Nebbiolo, Barbera, Sangiovese

Question 1

What climate is Nebbiolo grown in?

Answer 1

Moderate

Question 2

Describe the characteristics of Nebbiolo wine

Answer 2

Dry with high acidity, high tannins, medium to full bodied

pronounced red fruit (red cherry, red plum), dried herbs, floral character (rose, violet)

Question 3

Nebbiolo is often matured for ___ time in oak to soften ___

Can producers use old oak or new oak?

Does Nebbiolo bottle age well? what characters does it develop?

Answer 3

extended, tannins

both

Yes, due to high acidity and high tannins

mushroom, leather, tobacco

Question 4

Describe Barolo DOCG, where is it?

What is the wine like?

Name another region nearby that make similiar wine

Answer 4

Piemonte, a horseshoe shaped valley facing south with steep slopes

Full bodied, pronounced flavours, high level of tannin, acidity, bottle ages well

Barbaresco DOCG

Question 5

Name and describe (simply) the denomination levels of italian wine

Answer 5

1. Vino a Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG)
   More stringent version of DOC
2. Vino a Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC)
   Specific, well defined region according to precise winemaking rules.
   Cannot label grape variety
3. Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT) Created for Super Tuscans, equiv to Vin de Pays
   Wine produced in a specific area

Vino da Tavola (VdT)
“Table wine”
lowest level, no vintage

Question 6

What climate is Barbera grown in?

Describe the characteristics of Barbera wine

Answer 6

Moderate climates

Dry with high acidity, low to medium tannins, medium body.

Moderate red fruit (red cherries, red plums), sometimes black pepper

Question 7

What are the maturation options of Barbera?

Answer 7

Usually unoaked, some choose to age for a time for complexity

Question 8

Where is Barbera’s greatest wine produced?

Answer 8

Barbera d’Asti

Question 9

Compared to Nebbiolo, can Barbera be drunk earlier? Why?

What is a drawback of this?

Answer 9

Yes.

Lower tannins

Less aging potential.

Question 10

What climate is Sangiovese grown in?

Answer 10

Warm climates

Question 11

Describe the characteristics of Sangiovese

Answer 11

Dry with high tannins, high acidity, medium to full bodied

Medium to pronounced flavours of red fruit (red cherries, red plums), dried herbs

Question 12

What are the maturation and blending options of Sangiovese?

Answer 12

Often aged in oak to soften tannins, add complexity

Can be single varietal or blended with small amounts of other black grapes

Question 13

Describe each of the categories of wines of Chianti, and the wines themselves

Answer 13

1. Chianti DOCG
   largest by area, varied quality, simple, inexpensive, not intended for aging
2. Chianti Classico DOCG
   Higher altitude, in the hills around Chianti. Has a longer growing season. Pronounced red fruit, dried herbs, often see oak and will mature in bottle to produce meat and leather ‘

Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG
Same as Chianti Classico, stricter aging requirements, will show tertiary flavours on release

Question 14

What is Brunello di Montalcino like? What is the wine like?

Answer 14

Warm and sunny and more southerly.

Powerful, full bodied, pronounced, high acid, high tannin, must mature in oak for an extended time. Long aging potential

Question 15

What climate is Montepulciano grown in? Where is the most famous wine from?

Answer 15

Warm climates

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC

Question 16

What is Montepulciano wine like?

What are the maturation and blending options?

Answer 16

black fruit. dry, medium acidity, high tannins, light to medium body

Unoaked or matured in oak for a short time

not blended

Question 17

What climate is Corvina grown in? What region is Corvina most associated with?

Answer 17

moderate climate, Valpolicella in the Veneto

Question 18

Describe the wine of Corvina under Valpolicella DOC and Valpolicella Classico DOC

Answer 18

Light, full bodied, fruity, simple. Not matured, drink young

More body and concentration.

Question 19

Describe the appassimento method. Which wine is made with Corvina in this method? What is this wine like?

Answer 19

Involved drying the grapes indoors to raisinate, concentrating the elements of the grape

full bodied, high alcohol, high tannin, pronounced fresh red fruit, dried fruit.

Question 20

How is Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG made? Describe the wine

Answer 20

The apassimento method. Sweet red wine

Question 21

What is a grape variety grown in both California and Puglia, what is it called in each region?

Answer 21

Zinfandel, Primitivo

Question 22

What fruit flavours does zinfandel have?

Answer 22

Red fruit ripening to black fruit

Question 23

Describe white Zinfandel. How is it made?

Answer 23

medium sweet rose, low alcohol, pink, red fruit.

Short maceration by removing the yeast with a filter

Question 24

Describe red Zinfandel/Primitivo.

Why is it matured in oak?

Answer 24

dry, medium to high acidity, and tannin, pronounced black fruit, oak, full bodied.

To soften tannins and add complexity

Question 25

Is Zinfandel blended?

Answer 25

no

Question 26

Old vines produce low yields which can age in the bottle. What flavours develop from Zinfandel?

Answer 26

earth and meat