Module 7: Chapter 10 - Italy Flashcards
Primary red grape of Valpolicella.*
Corvina
Primary grape variety of Prosecco.*
Glera
Sweet wine made in Valpolicella.*
Recioto della Valpolicella
Name used for Bardolino rose’.*
Chiaretto (name is used for other wines as well)
Appellation used for sparkling wines in Trentino.*
Trento DOC
Grape variety of Barolo and Barbaresco.*
Nebbiolo
Grape variety of Gavi.*
Cortese
Alternative name for Nebbiolo used in parts of Piedmont.*
Spanna
Sparkling wines produced in Piedmont.*
Asti
Moscato d’Asti
Brachetto d’Acqui
Metodo Classico sparkling wine produced in Lombardy.*
Franciacorta
Leading grape of Piedmont (by acreage).*
Barbera
Alternative name for Nebbiolo used in Valtellina.*
Chiavannasca
The “original” Super-Tuscan.*
Sassicaia
The seven sub-zones of the Chianti DOCG.*
Colli Aretini, Colli Fiorentini, Colli Pisane, Colli Senesi, Matalbano, Montespertoli, Rufina
Tuscany’s DOCG white wine.*
Vernaccia di San Gimignano
White DOCG wine of Emilia-Romagna.*
Albana di Romagna
Region that produces Orvieto.*
Umbria
Main grapes of Frascati and Est! Est!! Est!!!*
Trebbiano and Malvasia
Main grape of Taurasi.*
Aglianico
Region that produces Marsala.*
Sicily
Where does Italy rank among producers, consumers, and exporters of wine worldwide?
Often vies with France for most production, long the top wine exporter, and always among the biggest consumers of wine worldwide.
What do some of the unique wines of Italy perpetuate?
Traditional winemaking techniques rarely seen outside of the country.
Some of the classic, distinctive Italian wine styles have no direct imitators. Why?
The distinctive grape varieties those wines are based on have yet to be planted extensively outside of Italy.
Much of the Italian wine exported is to the United States. Why?
There is a large volume of well-made, reasonably priced, extremely food-friendly wine for everyday consumption.
What is the climate of Italy, generally?
Temperate zone. Long, hot summer days and cold winters, with clearly recognizable springs and falls.
There is considerable difference between the cool northern and hot southern portions of the country.
The Mediterranean acts as a moderating influence on the weather. Why?
Outside of the north, there are very few places in the country farther than 75 miles from the sea. This reduces summer heat by a few degrees and wards off the worst of the winter cold.
Topographically, what is distinct about Italy?
It is very mountainous, with little flat land outside of Puglia in the heel, and the Po River Valley in the north.
What led to the profusion of different winemaking techniques and remarkable variety of vines?
Rugged terrain and centuries of political discord.
The Apennines run the length of the peninsula. What is the other major mountain chain in Italy? What does it do?
The Alps form the entire northern border, holding back the Arctic air masses that hit northern Europe. There are also high altitude vineyard sites with large diurnal shifts.
How many regions are there in Italy?
- 18 on the mainland, plus the islands of Sicily and Sardinia.
Where is the industrial heartland of Italy?
The northern tier, around the cities of Milan, Turin, and Venice. The rich agricultural land of the Po River Basin is also there.
Which well known wine regions are in the northern tier of Italy?
Piedmont and Veneto, along with up and coming Alto Adige.
Where is Tuscany?
On the more populated western coast, along the Tyrrhenian Sea.
What is the eastern, Adriatic coast, known for?
It is more rural and agricultural, and tends to be planted more to indigenous Italian varieties.
The Mediterranean lies south of Sicily. Three other seas surround Italy. Name them, from west to east around the peninsula.
Tyrrhenian, Ionian, Adriatic.
Italy relies heavily on indigenous varieties at home. Which two have become widely planted outside of Italy?
Sangiovese and Barbera.
International varieties are now becoming more commonly planted inside Italy as well.
What causes the variation in flavor profile and quality amongst even grapes of the same grape variety?
Terroir is part of this, but within the same variety a number of clones or subvarieties may have developed over the centuries of a grape growing in an isolated area.
Are mutations common in indigenous Italian varieties?
Yes. Some have developed white pink, or red versions. Others are named for here they are grown (Trebbiano Toscano), or other characteristics, like Sangiovese Grosso (large).
How many varieties are allowed in Italian wines? How many if subvarieties are included?
More than 400 varieties. If subs are included, the number is closer to 2,000.
Several varieties are found throughout the peninsula. Which indigenous, and which international?
Trebbiano Toscano, Sangiovese are indigenous.
Chardonnay, Muscat, Merlot, and Cab Sauv are international. All are found throughout the country.
True or false: Most of Italy’s grape varieties are closely associated with one section of the country.
True. Sangiovese, while widely planted, is known as the grape of Tuscany. Nebbiolo is the grape of Piedmont, etc.
When did Italian protection efforts for names and wine origins begin?
Early 1700’s, with the delineation of Chianti areas within the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.
What do modern Italian wine laws regulate?
Many aspects of production including, but not limited to, which varieties can be planted, crop yield, viticultural practices, and winemaking techniques.
Although based on the French appellation system, how many quality designations does Italy have? What are they?
- Vino (basic table wine), Indicazione geografica tipica (IGT), Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC), and Denominazione di origine controllata e garantita (DOCG)
How much of Italian wine production is accounted for by the Vino category?
Vino (or Vini Varietali) account for 40% of Italian production. Following EU rules, they are now allowed to place vintage date, variety, and production zone on the label provided they meet EU standards.
When was the IGT category created? Why?
1992, for winemakers who felt DOC/DOCG regulations were too restrictive.
Some wished to use grapes not approved in their area, or modify the percentages in a blend to make a better overall wine, but without the IGT category, they would only qualify for Vino status.
Where were the first IGT wines from?
Tuscany. As such, they are referred to as Super Tuscans.
IGT now produces 30% of Italian wine, and represents the PGI category of EU wines. They may carry a variety (85% must be that grape), vintage date, and IGT region.
How many IGT regions are in Italy?
More than a hundred.
What separates DOCG wines from DOC wines?
A higher level of specifications, denoted by a special guarantee of the government (Garantita). Wines that have been successfully evaluated get a numbered government seal over the cork.
When was the DOCG category created? When were the first ones awarded?
DOCG was created in 1963, but the first were not awarded until 1980. Among the first awarded were Barolo, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.
How many DOC and DOCG are there in Italy (as of Dec 2019)?
75 DOCG
334 DOC
The numbers will continue to change from year to year.
How many terms may appear on the label within the PDO (DOC/DOCG) category of Italian wines?
- Classico, Superiore, Riserva
These often appear as part of the wine region’s name; i.e. Chianti Classico DOCG, Soave Superiore DOCG
What does Classico denote on an Italian wine label?
A central or historic subzone within a larger geographic region. The territory is often the original center of wine production in the area, and often considered superior to the surrounding areas.
What does Superiore denote on a PDO Italian wine label?
A wine that has a specific higher level of alcohol content than that required of its corresponding normale wine. Usually produced using a lower yield of grapes, higher ripeness level, or both.
What does Riserva denote on a PDO Italian wine label?
Wines that have been aged for a longer minimum than their corresponding regular wines. Total aging time varies according to type and style of wine.
How much wine does Veneto produce?
A large percentage of Italy’s total wine, as well as the largest quantity, by volume, of its DOC and DOCG wines.
What borders Veneto?
North- Austria and Trentino-Alto Adige
East- Friuli-Venezia Giulia and the Adriatic
South- Emilia-Romagna
West- Lombardy
Topographically, Veneto divides into two sections. Describe them.
The south and east are flat and formed by deposits of river sediment emptying into the Adriatic.
The north and west are abruptly mountainous, and it is these foothills (and their valleys) where the majority of the renowned grapes of the Veneto are grown.
What important feature forms part of the southern border of Veneto?
The Po River, Italy’s longest.
What is the climate of the Veneto?
Being so close to both the Alps and the Mediterranean, it varies. The river flatlands and delta can get quite hot and humid in the summer, the slopes of the north and west staying cooler and breezier.
In the winter, it is one of the colder parts or Italy, but the Alps keep the coldest air at bay. The western side of Veneto is moderated by Lake Garda.
What are the three red varieties most closely associated with Veneto?
Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella.
Corvinone was long thought to be a clone of Corvina, but is a distinct, but closely related, variety.
Which of the three red Veneto mainstays is considered the quality grape?
Corvina. It generally makes up the largest portion of the blend.
In wines that require Corvina, how much of the required Corvina portion may now be substituted.
Up to 50% of the portion may now be Corvinone.
What is the primary white grape of Veneto?
Garganega.
Glera is also prevalent, providing the base for Veneto sparkling wine.
What are the common international varieties in Veneto?
Merlot, Cab Sauv, Cab Franc, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco, and Chardonnay.
True or false: Veneto produces predominantly red wine.
False. Veneto produces slightly more white wine than red.
Glera used to be known as Prosecco. When was that changed?
In 2010 a new set of regulations restricted the use of Prosecco to only the region. Only wines produced in the region may now be called Prosecco, everything else is Glera.
What is process called for producing dried-grape wines in the Veneto? Describe.
Appassimento.
Ripe bunches are handpicked at harvest, but set out to dry. Traditionally they are placed in slatted boxes, hung from the ceiling rafters by hooks, or laid on open shelves. The grapes are left to dry until mid-January r longer, losing some 60% or more of their water.
After drying, what happens to the appassimento grapes?
For most, a long, cool fermentation starts and extends into March, April, or even May before being arrested by chilling the wine when alcohol reaches roughly 12%.
The resulting wine still has considerable RS, and is called recioto.
If CO2 is retained in a pressure tank, sparkling recioto can be produced.
What is the model for fermenting appassimento grapes to full dryness?
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG. Fermenting completely dry leads to alcohol levels of 15% to 16%
What is ripasso?
The method of taking lees of appassimento grapes, combining them with young wine, and initiating a short second fermentation. Ripasso wines have more flavor, tannin, and alcohol.
How many DOCG in Veneto?
14, with Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG among the most distinguished.
What are the four styles produced within the boundaries of Valpolicella DOC?
Valpolicella DOC, Valpolicella Ripasso DOC, Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG, and Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG
Where is Valpolicella DOC?
The hills north of Verona.
How long does Amarone have to be aged, and what is its minimum alcohol?
2 years of aging because of its appassimento method, and a minimum of 14%, though most producers reach 15% or higher.
What are the rules for label variations in Valpolicella?
Classico: Must be grown in the heart of the historic growing region,
Superiore: Aged at least one year, and a minimum alcohol level of 12% as opposed to 11% in normale.
Where is Bardolino DOC and Bardolino DOCG made?
In the western Veneto around Lake Garda, following similar recipe to Valpolicella, and the same rules.
Bardolino is also made as a chiaretto (rose) style of wine.
What are the preeminent white wines of Veneto?
Soave DOC is the preeminent still white wine. It must be at least 70% Garganega, and may be blended with Chardonnay and Trebbiano di Soave (local name for Verdicchio). Soave DOC has a central classico zone, and makes a large production volume (when including Soave Superiore DOCG and Recioto di Soave DOCG).
What is the minimum percentage of Glera to be Prosecco?
85%
What does the Prosecco appellation cover?
Northern and eastern Veneto, as well as all of Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
What are the DOCG that produce Prosecco?
Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG and Asolo Prosecco DOCG (Colli Asolani)
Both represent specific areas renowned for their historic quality vineyards and wines.
Where is Lugana DOC and what does it make?
In the west, straddling the border with Lombardy. It makes a pleasant, light white based on Trebbiano di Lugana (recently found to be closely related, but not identical, to Verdicchio.
Confusingly, several areas produce both traditional and modern wines that may come from the same geographical region of Italy, but have different appellations. Give an example.
Piave DOC makes both dry and appassimento wines from traditional and int’l varieties.
However, Piave Malanotte DOCG, occupying the same location, is only approved for red wines based on the indigenous Raboso variety.
International varieties are important in the Veneto. What wines do they feature in?
Both IGT and DOC wines.
A three region DOC was created in 2017. Where is it, and what is it known for?
Delle Venezie DOC. It encompasses the entire area of the Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Trentino regions. It allows for multi-regional varietal wine, like the well-known Pinot Grigio, be labeled as DOC.
How many IGT are in Veneto?
10, including the general Veneto IGT and larger Trevenezie IGT.
What borders Trentino-Alto Adige?
Austria to the north, Slovenia to the east, Gulf of venice on the southeast.
What is the alternate name for Alto adige?
Sudtirol. German is the predominant language.
What language is dominant in Trentino?
Italian, based around the town of Trento.
Is there a lot of agriculture in Trentino-Alto Adige?
No. Grapes grow in the main valleys, but the steep mountain valleys don’t leave a lot of room for anything else.