Lombardy

Question 1

What is the most important DOCG zone in Lombardy?

Answer 1

Franciacorta DOCG

Question 2

Franciacorta DOCG wines are restricted to sparkling, still wines from the region may be released as what?

Answer 2

Curtefranca (formerly Terre di Franciacorta) DOC or Sebino IGT

Question 3

Which producers are responsible with putting the zone on the map in recent times?

Answer 3

Guido Berlucchi and Mauricio Zanella

Question 4

Who is Guido Berlucchi?

Answer 4

his house released the region’s first modern sparkling wines in the early 1960s

Question 5

Who is Mauricio Zanella?

Answer 5

of Ca’Del Bosco, his prestige cuvee “Annamaria Clementi” is on par with Champagne’s more serious offerings

Question 6

When did Franciacorta earn its DOCG for sparkling wines made by metodo classico (the traditional method)?

Answer 6

1995

Question 7

Like Champagne, the wines flavors are derived from what?

Answer 7

secondary fermentation and autolysis

Question 8

What is the cepage in Franciacorta?

Answer 8

Chardonnay, Pinot Nero (Noir), and max 50% Pinot Bianco

Question 9

What are the aging requirements for Franciacorta normale?

Answer 9

Min 18 months on lees from Feb 1 of the year following the harvest, 25 months total from the date of harvest

Question 10

Wines labeled as Satèn must include only what?

Answer 10

white grapes (Chardonnay and max 50% Pinot Bianco)

Question 11

What is Satèn also bottled at?

Answer 11

less than 5 atm, a lower pressure than the 5-6 atm required for standard bottlings.

Question 12

What are the aging requirements for Franciacorta Satèn & Rosé?

Answer 12

Min 24 months on lees from Feb 1 of the year following the harvest, 31 months total from the date of harvest

Question 13

Both Satèn & Rosé Franciacorta may also be what?

Answer 13

Millesimato or Riserva

Question 14

What are the aging requirements for Franciacorta Millesimato?

Answer 14

Min 30 months on lees from Feb 1 of the year following the harvest, 37 months total from the date of harvest

Question 15

What are the aging requirements for Franciacorta Riserva?

Answer 15

Min 60 months on lees from Feb 1 of the year following the harvest, 67 months total from the date of harvest

Question 16

Franciacorta Satèn can also only be what?

Answer 16

Brut, max 20 g/l RS prior to tirage

Question 17

What are sweetness levels for Franciacorta?

Answer 17

Dosaggio Zero (non-dosage), Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Dry, Sec, Demi-Sec

Question 18

What are sweetness levels for Franciacorta Millesimato and Riserva?

Answer 18

Millesimato up to Extra Dry, Riserva up to Brut

Question 19

Traditional method sparkling wines are also produced where?

Answer 19

in the southern reaches of Lombardy as Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG

Question 20

Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG must contain what?

Answer 20

a minimum 70% Pinot Nero

Question 21

When may Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG wines be labled with “Pinot Nero”?

Answer 21

If it accounts for at least 85% of the wine

Question 22

What other grapes are allowed in Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG?

Answer 22

Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco

Question 23

What are the ageing requirements for NV Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG?

Answer 23

Min 15 months on lees from Jan 1 of the year following the harvest

Question 24

What are the ageing requirements for Millesimato Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG?

Answer 24

24 months on lees from Jan 1 of the year following the harvest

Question 25

Still wines from the Oltrepò Pavese region may be released as what?

Answer 25

Oltrepò Pavese DOC

Question 26

What lies to the north of Franciacorta and is Lombardy’s most important zone for red wines?

Answer 26

Valtellina

Question 27

The Nebbiolo grape, known as ____ in Valtellina, provides a lighter and more angular style here than in neighboring Piedmont

Answer 27

Chiavennasca

Question 28

Valtellina’s vineyards represent the Nebbiolo grape’s northernmost outpost in Italy, what makes the ripening possible?

Answer 28

despite the region’s alpine location and high altitude, an abundance of sunshine makes the slow ripening process of the grape possible

Question 29

What 2 DOCGs exist within Valtellina DOC?

Answer 29

Valtellina Superiore DOCG & Sforzato di Valtellina

Question 30

What are the 5 subzones of Valtellina Superiore DOCG?

Answer 30

1. Valgella
2. Inferno
3. Grumello
4. Sassella
5. Maroggia

Question 31

Vatellina Superiore wines are labeled as what if bottled in the neighboring territory of Switzerland?

Answer 31

Stagafassli

Question 32

What are ageing requirements for Valtellina Superiore?

Answer 32

24 months (12 in cask), riserva wines- 3yrs

Question 33

What is Sforzato di Valtellina/Valtellina Sfurzat?

Answer 33

a style similar to recioto, produced from Nebbiolo grapes that are dried prior to fermentation, yielding no more than half the equivalent juice content of a freshly harvested grape

Question 34

What are the ageing/alcohol requirements for Sforzato di Valtellina/Valtellina Sfurzat?

Answer 34

aged min 2 years, dry in character, min 14% alcohol

Question 35

What surrounds the town of Bergamo to the west of Franciacorta, and produces sweet passito red wines from a red Moscato grape?

Answer 35

The Moscato di Scanzo DOCG

Question 36

The Moscato di Scanzo DOCG ageing requirements?

Answer 36

min 2 years but may NOT be aged in wood

Question 37

Moscato di Scanzo is often bottled in what?

Answer 37

a slender 500 mL futura—a bottle shape familiar to fans of Inniskillin icewine