Lambrusco Flashcards
what is lambrusco?
the name of a mainly red made by tank method spumante or frizzante wines made from the family of Lambrusco varieties principally Emilia Romagna in Central Italy and situated close to the River Po
General SAT for Lambrusco
strawberry, red cherry, and red plum fruit
med to med + tannins
high acidity
usually residual sugar
pale pink to deep ruby
acceptable to good with small number of very good
inexpensive to mid priced
where is Lambrusco mainly grown?
inland in the former region of Emilia which has become the western part of the current region Emilia Romagna
How high are the hills in Emilia
low hills of around 150 m
What is the climate of Emilia
warm and continental with adequate rainfall (735 mm() for grape growing though with some threat of rain at harvest time
When is irrigation used in Emilia
to ensure an adequate water supply at critical points
What kind of soils do you find in Emilia
alluvial predominantly clay and silt
what is a positive about Emilia soils
good water retention
what is a negative of Emilia soils
prone to compaction
what is done to reduce compaction in Emilia?
vineyards are grassed between rows which also allows for machinery in wet periods
What leads to high yields in Emilia?
high fertility of the soil as well as varieties grown
what is the most common form of vine training in Emilia?
cordon trained (Sylvoz) and Geneva Double Curtain which are suitable for high vigor vines and allow for full mechanization
What makes preventative spraying against fungal disease a regular practice in Emilia?
humidity over the river plain
How has the amount of spraying for fungal disease been reduced over the more recent years in Emilia?
through sustainable viticulture - better canopy management, close monitoring of weather forecasts to anticipate problems and acting preventatively
What has posed an increased threat over the recent years in Emilia?
grapevine yellows
How are grapevine yellows tackled in EMilia?
rapid removal of affected plants and by controlling vectors
What are the 3 most important Lambrusco varietals
Lambrusco Salemino
Lambrusco Grasparossa
Lambrusco di Sorbara
What is the most widely planted variety of Lambrusco?
Lambrusco Salamino
describe a Lambrusco Salamino wine
fragrant, deep colored, full bodied
high acidity
mostly blended with other Lambrusco varieties
What are the requirements of Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce
min 85% Lambrusco Salamino grapes
max yield of 133 hl/ha
What soil does Lambrusco Grasparossa do best on?
clay and silt
Where does Lambrusco Grasparossa grow best?
ON HILLSIDES
Describe Lambrusco Grasparossa wine
deep colored
full bodied
med + tannins
What is the DOC for the Lambrusco Grasparossa variety?
Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro
What are the requirements of Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro
min 85% of this variety
max yield 126 hl/ha
Describe Lambrusco di Sorbara wine
pale, lighter bodied
high acidity
What are the requirements of Lambrusco di Sorbara
min 60% of this variety
max yield 126 hl/ha
what two DOCs are named after the provinces of Reggio-Emilia and Modena instead of the varietal
Reggiano Lambrusco (Reggiano DOC)
Lambrusco di Modena DOC or Modena DOC
Describe Reggiano DOC
made with Lambrusco varieties within a delimited area in province of Reggio-Emilia
max yields 126 hl/ha
Describe Modena DOC
made from Lambrusco grown in province of Modena
very high yields permitted (161 hl/ha) leading to low levels of fruit concentration
How are most Lambrusco wines macerated? why?
macerated on skins for 1-2 days - due to high levels of anthocyanins
also restricts tannin extraction
Lambrusco grasparossa which are more structured and full bodied are kept on skins for 3-4 days
What temp is Lambrusco style wines kept at for first fermentation
18-20C to retain primary fruit aromas
Is Malolactic conversion used with Lambrusco wines?
unusually for red wines, malolactic acid is blocked to preserve high acidity
What method is used for Lambrusco style wines?
most frequently used is tank method
what temps are 2nd fermentation done for Lambrusco wines
12-15C
how long does 2nd fermentation take for spumante wines? frizzante?
spumante = one month
frizzante = 2 weeks
After 2nd fermentation how long is maturation on the lees for Lambrusco wines?
there is none in order to preserve primary flavors
How much dosage is used for Lambrusco wines?
0 = for drier styles (zero dosage to Brut)
sweet wines = either have fermentation stopped at desired sweetness level and/or are sweetened using RCGM
What other methods are used with Lambrusco?
some traditional method and undisgorged bottle fermented (ancestral method)
what can spumante or frizzante wines made from Lambrusco be labeled as
IGT Emilia
for spumante wines, how much make up DOC production? IGT?
DOC = 25-30%
IGT = the rest
What is the requirement for DOC wines of Lambrusco regarding abv
spumante = 11 % abv
frizzante = 10.5 abv
amabile or dolce styles = min 7%
they must have min potential alcohol of 10.5-11%
How are spumante wines labeled in terms of sweetness levels in Lambrusco wines?
according to standard EU categories for sparkling wines.
How are frizzante wines labeled in terms of sweetness levels in Lambrusco wines?
have fewer sweetness categories (secco/asciutto, abboccato, amabile) each category encompassing a wider range
what is the average size of properties for Lambrusco vineyards?
very small - less than 3ha - but this has more than doubled since 2000
what do most growers do with their fruit in Lambrusco
take it to be vinified in the co-operatives or larger private wineries
How much Lambrusco is exported?
2/3
How much Lambrusco is sold within Italy
1/3
Where are sales of Lambrusco primarily within Italy?
supermarkets and in hospitality sector - small proportion sold through specialist wine shops (high quality)
What tag does Lambrusco struggle to throw off
“inexpensive red, frothy, and sweet”
name an example of Lambrusco that is very good quality made with concentrated and well defined fruit
Cleto Chiarli
What does Cantine Riunite specialize in?
Prosecco and Lambrusco
