North

Question 1

What are the aging requirements for Barbaresco and Barolo, as well as the riservas?

Answer 1

Barbaresco: 2 yrs (9 mos barrel)/4 yrs total
Barolo: must be aged min. 38 mos from Nov. 1 of harvest year; 18 mos in oak. Riserva total 62 mos aging

Question 2

What is the translation of “bricco” and “sori”, and why are these terms important in Piedmont?

Answer 2

Bricco: sun-catching crest of the hill
Sori: south-facing part of the slope where snow melts first

Usually part of famous vineyards in Barolo

Question 3

What is flysch, and where will you find it?

Answer 3

Calcium-rich marl and sandstone soil, in the Collio and Friuli Colli Orientale in Friuli-Venezia-Giulia

Question 4

Where is the Ramandolo DOCG, and what kind of wine is made there?

Answer 4

Far north of Colli Orientale in Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Made with verduzzo

Question 5

What does “Piemonte” translate to?

Answer 5

Foot of the mountains

Question 6

What is the most widely planted grape in northern Italy?

Answer 6

Barbera

Question 7

What is the name for Nebbiolo in northern Piedmont?

Answer 7

Spanna

Question 8

What is another name for Verdicchio, used in NE Italy? What is it called specifically in Soave?

Answer 8

Lugana

Soave: Trebbiano di Soave

Question 9

Where is Oltrepo Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG located?

Answer 9

Lombardy

Question 10

What are the best recent vintages for Piedmont?

Answer 10

2001
2004
2006
2007
2009
2010
2013
(Same as rest of Italy)

Question 11

90% of the wines of Barolo are located in 5 of the 11 communes of Barolo. Name the 5.

Answer 11

La Morra, Barolo (western communes); Monforte d’Alba, Serralunga d’Alba, Castiglione Falletto (eastern communes)

Question 12

What is the definition of menzioni geografiche aggiuntive (Barolo)?

Answer 12

a legal geographic designation; the “crus” of Barolo

Question 13

What is the definition of “vigna”?

Answer 13

single vineyard bottlings (Barolo)

Question 14

What is the definition of “sori”?

Answer 14

vineyard on a hill with southern exposure; highly prized (Piedmont)

Question 15

What is the definition of a “cru”?

Answer 15

a single vineyard in Barolo/Barbaresco

Question 16

What are botti?

Answer 16

large oak casks

Question 17

What river separates Roero and Langhe?

Answer 17

Tanaro

Question 18

What are the two main soil types in Barolo DOCG and how do they differ?

Answer 18

Tortonian: located in west (La Morra, Barolo); more calcareous marl; wines are more fragrant, softer, open-knit
Serravallian/Helvetian: located in east (Serralunga, Monnforte, Castiglione Falletto); more sandstone, less fertile; wines have more structure

Question 19

Name some notably good and notably poor vintages in Barolo since 2000.

Answer 19

Good: 2001, 2010, 2013
Poor: 2002, 2003

Question 20

What is Barolo Chinato? Name a few producers.

Answer 20

An aromatized wine with a base of Barolo DOCG. Cocchi, Cappellano