Answer 4

DOCG - top
DOC
IGT - super tuscan
VT - table

Question 5

Italy - Lombardy:

Answer 5

Franciacorta DOCG: metodo classico Sparkling
Grapes = Chardonnay, P. Nero(Noir), max50% P. Bianco
Aging = 18 months maturing on the lees
Release = 25 months after the harvest.
Satèn = only white, + Brut + btl at less than 5 atmo(low)
Franciacorta Rosé = min 25% Pinot Nero grapes + is produced by blending rather than the saignée method.
Vintage (millesimato) Franciacorta = min 37 months vintage Franciacorta = 85% of grapes to be stated year.
Vintage Franciacorta riserva = min 5 yrs on its lees, + release after a min 67 months.
res sugar/dosado = mirrors that of Champagne

Valtellina N of Franciacorta: most important zone for red wines
grape = Nebbiolo(Chiavennasca) lighter + more angular

Question 6

Italy - Veneto:

Answer 6

Prosecco(Bellini cocktail):
grape = Galera - Most NV
DOCGs = Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco + obscure Asolo Prosecco - Top Cru = Cartizze
Vintage = min 85% of the stated year’s harvest

Valpolicella, Lake Garda = classico:
Amarone della Valpolicella + Recioto della Valpolicella + Valpolicella DOC

Top = Producer, Romano Dal Forno
Amarone = 45-95% Corvina, blended w/ Rondinella
Molinara, Negrara + Oseleta = max 15% amarone blend
superiore = rounder character, + higher min alcohol + a min of 1 year of aging
appassimento process = the grapes—varietal requirements for recioto wines are identical to the basic Valpolicella DOC—are dried for over three months in special lofts (fruttai) before fermentation, effectively concentrating sugar and extract

Question 7

Italy - Friuli-Venezia Giulia:

Answer 7

Influence Germany + Austria = new age clean, modern white

Orange wine = of Gravner + Radikon