North East Italy Flashcards
Where is NE Italy?
- North Eastern Italy, bordering the Austrian Alps to the north and Slovenia to the East (45º-46º30′)
Describe Vini delle Dolomiti IGP?
- An IGT spanning Trentino-Alto Adige and some Veneto (but the vast majority of wines are from Trentino-Alto Adige)
Describe Trentino DOC labelling terms?
- Blanco - Minimum 80% Chardonnay and/or Pinot Bianco
- Rosso - Varietal or blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Carmenere and Merlot
- Single variety wines - min 85% named
- Two variety blends from shorter list
- Rosé (Rosato/Kretzer)
What is the influence of Moderate continental climate on the wines of Trentino
- Daytime temperatures can be high due to the mountains providing protection from winds, the lake in the south and the heat build up on the valley floor.
What is the influence of Lake Garda on the wines of Trentino
- Lies to the south
- Moderates temperature
What is the influence of The Alps on the wines of Trentino
- Creates large diurnal range due to cold air descending from mountains at night.
- Retains acidity and prolongs growing season, increasing concentration.
What is the influence of high allowable yields on the wines of Trentino
- Questionable that the DOC is uniformly high quality
- Has encouraged some growers to not use Trentino DOC
What are the growing-environment factors that influence the wines of Trentino?
- Moderate continental climate
- Lake Garda
- The Alps
What are the wine-law factors that influence the wines of Trentino?
- high allowable yields
Describe Moderate continental climate in Trentino
- Daytime temperatures can be high due to the mountains providing protection from winds, the lake in the south and the heat build up on the valley floor.
Describe Lake Garda in Trentino
- Lies to the south
Describe the dry white wines of Trentino
- Unoaked, fresh Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Müller-Thurgau
Describe the dry red wines of Trentino
- Typically Teroldego, Merlot, Marzemino
- Made in two styles, most fresh and fruity, also a minority of premium reds
What is the influence of fermentation temperature on the dry white wines of Trentino
- Most white wines are fermented in stainless steel at low (12-16C) temp
- Retains primary fruit character
What is the influence of lees aging on the dry white wines of Trentino
- Maybe briefly aged on lees and released promptly
What is the influence of oak aging on the dry white wines of Trentino
- some premium whites may be aged in small oak barrels (small proportion of new oak)
- Adds vanilla and spice notes
What are the wine-making factors that influence the dry white wines of Trentino?
- fermentation temperature
- lees aging
- oak aging
What is the influence of fermentation temps on the dry red wines of Trentino
- fresh styles moderate temp (17-20C)
- premium styles higher (26-32C)
What is the influence of aging on the dry red wines of Trentino
- fresh styles stainless steel or neutral wood
- premium styles small oak barrels with some new oak
- vanilla, sweet spice on premium styles with medium(+) - pronounced fruit intensity
What is the influence of maceration on the dry red wines of Trentino
- fresh styles 5-7 days on skins during fermentation
- premium styles 7-14 days after fermentation
- gives medium tannin, medium body
What are the wine-making factors that influence the dry red wines of Trentino?
- fermentation temps
- aging
- maceration
Describe Teroldego in Trentino
- Most common black variety in Trentino
- Best clones are 145 and 152
- Best quality from Teroldeg Rotaliano DOC, outside of here wines must be labelled Vini delle Dolomiti IGP.
Describe Marzemino in Trentino
- Black variety
- Prone to botrytic bunch rot and powdery mildew
- Best wines from Ziresi subzon of Trentino DOC (due to exposure and calcareous/clay and basalt)
Describe Lagrein in Trentino
- Needs a warm site with plenty of sunshine.
Describe Moscato Rosa in Trentino
- Member of the Moscato family used to make rose scented sweet wines
- Wines made by appassimento or late harvest fruit
Describe Nosiola in Trentino
- White variety
- Produces small volume of distinctive white wines with hazelnut flavour
- Also used for Vino Santo (a semi-dried fruit wine)
- Grown in the warmest area (Valley of the Lakes)
What are the characteristics of Lagrein in Trentino?
- Subject of poor fruit set
Why are the disadvantages of Lagrein being Subject of poor fruit set in Trentino
- Low yields
What are the characteristics of Moscato Rosa in Trentino?
- Suffers from poor fruit set and susceptibility to botrytis bunch rot
Why are the disadvantages of Moscato Rosa being Suffers from poor fruit set and susceptibility to botrytis bunch rot in Trentino
- Difficult to grow successfully
What are the characteristics of Nosiola in Trentino?
- Vulnerable to spring frosts, powdery mildew and sour rot
Where is Alto Adige?
- North of Trentino in north-west Italy
Describe Bassa Atesina?
- One of the two larges growing zones (not sub-zones)
- In the south of the province with the warmer climate.
- All main varietals except Schiava is grown
Describe Oltradige?
- One of the two larges growing zones (not sub-zones)
- Includes the Lake Caldaro area
- Schiava, with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in the valleys. Pnot Noir and white varieties at high altitudes.
Describe Alto Adige DOC labelling terms?
- Blanco - Minimum 75% Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco (must be 2 and neither > 70%)
- Single variety wines - min 85% named
- Two variety blends in wich both must be > 15%
- Possible to label with one of 6 subzones
Describe Consortium Alto Adige Wines?
- Body that promotes the wines of the area.
What is the influence of Alps to the North on the wines of Alto Adige
- Provide protection from cold winds from the north
What is the influence of altitude on the wines of Alto Adige
- Vines typically grown 300-700m
- Creates favourable diurnal range for ripening grapes while retaining acidity.
What is the influence of rainfall on the wines of Alto Adige
- Spread through the year with a low amount in winter.
- Can sometimes be a concern at harvest.
What is the influence of variety of soils on the wines of Alto Adige
- Large variety; volcanic porphyry, quartz and mica, and Dolomite limestone
- Gives producers a range suitable for different varieties.
What is the influence of Co-operatives on the wines of Alto Adige
- Very important as average holdings per grower are ~1ha
- Work to encourage quality and pay high prices to incentivise
What is the influence of Sales on the wines of Alto Adige
- 75% in Italy, almost half of that in the province
- Hospitality most important, followed by specialist stores
What are the growing-environment factors that influence the wines of Alto Adige?
- Mild Alpine climate
- Alps to the North
- altitude
- rainfall
- variety of soils
What are the wine-business factors that influence the wines of Alto Adige?
- Co-operatives
- Sales
Describe altitude in Alto Adige
- Vines typically grown 300-700m
Describe rainfall in Alto Adige
- Spread through the year with a low amount in winter.
- Can sometimes be a concern at harvest.
Describe variety of soils in Alto Adige
- Large variety; volcanic porphyry, quartz and mica, and Dolomite limestone
Describe Co-operatives in Alto Adige
- Very important as average holdings per grower are ~1ha
- Work to encourage quality and pay high prices to incentivise
Describe Sales in Alto Adige
- 75% in Italy, almost half of that in the province
- Hospitality most important, followed by specialist stores
Describe the dry wines of Alto Adige
- Pale red Schiava
- International varietals - Pinot Grigio, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc
- Mostly good - very good, inexpensive to mid priced
- Some very good - outstanding, mid to premium priced (especially Pinot Noir)
What is the influence of fermentation temperature on the dry wines of Alto Adige
- For whites, low to moderate temps (12-15C)
- retains fruit aromas
What is the influence of lees aging on the dry wines of Alto Adige
- mid priced wines may be kept on lees 4-6 months
- fills out the body of the wine
What is the influence of oak aging on the dry wines of Alto Adige
- some top wines are aged in French bariques
What are the wine-making factors that influence the dry wines of Alto Adige?
- fermentation temperature
- lees aging
- oak aging
Describe Schiava in Alto Adige
- Four varieties identified but typically grown and vinified together
- Typically grown on a pergola to cope with vigour - high yielding
- Produces pale light/medium body wines
Where is Friuli-Venezia Giulia?
- Italy’s most North-Easterly regions. Bordering both Austria and Slovenia, and the Adriatic to the South.
Describe Consorzio Tutela Vini Collio?
- Growers association