Italy - the macro view Flashcards
Wine Business - key statistics for Italy
o Italy, generally largest wine producer in the world
o ~22% of world production
o Avg vineyard size – less than 2 ha
o Fragmented ownership with 600,000 growers
o Strong role of cooperatives: 50% of production; top 4 companies are cooperative
o Many selling to Cooperatives; merchants; large companies
o Wine consumption 1/3rd of previous levels; Spirits & beer have grown
o 40% of wines by volume are Exported
o In 2017: Exports : USA ( 26%); GERMANY( 18% )UK; Canada: Switzerland
Largest companies in Italian wine production
o Largest companies • Caviro: ( giant cooperative in 7 regions; processing 10% of Italian wines) • Cantine Riunite • Gruppo Italian Vini • Santa Margherita • Zonin
Wine terms: Winery? wine shop? Negociants? association of wine growers? high end wine store? Farm?
o Azienda Agricola: equivalent to Domaine / Azienda Vinicola: may buy grapes from elsewhere o Cantina: wine shop or winery. Cantina Sociale: cooperative winery o Casa Vinicola: equivalent to French négociants i.e. buys in grapes or wine o Consorzio: association of wine-growers; most famous is Consorzio Chianti Classico o Enoteca: wine shop w high quality wines o Fattoria: ‘farm’ but also used for wine estate / Podere: small farm as part of bigger estate
Top ten grape varieties planted in Italy?
Sangiovese 55,000 Ha. Pinto Grigio 40,000 Ha. Trebbiano 35,000 Ha + Glera 30,000 Ha. + Montepulciano 30,000 Ha. Catarratto 30,000 Ha. Merlot 27,000 Ha. + Chardonnay 22,000 Ha. + Primitivo 18,000 Ha. + Barbera 18,000 Ha.
Volume of Italian wine by quality category?
DOC 40% IGP 27% Vino 33%
What is Vino?
- Vino
- Basic wine, declining in importance
- Must not state the geographical source, variety or vintage on the label.
- Mainly in the South of Italy and Sicily
- Replaces ‘vino da tavola’
IGT is a part of the Italian wine classification, what does it mean and cover?
- IGT Indicazione Geografica Tipica: 1992
- Introduced in 1992, equivalent to French Vin de Pays (PGI/IGP)
- Incorporates wines made from varieties and techniques not traditional to area of production
- And generally allows higher yields
- range of styles:
- abboccato (demi sec)
- Frizzante (light sparkling)
- Novello (drunk soon after harvest)
- passito (sweet from dried grapes)
- Vendemmia Tardiva(late harvest grapes)
The DOC designation in Italian wine classification
- DOC Denominazione d’Origine Controllata
o Similar to French AC: specifies zone, varieties, yields, techniques, wine styles, etc.
o 300+ individual DOCs; often extending further vs. original area > term Classico for original zone
DOCG is the highest wine classification in Italian wine, what is required and name some top DOCGs
- DOCG Denominazione d’Origine Controllata e Garantita
- Same criteria as DOC + bottled in region + must undergo a tasting by Ministry of Agriculture
- 74 DOCG wines with most important being Moscato d’Asti, Barbaresco, Barolo, Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti, Chianti Classico, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
What is the general meaning of terms like Classico, Superiore and Riserva?
Other terms for DOC and DOCG – legally defined:
- Classico: Wines from grapes grown in defined historical zone of DOC/DOCG
- Superiore: DOC with higher minimum abv (+0.5%-1%)
- Riserva: wine with extended ageing (min 2 yrs for red, 1 yr for white) and higher minimum abv (+0.5-1%). Ageing not necessarily in wood.( some specify -some or part in oak)
What are the key factors affecting Italy’s climate?
- Very diverse from North to South (Austria to Morocco latitude)
- Apennines running down most of the country providing a range of sites
- Regions influenced by the sea ; surrounds on 3 sides
- Inland areas have continental climates
- Generally: many have warm Mediterranean climate
Italy has a enormous number of varieties, but name the top 6 planted.
Estimated to be around 375-500: 6 most planted varieties
- Sangiovese- Central Italy
- Pinot Grigio
- Trebianno- Central Italy
- Glera - Veneto
- Montepulciano
- Catarratto- Sicily
Viticultural practices in Italy have changed over the last 50 years -what are the general changes?
- High yielding, low density, tendone trained vineyards common in the 60’s and 70’s when EU subsidies came in > quality down and these were the base upon which DOC were created
- Since 80’s: more quality focused producers with lower yields and better site selection
- Traditional planting: Pergola training in North; High volume
- Mixed planting (along with olive trees, grain etc) in Tuscany
- Bush vines in South
- Modern: Specialised vines on trellises; with some Pergola & Bush vines: by hand
Botti is the traditional Italian maturation vessel - what is it?
- Botti: Large old Slovenian oak casks( 1000-1500L) neutral influence. Less and less used; enabling slow controlled oxidation& not adding new oak flavours
Italian production standing in the world?
- Average ~51m hl/yr: 1st largest wine producing country w 22% of global production
