North Italy Flashcards
Which are the Italian Wine Classifications?
Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) / Denominazione di Origine Protetta (DOP)
Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) / Denominazione di Origine Protetta (DOP)
Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT) / Indicazione Geografica Protetta (IGP)
Vino (formerly Vino da Tavola)
How many DOCGs has Italy?
77
Which was the first DOCG of Italy and when was approved?
Brunello di Montalcino in 1963
Piedmont—“the foot of the mountain”—is cradled on three sides by the?
Apennines and the Alps
Which river flows through the region of Piemonte?
Po
Name the provinces of Piemonte
Asti, Alessandria, and Cuneo
Within these three provinces, the Monferrato and Langhe hills are peppered with vineyards
Southern exposures in Piemonte are known as ?
sorì
Name the grape varieties of Piemonte
Nebbiolo, Dolcetto and Barbera
Other lesser indigenous red grapes of Piedmont include Brachetto, Grignolino, Ruchè, Croatina, Vespolina, and Freisa.
Nascetta, Moscato Bianco, Riesling, Chardonnay, Timorasso, Sauvignon Blanc,Cortese, Arneis, Erbaluce and Favorita (Vermentino)
Piedmont’s most planted white grape is?
Moscato Bianco (Muscat à Petits Grains)
The most prestigious DOCGs in Piedmont are Barolo and Barbaresco, located along the?
Tanaro River in the Cuneo Province, an area encapsulated by the larger Langhe DOC.
Name the communes of Barolo
Although Barolo wines may be produced in 11 communes, the five communes of La Morra, Barolo, Serralunga d’Alba, Monforte d’Alba, and Castiglione Falletto represent almost 90% of the DOCG’s demarcated land
Barolo and Barbaresco ageing requierements?
Barolo: 38 months from November 1 of the harvest year, including 18 months in wood.
Barolo Riserva: 62 months from November 1 of the harvest year, including 18 months in wood.
Barbaresco: Minimum 26 months from November 1 of the harvest year (minimum 9 months in wood), may be released after January 1 of the third year following the harvest
Barbaresco Riserva: Minimum 50 months from November 1 of the harvest year (minimum 9 months in wood), may be released after January 1 of the fifth year following the harvest
Barolo and Barbaresco became DOCG in?
1980
Barolo and Barbaresco max yields?
Barolo: 54,4hl/ha
Barbaresco: 56hl/ha
7.2 tons/ha for wines labeled with”menzioni geografiche aggiuntive” and “Vigna” (the vineyard must be at least seven years old, or maximum yields decrease)
Barolo and Barbaresco min alc?
Barolo: 13,5%
Barbaresco: 12,5%
Barolo and Barbaresco are located in the province of?
Cuneo
Name the communes of Barbaresco
Barbaresco, Neive, Treiso (a frazione of Barbaresco), San Rocco Seno d’Elvio (part of Alba)
Soils of La Morra and Barolo?
Tortonian soils, which contain a higher proportion of calcareous marl, characterize the vineyards of La Morra and Barolo and provide a softer style of wine
Soils of Serralunga, Monforte and Castiglione?
Serravallian (Helvetian) sandstone soils are more common in Monforte d’Alba, Serralunga d’Alba, and Castiglione Falletto and supply more structure in the wine.
Name some modernist producers from Piemonte
Paolo Scavino, Luciano Sandrone, Elio Altare
Name some traditionalists from Piemonte
Giacomo Conterno, Bartolo Mascarello, Giuseppe Rinaldi, Bruno Giacosa
Name the co-op of Barbaresco
Produttori del Barbaresco
Name the top wines of Angelo Gaja
Sperss
Conteisa
Sori Tildin
Sori San Lorenzo
Costa Russi
Gaia y Rey
What is Barolo Chinato?
DOCG Fortified wine, flavored with quinine, spices and herbs
The bark from the South American cinchona tree is steeped in Barolo and then flavoured with a variety of ingredients, depending on the producer’s unique recipe
The resulting beverage is very aromatic and smooth, bittersweet and perfect post dinner digestif
Name the producers that led Barolo Wars in the 1980s
In the 1970s and 1980s, trends in the worldwide market favoured fruitier, less tannic wines that could be consumed at a younger age. A group of Barolo producers, led by the house of Ceretto, Paolo Cordero di Montezemolo, Elio Altare, and Renato Ratti, started making more modern, international styles of Barolos by using shorter periods for maceration (days as opposed to weeks) and fermentation (usually 48–72 hours or at most 8–10 days), less time ageing in new small oak barrels and an extended period of bottle ageing prior to release.[8] By using modern technology, including specialized tanks that allow the wine to be pumped out from underneath the cap of skins and then pumped over, they found ways to maximize colour extraction and minimize harsh tannins.
Which was instrumental for establishing the crus of Barolo?
Led by prominent wine critic Luigi Veronelli, there was a push to have the vineyards of Barolo classified according to the quality of their produce. Winemaker Renato Ratti conducted an extensive study of the soils, geography and produce of vineyards throughout the area and mapped out individual plots based on their quality potential. The “Ratti Map” is still widely used by producers and negociants today
Name the crus of Barbaresco from north to south
OVELLO
MONTEFICO
MONTESTEFANO
PAJÈ
MUNCAGOTA
ASILI
PORA
RABAJÀ
RIO SORDO
Name the crus of Neive
There are only 2 Grand Crus in Neive and that would be Gallina and Cottà with Bordini, Chirrà, Gaja, Balluri
Name the best crus of Treiso
Bernardot, Bricco di Treiso, Pajorè, Rombone, Valgrande
Name the crus of Barolo
Bricco Viole
Brunate (shared with La Morra)
Cannubi
Cannubi Boschis
Rue
San Lorenzo
Sarmassa
Via Nuova
Name the crus of La Morra
Arborina
Brunate
Cerequio (shared with Barolo)
Gattera
Giachini
Marcenasco
Rocche dell’Annunziata
Name the crus of Monforte d’Alba
Bussia (Cicala, Colonnello and Romirasco MGA’s))
Cicala
Colonnello
Dardi
Ginestra (Gavarini Chiniera, Runcot, and Ginestra Casa Mate sub crus)
Mosconi
Munie
Romirasco
Santo Stefano
Name Aldo Contero’s top wines in Monforte d’Alba
Gran Bussia, Romirasco, Cicala and Colonnello
Name the crus of Serralunga d’Alba
Falletto
Francia
La Serra Marenca
Marenca-Rivette
Margheria
Ornato
Parafada
Vigna Rionda
Lazzarito
Name the crus of Castiglione Falleto
Bricco Rocche
Fiasc
Mariondino
Monprivato
Parussi (or Parusso)
Pira
Rivera
Villero
Rocche di CastiglioneNa
Name some top producers from La Morra
Roberto Voerzio
Marcarini
Elio Altare
Poderi Oddero
Fratelli Revello
Renato Ratti
Cordero di Montezemolo
Aurelio Settimo
Mauro Molino
Mauro Veglio
Which commune of Piemonte has the most plantings of Nebbiolo?
Situated in the north central sector of the zone, La Morra ranks first among all the communes as far as most acreage of Nebbiolo planted for production of Barolo
is the biggest and most productive village in Barolo.
it produces the lightest, most aromatic, floral, most elegant wines
Tortonian with less limestone and more sand than the other villages, and also a good amount of clay
Name some top producers from Barolo
Bartolo Mascarello, Marchesi di Barolo, Scarzello, Borgogno, Damilano, Giuseppe Rinaldi, Francesco Rinaldi, Giacamo Brezza, Luciano Sandrone, Vajra
Which is the most famous cru of Barolo?
The most famous vineyard here is Cannubi, which contains both Tortonian and Serravalian soils, creating wines of great complexity
Name the top crus of Castiglione Falleto
Rocche di Castiglione is arguably the best known site here, along with Villero (the source of Vietti riserva), Bricco Rocche of Ceretto, Pira from Roagna , and Monprivato, this last made famous by Giuseppe Mascarello
Name a monopole crus from Castiglione Falleto
bricco boschis from Cavallotto
Name some top producers from Castiglione Falleto
Brovia, Vietti, Paolo Scavino, Cavallotto, Monchiero Fratelli, Giovanni Sordo, Livia Fontana, Roagna – I Paglieri
Fiasco is home to which producer?
This is home territory for the local producer Scavino, who has produced a single vineyard wine here since 1978 called Bric del Fiasc
Villero is famous for producing?
There is more limestone here, and the grapes ripen more because of the western orientation.
The wines are more powerful.
Monprivato is a monopole of?
monopole vineyard owned by Giuseppe Mascarello. Together with Francia in Serralunga (owned by Giacomo Conterno), and Brea (owned by Brovia), this is one of the three great monopole Crus of Barolo. The terroir features chalky limestone-rich soils – comparisons with Burgundy’s Cote d’Or are pretty common – and a southwest orientation.
As with any monopole, it is hard to separate the grower from the terroir. Monprivato produces one of Barolo’s truffleist, most aromatic wines, with a structure that is intense but understated
Name some top producers from Monforte d’Alba
Elio Grasso, Domenico Clerico, Poderi Aldo Conterno, Giovanni Manzone, Josetta Saffirio, Giacomo Conterno, Giacomo Fenocchio, Amalia Cascina in Langa
Which are the most powerful wines of Piemonte?
Serralunga d’Alba followed by Monforte
Who is the top producer of Falleto?
Bruno Giacosa
Name some top producers from Serralunga d’Alba
Fontanafredda, Ettore Germano, Paolo Manzone, Giovanni Rosso, Schiavenza, Palladino, Luigi Pira, Massolino, Giacomo Conterno, Luigi Baudana,
Cappellano (Speaking of hard-core traditionalists, this is the most famous in Serralunga! Cappellano, together with Bartolo Mascarello and Giuseppe Rinaldi, were long dubbed the “last of the mohicans” for their fervent defense of traditional wine-making practices in Barolo)
Name the monopole vineyards of Serralunga
Brea is a monopole vineyard of (i.e. owned entirely by) Brovia, the great Castiglione Falletto producer (covered here) who happens to own just one Barolo vineyard outside of Castiglione, and it is Brea.
Francia from Monfortino of Giacomo Conterno
Falletto in Serralunga monopole of Bruno Giacosa
Name the best vintages for Barolo
1982, 1985, 1989 and 1990
1996 to 2000. Only the 1996s are truly great, however – and many of the best examples have further upside potential
2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2010
2013, 2016 and 2019
Roero DOCG produces which styles?
Bianco/Roero Arneis
Bianco Riserva / Roero Arneis Riserva
Rosso
Rosso Riserva
Spumante (Bianco) / Roero Arneis Spumante
Rosso: minimum 95% Nebbiolo, Maximum 5% other non-aromatic red grapes of Piemonte
Bianco/Bianco Spumante: minimum 95% Arneis, maximum 5% other non-aromatic white grapes of Piemonte
Roero ageing requierements?
Bianco: minimum 4 months
Bianco Riserva: minimum 16 months
Rosso: minimum 20 months including 6 months in wood (may be released from July 1 of the second year following the harvest)
Rosso Riserva: minimum 32 months including 6 months in wood (may be released from July 1 of the third year following the harvest)
Roero soil type?
Sandy soils and produce lighter wines
Gattinara DOCG produces which styles?
Gattinara
Gattinara Riserva
Varieties: minimum 90% Spanna (Nebbiolo), maximum 10% in total of Bonarda di Gattinara and Vespolina (Vespolina cannot exceed 4%)
Gattinara min alc and ageing requierements?
Gattinara: 12.5%
Gattinara Riserva: 13%
Aging Requirements:
Gattinara: minimum 35 months, including 24 months in wood, from November 1 of the harvest year
Gattinara Riserva: 47 months, including 36 months in wood, from November 1 of the harvest year
Ghemme DOCG produces which styles?
Rosso
Rosso Riserva
Varieties: minimum 85% Spanna (Nebbiolo), combined maximum 15% Vespolina and Uva Rara (Bonarda Novarese)
Ghemme min alc and ageing requierements?
Ghemme: 12%
Ghemme Riserva: 12.5%
Aging Requirements:
Ghemme: minimum 34 months, including a minimum 18 months in wood and 6 months in bottle from November 1 of the harvest year
Ghemme Riserva: minimum 46 months, including a minimum 24 months in wood and 6 months in bottle from November 1 of the harvest year
Nebbiolo is also known as?
Spanna
Bonarda is also known as?
Uva Rara, or Bonarda Novarese, is used for blending in Ghemme, whereas another clone, Bonarda di Gattinara, is used in Gattinara
Lessona, Sizzano and Carema DOC produce which styles?
The Lessona and Sizzano DOC zones near Ghemme produce similar Nebbiolo-based red blends, and the more isolated Carema DOC near the border of the Valle d’Aosta produces fragrant Nebbiolo wines, especially in warmer vintages
The name for Nebbiolo used in Lombardy’s Valtellina region is?
Chiavennasca
Which is the traditional bottle of Barolo?
Albeisa
Barolo vineyards must be planted between?
170 and 540 meters (560 and 1,770 feet); there is no minimum altitude for Barbaresco vineyards, but they cannot be higher than 550 meters (1,800 feet)
Just east of Roero, extending into the Asti province, is?
Terre Alfieri DOCG, awarded in 2020
Terre Alfieri requires a minimum of ?
85% for both Nebbiolo-based reds and Arneis-based whites, with superiore, riserva, and vigna designations
Which is the larger denomination covering much of the Roero and Langhe areas?
Nebbiolo d’Alba DOC
Wines must be 100% Nebbiolo and can be made into still red, sparkling red, or sparkling rosato.
Name the five denominations dedicated to Barbera
Barbera d’Alba DOC
Barbera del Monferrato DOC
Barbera d’Asti DOCG
Barbera del Monferrato Superiore DOCG
Nizza DOCG
many of them overlapping, throughout the Langhe, Asti, and Monferrato areas
it most likely originated in the Monferrato province of Alessandria.
Barbera d’Asti lies within which provinces?
Asti (principally) and Alessandria
Name the official subzones of Barbera d’Asti
Tinella, Colli Astiani
Barbera d’Asti DOCG requires a minimum of ?
90% Barbera, and the remainder can be Dolcetto, Freisa, and/or Grignolino
Barbera d’Asti DOCG min alc?
Barbera d’Asti: 12%
Barbera d’Asti Superiore: 12.5%
Barbera d’Asti Superiore con indicazione della sottozona: 13%
Barbera d’Asti ageing requierements?
Barbera d’Asti: 4 months from November 1 of the harvest year
Barbera d’Asti Superiore: 14 months from November 1 of the harvest year, including at least 6 months in oak
Barbera d’Asti Superiore Tinella: 24 months from October 1 of the harvest year, including at least 6 months in wood and 6 months in bottle
Barbera d’Asti Superiore Colli Astiani: 24 months from October 1 of the harvest year, including at least 6 months in wood and 6 months in bottle
Nizza DOCG, formerly a subzone of Barbera d’Asti, was elevated to its own denomination in?
2014
Nizza requires?
100% Barbera
Nizza DOCG min alc?
Rosso: 13%
Rosso with indication of “Vigna”: 13.5%
Nizza DOCG ageing requierements?
Rosso: Minimum 18 months, including at least 6 months in oak, from January 1 of the year after harvest.
Rosso with indication of “Vigna”: Minimum 18 months, including at least 6 months in oak, from January 1 of the year after harvest.
Rosso Riserva: Minimum 30 months, including at least 12 months in oak, from January 1 of the year after harvest.
Rosso Riserva with indication of “Vigna”: Minimum 30 months, including at least 12 months in oak, from January 1 of the year after harvest.
Is manual harvesting mandatory in Nizza?
True
Barbera del Monferrato DOC requires a min of?
85% Barbera and has no aging requirements, generally reserved for lighter, fruitier, youthful Barberas that can even be frizzante
Barbera del Monferrato Superiore DOCG requires?
a higher minimum alcohol of 13% as well as a minimum of 14 months total aging, including 6 months in barrel
Barbera d’Alba DOC min alc and ageing requirements?
Rosso: 12%
Rosso Superiore: 12.5%
Superiore: wines require a minimum 12 months aging including 4 months in wood from November 1 of the harvest year
The Monferrato hills received a third DOCG in late 2010 for?
Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato, an aromatic red wine produced from the local Ruchè grape.
Describe Tortonian soils
were formed 7–11 million years ago
The Marne di Sant’Agata Fossili formation is found primarily in the communes of Barolo and La Morra as well as in Barbaresco. This formation consists of bluish-gray marls and is higher in clay content, resulting in wines that are more perfumed, rounder, and more elegant
Describe Serravallian soils
were formed 11–13 million years ago
The Formazione di Lequio consists of gray marl and light yellow sandstone and is found primarily in Monforte d’Alba and Serralunga d’Alba. The soils here are higher in calcium carbonate, restraining vigor and yielding wines that are more austere, powerful, and structured.
Which are the Dolcetto-Based Denominations?
Dolcetto d’Alba DOC
Dolcetto d’Asti DOC
Dolcetto d’Acqui DOC
Dolcetto di Ovada DOC
Dogliani DOCG
Diano d’Alba DOCG
Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore (Ovada) DOCG
all 100% Dolcetto
Dogliani DOCG min alc and ageing requirements?
Minimum Alcohol:
Dogliani: 12%
Dogliani Superiore: 13%
Aging Requirements:
Dogliani Superiore: 12 months from October 15 of the harvest year (not released until November 1 of the year following harvest)
Diano d’ Alba DOCG min alc and ageing requirements?
Minimum Alcohol:
Dolcetto di Diano d’ Alba 11.5%
Dolcetto di Diano d’ Alba “Vigna” 11.5%
Dolcetto di Diano d’ Alba Superiore 12%
Dolcetto di Diano d’ Alba Superiore “Vigna” 12.5%
Aging Requirements:
Normale: release January 1st of the year following harvest
Superiore: release September 1st of the year following harvest
Dolcetto d’Asti DOC min alc and ageing requirements?
Minimum Alcohol:
Dolcetto: 11.5%
Dolcetto Superiore: 12.5%
Aging Requirements:
Superiore: wines require a minimum 12 months aging from January 1 of the year following the harvest
Dolcetto d’Acqui DOC min alc and ageing requirements?
Minimum Alcohol:
Dolcetto: 11.5%
Dolcetto Superiore: 12.5%
Aging Requirements:
Dolcetto Superiore: wines require a minimum of 1 year of aging from January 1 of the year following the harvest.
Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore DOCG min alc and ageing requirements?
Minimum Alcohol:
Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore: 12.5%
Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore “Vigna”: 13%
Aging Requirements:
Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore: 12 months from November 1 of the harvest year
Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore “Vigna”: 20 months from November 1 of the harvest year
Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore Riserva: minimum 24 months
Dolcetto d’Alba DOC min alc and ageing requirements?
Minimum Alcohol:
Dolcetto: 11.5%
Dolcetto “Vigna”: 12%
Dolcetto Superiore/Dolcetto Superiore “Vigna”: 12.5%
Aging Requirements:
Superiore: wines require a minimum 12 months aging from November 1 of the harvest year
In Piedmont, sparkling wines are produced in a wide range of styles. The region’s largest denomination in total production volume is ?
Asti DOCG
Fully and semi-sparkling wines are called?
Asti spumante, accounted for 65% of production, and the semi-sparkling, or frizzante, Moscato d’Asti accounted for 35%
Asti DOCG requires how much Moscato Bianco?
97%
Tank method is also known as?
Charmat method or the metodo Martinotti
How many atmospheres are Asti and Moscato d’Asti?
Asti spumante is typically between 4.5 and 5 atmospheres of pressure and the traditional muselet wire cage and cork are used for fully sparkling wines.
Moscato d’Asti is typically regarded as higher quality, and the better selection of grapes is reserved for this frizzante version. It cannot exceed 2.5 atmospheres of pressure and is typically topped with a regular cork or Stelvin closure.
Asti and Moscato d’Asti min alc?
Asti: 11.5% (6% acquired)
Asti “Metodo Classico”: 12% (6% acquired)
Moscato d’Asti: 11% (4.5% acquired with max. 6.5%)
Moscato d’Asti “Vendemmia Tardiva”: 14% (11% acquired)
Asti ageing requirements?
Asti “Metodo Classico”: Min. 9 months on the lees
The process of secondary fermentation for Asti may not last less than a month
Moscato d’Asti “Vendemmia Tardiva” must be aged for at least one year from the date of harvest
Asti Spumante is produced at which sweetness?
Prior to 2017, all Asti spumante was required to be dolce, but today all sweetness levels, including secco, are permitted, and there is no maximum alcohol requirement.
Moscato d’Asti it tends to be sweeter, requiring a minimum of 4.5% potential alcohol, or about 80 grams of residual sugar per liter.
Is chaptalization forbidden for Asti?
Only for Moscato d’Asti “Vendemmia Tardiva”
Name the sub-zones of Asti
Canelli, Strevi, Santa Vittoria d’Alba
Which is the most famous sub-zone of Asti?
Canelli, split away from Asti in 2023 to become a DOCG. The wines of Canelli DOCG must be 100% Moscato Bianco, hand-harvested, and in the Moscato d’Asti style only. Vineyard elevation must be between 165 and 500 meters (540 and 1,635 feet) above sea level. A Riserva level with vigna designation requires a minimum 30 months of aging, including at least 20 months in bottle.
Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG is centered around the town of ?
Acqui Terme, in the Alessandria province
Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG produces which styles?
The wines can be made in still, sparkling, and passito styles, all of which require a minimum 97% Brachetto
The off-dry sparkling red wines have boosted the variety’s popularity and helped it survive. Brachetto d’Acqui is typically frizzante and light in alcohol, with residual sugar and flavors of candied strawberries and roses. A less sweet rosato version is also authorized, but production is minimal.
Alta Langa DOCG produces which styles?
Alta Langa Spumante
Alta Langa Spumante Riserva
Alta Langa Spumante Rosato
Alta Langa Spumante Rosato Riserva
Alta Langa DOCG grapes?
Min. 90% combined Pinot Noir and/or Chardonnay
Max. 10% other non-aromatic varieties suitable for cultivation in Piemonte
Alta Langa DOCG min alc and ageing requirements?
Minimum Alcohol: 11.5%
Method: Traditional Method (transvasage permitted)
Aging Requirements:
Spumante: 30 months on the lees
Spumante Riserva: 36 months on the lees
All Alta Langa wines must be vintage-dated.
zero dosage to extra dry
All vineyard plantings must be 250 meters (820 feet) above sea level
Gavi DOCG is produced in which province?
Alessandria
Gavi DOCG, also called Cortese di Gavi DOCG, must be?
100% Cortese and can be still or sparkling.
The best quality expressions of Gavi are labeled?
Gavi di Gavi or Gavi di Tassarolo, coming from those two communes, or from the frazione of Rovereto within Gavi, which is known for especially powerful and concentrated wines. The chalky soils around the town of Gavi help produce more structured and ageworthy wines.
Describe the style of Timorasso
Many compare its very high acidity, rich and powerful body, and intensely herbal and mineral character to those of a dry German Riesling
Name the DOC of Timorasso
Found primarily in Colli Tortonesi DOC, in the Alessandria province, the best examples are those labeled Derthona, the ancient Roman name for the town of Tortona.
Best wines of Nascetta come from?
The subzone Nascetta (or Nas-cëtta) del Comune di Novello, the still or passito wines must be 100% Nascetta and exclusively grown in the classic Novello zone
Gavi ageing requierements?
Tranquillo wines may display only “slight traces” of wood flavors
Gavi Riserva must be aged a min. 1 year (including 6 months in bottle) from October 15th of the year of harvest
Spumante Metodo Classico must be aged for a min. 2 years (including at least 18 months on the lees) from October 15 of the year of harvest
Name the DOCs for Freisa
Freisa di Chieri DOC, in the Torino province, requires a minimum of 90% Freisa, while Freisa d’Asti DOC requires 100% Freisa, both allowing still and sparkling wines in a range of sweetness levels.
Describe Grignolino grape and style
Grignolino is a red variety with three or more pips per berry, giving its wines high tannin even by Piedmont standards. Grignolino is typically a very pale red or pink color and light in body and alcohol, but it has powerful acidity and structure, along with delicate fragrance