Italy: Southern Italy

Question 1

What is the most famous wine that comes from Sicily

Answer 1

Marsala

Question 2

Two main red grapes of Sicily

Answer 2

Nero d’Avola

Nerello Mascalese

Question 3

Grapes in Etna DOC

Answer 3

Nerello Muscalese

Carricante

Question 4

What are the 5 regions of southern Italy?

And what are the 2 big islands that are also regions?

Answer 4

Campania
Basilicata
Calabria
Molise
Puglia
Sicily
Sardinia

Question 5

What famous volcano is in Campania?

Answer 5

Mount Vesuvius

Question 6

What is the soil in Campania?

Answer 6

alluvial sediment turning into volcanic sediment

Question 7

What are the 3 white grapes of Campania?

Answer 7

Fiano
Falanghina
Greco

Question 8

What is the red grape of Campania?

Answer 8

Aglianico

Question 9

What is the DOCG in Campania famous for its Aglianico?

Answer 9

Taurasi DOCG

Question 10

What are the aging requirements for Taurasi DOCG?

Answer 10

Minimum 3 years prior to release, with at least 1 of those years in wood.

Question 11

What are the 2 white DOCGs of Campania?

What are the grapes in each?

Answer 11

Fiano di Avellino DOCG
Greco di Tufo DOCG,

Fiano and Greco

Question 12

White grape of Sicily

Answer 12

Carricante

Question 13

What is the main red grape of Sardinia

Answer 13

Cannonau, or Grenache

Question 14

Sardinia’s sole DOCG zone

Answer 14

Vermentino di Gallura DOCG

Question 15

Campania elevator pitch

Answer 15

Campania has a long history of making wines back until the first century CE and was one of the
prizes of the Roman Empire. The wines of Monte Massico became famous for the next few
centuries, and even today hold a prominent place in the Italian wine world. This beautiful and
rugged region has a few high-quality wines, usually places on the volcanic slopes and with tufa
soils. The two most famous regions are Taurasi and Aglianico del Taburno DOCGs. These two
regions produce rich Aglianico wines and are some of the most age-worthy of southern Italy/ White wines from this region tend to be high quality and have more international attention.
Falanghina, Greco, and Fiano lead the way in this catagory. Sweet wines and sparkling are
made here but do not have as much traction. The DOCGs here are actual marks of quality and
should be part of a working sommelier’s knowledge.

Question 16

Puglia elevator pitch

Answer 16

This region is one of the most beautiful with crystal blue waters and warm weather year round. The area is flatter and the soils are extremely fertile. Because of this the wines are thick skinned, full-bodied, mainly red, and can be produced for mass consumption. A few DOCs and
DOCGs make interesting, spicy wines and this is the home of Primitivo, the genetic counterpart to Zinfandel. The major grapes to know here are Nero di Troia, Negroamaro, Primitivo, and for the white wines Bombino Bianco, and Verdeca

Question 17

Basilicata elevator pitch

Answer 17

This region is sparsely populated, and its most important feature is Mount Vulture. Aglianico is
king here and makes long-lived high quality wines from the slopes of the mountain. White
wines here are ripe and usually made from Malvasia Bianca, while all styles of wine are made
here including rosato, sparkling, and dessert wines

Question 18

Calabria elevator pitch

Answer 18

The toe of the boot is a beautiful resort region and makes easy-drinking wines for local
consumption. The climate is warm Mediterranean and grapes reach high levels of ripeness in
this warm scrubland. There are no DOCGs here but the number of DOCs has doubled in
recent years. The most important is the Cirò DOC for all styles of dry wines from Greco and the
local red Gaglioppo. Melissa DOC is for red and white wines from Greco and Gaglioppo as well
and produces high-quality white wines.

Question 19

Sicily elevator pitch

Answer 19

Dominated by Mount Etna in the northeast, the volcanic soils of this island are outstanding for red wine production. Most of the island’s production is IGT wines,
and many winemakers are experimenting with international varieties. There are also a host of
local varieties and excellent wines are made from the white grapes Catarratto, Inzolia, Grecanico, Carricante, and Grillo. The most popular red varieties are Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappucio (both made famous by the Etna DOC), Nero d’Avola, Frappato, and Perricone.
Sicily is famous for its fortified wines, especially Marsala.

Question 20

History of Marsala wine

Answer 20

In Sicily, John Woodhouse created the first
Masala by fortifying wine in 1773 for shipment back to England. Marsala can be dry or sweet
and comes in a variety of styles and indications.

Question 21

Describe Marsala DOC

Answer 21

Marsala DOC: white (oro or gold, and umbra or amber) fortified wines. Red (rubino) fortified wines from Perricone, Nero d’Avola, and Nerello Mascalese. Wines can be secco (maximum 40 g/l of residual sugar), semisecco, or
dulce.

Question 22

Marsala aging requirements - Fine, Superiore, Sikeram Sikera Riserva

Answer 22

Aging Requirements:
Fine: Min. 1 year in oak or cherry wood (first 4 months may be in alternative
containers)
Superiore: Min. 2 years in oak or cherry wood
Superiore Riserva: Min. 4 years in oak or cherry wood
Vergine/Solera: Min. 5 years in oak or cherry wood
Vergine Riserva/Solera Riserva/Vergine and Solera Stravecchio: Min. 10 years in oak
or cherry wood

Question 23

Sardinia elevator pitch

Answer 23

Sardinia is a remote island between the Tyrrhenian and Mediterranean seas, just south of
Corsica. Still to this day, much of Sardinia is remote and sparsely populated. Many areas of the
island have become safe havens for modern day pirates and gangsters. This island has been
getting more traction lately for higher acid, coastal white wines and richer sometimes oaked
styles all from Vermentino.