Marsala Flashcards
When was Marsala first manufactured and by whom?
1773 by the English Port and Sherry merchant, John Woodhouse.
What are Marsala wines fortifed with an when?
Grape spirit either during or after fermentation, depending on the desired level of sweetness.
What is mosto cotto?
“Cooked must” added to Marsala for color and sweetness. Only allowed in the Ambra style.
What is sifone?
A mistelle used in Marsala produced by fortifying the unfermented must of overripe grapes. Like mosto cotto, used to adjust both color and sweetness.
What are the three colors available under Marsala DOC wines?
Ambra
Oro (golden)
Rubino
What grapes are used for Ambra and Oro styles?
White grapes such as Grillo, Catarratto, Inzolia (Ansonica), and Damaschino.
- Grillo and the delicate Inzolia are preferred; Catarratto and Damaschino are high-yielding and less interesting.
- Ambra is lower quality (only style that permits the practice of concia: the addition of mosto cotto.
What grapes are used for Rubino wines?
Perricone, Calabrese (Nero d’Avola), and Nerello Mascalese.
-White grape may comprise a max 30% of the rubino production
What are the sweetness levels of Marsala?
Secco indicates a maximum 40 grams per liter of residual sugar
Semisecco indicates 40 to 100 g/l of residual sugar
Dolce indicates a minimum 100 g/l of residual sugar.
What are the aging classifications for Marsala?
Fine- 1 year in oak or cherry wood (first 4 months may be in alternative containers)
Superiore- 2 years in oak or cherry wood
Superiore Riserva- 4 years in oak or cherry wood
Vergine/Solera- 5 years in oak or cherry wood
Vergine Stravecchio “Virgineh Stra-VEH-key-oh”(Vergine Riserva/Solera Riserva/Vergine and Solera Stravecchio)- Min 10 years in oak or cherry wood
What is the Vergine Marsala style?
Fortified after fermentation and the style does not permit the addition of either mosto cotto or sifone, thus it must be secco in style.
How much age does solera Marsala require?
Must spend at least five years in solera prior to bottling.
What is “Vecchio Samperi” and who makes it?
A Marsala of Vergine-quality, but released as vino de tavola due to its lack of fortification.
100% Grillo. Vecchio Samperi was Marco De Bartoli’s first wine, his homage to the oldest form of Marsala wine as was encountered by Brit John Woodhouse when he landed in Marsala in 1773. This old, original style was made by a method called il perpetuum–essentially a form of solera aging, in which younger wine was used to replace older wine that had evaporated or been drawn off for drinking–and was the starting point for what become known worldwide as traditional Marsala wine (fortification came later as the techquies of Port, Madeira and Sherry found their way across the ocean to Sicily).
What does vintage refer to on a bottle of Marsala?
Vintage Marsala exists. A vintage on a bottle refers to the year of fortification.
What are the minimum alcohol levels for Marsala before and after fortification?
12% (natural)
Fine: 17% (after fortification)
Superiore, Vergine, Solera, and Riserva styles: 18% (after fortification)
What are the maximum yields for Marsala?
White Varieties: 10 tons/ha
Red Varieties: 9 tons/ha
