Marsala** Flashcards
When were Marsala wines most famous?
in the 19th century they were among the world’s most admired fortified wines
Who was John Woodhouse?
English merchant who landed in Marsala in 1773.
What is the vinicultural basis of Marsala wine production?
similar to solera system in wood barrels
What was the original name of Marsala wine?
vino perpetuo
Who was the biggest customer of Marsala in the 19th century?
British Royal Navy
Who contributed to improvement of Marsala wine in the early 1800’s with better viticulture and more systemic use of the solera system.
Benjamin Ingham
Who was the first Italian entrepreneur to be involved in Marsala wine?
Florio, 1832
What factors led to the decline of Marsala in the late 19th century?
phylloxera, increased alcohol tax, static market for fortified wine
Who are the leading producers of Marsala today?
Florio, Marco de Bartoli (IWS) and Pellegrino (Wiki)
What hard-to-match foods pair well with Marsala wine?
asparagus, brussel sprouts and chocolate (Wine Folly) [abc]
How long does Marsala last after opened?
Marsala wine will stay fresh open for about a month.(Wine Folly)
What is Marsala Speciali?
flavored Marsala mixed with fruit, nuts, spices, chocolate and egg - used for cooking
What is the legal status of Marsala Speciali?
eliminated from DOC rules in 1984
What province is associated with Marsala DOC?
Trapani, DOC covers the entire province
What soil is associated with Marsala DOC?
mostly calcareous (terra rossa around Marsala, terre argillose [clay] around Salemi and dark soils in lower Belice Valley
What climate is associated with Marsala DOC?
Mediterranean, one of the driest and warmest of Sicilia
What is the preferred training for vines used for Marsala and what advantages does it confer?
alberello, canopy protects from sunburn, and keeps clusters cooler
What are the base elements of Marsala wine?
usually, a white fortified wine from white grapes
What is the most important grape of Marsala wine?
Grillo (not Catarratto)
What is the relevance of Ingham?
Benjamin Ingham contributed to improvement of Marsala wine in the early 1800’s with better viticulture and more systemic use of the solera system.
When was the Marsala wine growing area delimited?
government delimited it in 1931, before DOC structure existed
When was the Marsala DOC established?
1969
What is the contribution of Inzolia grapes to Marsala?
adds perfume
What is the contribution of Damaschino grapes to Marsala?
minimal, least used grape for Marsala
What red grapes contribute to ruby Marsala?
Nero d’Avola, Perricone and Neretto Mascalese [NNP]
What are the defining aspects of Marsasa Vergine?
fortified white (only!) wine, treatment only with grape spirit or ethyl alcohol, minimum 5 years in oak, < 4% RS, >18% abv [VE=5,R(18th letter)gine]
What are the defining aspects of Marsasa Vergine reserva?
riserva = stravecchio > 10 years maturation in wood barrels
What is role of solera for Marsala Vergine?
can be made vintage or in solera
What is purest and most authentic style of Marsala?
Marsala Vergine
What is the Italian term for treatment of Marsala?
conciati
What are the treatments not used for Marsala Vergine?
Mosto cotto, Sifone, Mosto concentrato
What color and sugar classifications are used for Marsala Vergine?
occasionally labeled oro and secco (but it always qualifies for those two labels)
What are the defining aspects of Marsala Superiore?
wood matured for 2 years and abv > 18% (riserva aged 4 years)
What are the defining aspects of Marsala Fine?
matured for a year (8 months in wood) and abv > 17.5%
What color and RS classifications are used for Marsala Superiore?
oro, ambra, rubino; secco, semisecco, dolce
What color and RS classifications are used for Marsala Fine?
oro, ambra, rubino; secco, semisecco, dolce
Which Marsala styles are vintage labeled?
all: Vergine, Superiore, Fine (rare)
Mosto cotto is used to achieve what effect?
(cooked grape must) adds aromas such as burned sugar and caramel
Mosto cotto is added to which styles of Marsala?
Ambra Marsala Superiore or Ambra Marsala Fine [not Marsala Vergine or Marsala rubino or Marsala oro]
What are the two overall styles of Marsala conciati?
Marsala Superiore and Marsala Fine
Mosto cotto is never added to which style of Marsala?
Marsala Vergine or Marsala rubino or Marsala oro
What is the volume of production breakdown for the different styles of Marsala?
Vergine <1%; Superiore <20%, Fine 80%
Sifone is used to achieve what effect?
(sweet fortified grape must) adds sugar, texture and aromas [FO]
Mosto concentrato is used to achieve what effect?
(concentrated grape must) adds smooth mouthfeel and adjust sweetness
The old term S.O.M. refers to which Marsala style?
Superior Old Marsala > Superiore
The old term G.D. refers to which Marsala style?
Garibaldi Dolce > Superiore
The old term L.P. refers to which Marsala style?
London Particular > Superiore
The old term I.P. refers to which Marsala style?
Italian Particular > Fine
Which Marsala treatments may be obtained from outside the Marsala DOC?
none
What are the defining aspects of Marsala Superiore riserva?
wood matured for 4 years and abv > 18% (compared to 2 years for non-riserva)
What is the primary use of Marsala Fine?
sold to the food industry or intended as a cooking ingredient
What is definition of Marsala secco?
< 4% RS (< 40 g/l)
What is definition of Marsala semisecco?
between 4-10% RS (btwn 40-100 g/l)
What is definition of Marsala dolce?
> 10% RS (> 100 g/l)
What are the treatments used for Marsala Vergine?
only fortification
What is training for vines is allowed in Marsala DOC?
vertical (Guyot) and alberello (preferred)
What is the contribution of Catarratto grapes to Marsala?
considered the traditional grape, adds oxidative aromas
What is the traditional grape of Marsala?
Cataratta (not Grillo)
What type of wood barrels are allowed for Marsala production?
oak or cherry
What are the color markers for white Marsala?
oro and ambra (not rubino)
What are the determinants of color for Marsala?
color of grapes used and proportion of mosto cotto used
What is the percentage of red grapes used in Marsala Rubino?
at least 70%
What is acquavite?
grape spirit (added to all styles of Marsala)
What 4 white grapes are used for Marsala production?
Damaschino, Inzolia, Catarratto, Grillo (DiOCG]
