North-West Italy Flashcards

1
Q

Langhe is part of what province?

A

Cuneo Province

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2
Q

Most grown grape in Piedmont

A

Barbera

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3
Q

Most grown red and white grape in Piedmont

A

Red (and overall): Barbera

White: Moscato Bianco

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4
Q

Piedmont climate

A

Moderate continental
Cold winters
Hot summers

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5
Q

What protects Piedmont from cold north winds and excessive rainfall?

A

The Alps

Weather systems broguht from the Mediterranean by the Appennines

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6
Q

Weather risks in Piedmont?

A

Thunderstorms
Hail
Fog
Late frosts

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7
Q

Rainfall in Piedmont increases in late Sept, early Oct. So what?

A

Nebbiolo is late ripening

This is a threat to it!

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8
Q

Nebbiolo buds early or late?

A

Buds early

spring forst

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9
Q

Nebbiolo ripens early or late?

A

Ripens very late

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10
Q

Is Nebbiolo a vigorous variety?

A

Yes

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11
Q

Piedmont; Nebbiolo grown mostly in which province?

A

Cuneo province, esp. in Langhe

Also northern provinces

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12
Q

Nebbiolo wine style

A
Pale ruby, turning garnet 3-5 yrs
Pronounced violet, rose, red cherry, red plum
Full body
High tannin
High acid
High alcohol
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13
Q

Nebbiolo gives best, most perfumed wines on what soils?

A

Calcareous marls

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14
Q

Why does Nebbiolo ahve to be pruned high?

A

First few buds are infertile, need more buds so some will bear fruit

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15
Q

Nebbiolo is vigorous. So what?

A
Needs regular canopy management (avoid unripe fruit due to shading)
Trimming of the canopy
Cluster thinning (time consuming)
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16
Q

Nebbiolo clonal research: what was the aim? what is (arguably) the result?

A

Growers wanted deeper colour

Arguably have lost aromatic intensity

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17
Q

Massal selection for Nebbiolo, championed by who?

A

Gaja

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18
Q

Mass selection for Nebbiolo seeks what characteristics. So what?

A
Low vigour (wines with more concentration)
Open bunches (reduce fungal disease)
Small berries (good depth of colour)
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19
Q

Barolo being “the wine of kings, the king of wines” associated with what royal family?

A

The House of Savoy

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20
Q

Exposition in Barolo DOCG

A

South- and south-west facing slopes

200-400m (like Cote d’Or)

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21
Q

Max yields in Barolo DOCG?

A

56hl/ha

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22
Q

Ageing requirement for Barolo DOCG

A

Aged for 3 years and 2 months after harvest (inc. 18 months in oak)

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23
Q

Ageing requirement for Barolo Riserva DOCG

A

Aged for five years and two months (inc. 18 months in oak)

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24
Q

Two contrasting soil-type/zones in Barolo?

A
  1. blue-grey marl in north and west (eg La Morra) => light, aromatic wines, drinkable after a few years
  2. less fertile, yellow-grey compacted sand and clay, in south and east (eg Serralunga d’Alba) => closed and tannic in youth, cellar for 10-15 years
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25
Q

Tradition for blending Barolo from across the region, still championed by which notable producer?

A

Bartolo Mascarello

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26
Q

Barolo DOCG: example of prestigious single vineyards?

A

Cannubi

Vigna Rionda

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27
Q

Early champions of single vineyard wines in Barolo and Barbaresco?

A

Angelo Gaja

Bruno Giacosa

28
Q

MGAs in Barolo can be three types of thing. What are they?

A
  1. Entire village, eg La Morra
  2. Specified single vineyards, eg Bussia, Cannubi
  3. “a number of specified vyds now made into a single MGA” eg Via Nouva now included in Terlo MGA [not very clear tbh]
29
Q

Barolo labels: “vigna” can only appear in what circumstance?

A

If the name of the associated MGA is stated

30
Q

What is Barolo Chinato?

A

Barolo sweetened and infused with herbs and spices

31
Q

Size of Barbaresco DOCG compared to Barolo DOCG?

A

Barbaresco around 1/3 the size of Barolo

32
Q

Differences between Barbaresco and Barolo? (natural environment)

A

Barbaresco shares many of Barolo’s characteristics, but vineyards are at lower altitude and climate slightly warmer. Harvest a week earlier. Wines subtly riper in style.

33
Q

Barbaresco has shorter ageing than Barolo. Why?

A

Lower altitude and warmer conditions => subtly riper style of wine
Needs less ageing
Two years for Barbaresco DOCG, four years for Riserva

34
Q

Ageing requirement for Barbaresco DOCG?

A

2 years

Riserva: 4 years

35
Q

Max yield in Barbaresco

A

56 hl/ha

36
Q

Other than Barolo and Barbaresco, give me some other DOC/Gs for Nebbiolo in Piedmont?

A
Roero DOCG
Gattinara DOCG
Ghemme DOCG
Langhe Nebbiolo DOCG
Nebbiolo d'Alba DOCG
37
Q

Ghemme and Gattinara have higher acidity than Barolo. Why?

A

Continental climate with more dirunal range than Barolo

38
Q

Maceration time for Langhe Neb or Neb d’Alb?

A

7-10 days only

Aged for a year in neutral containers

39
Q

Best Barbera in Piedmont comes from where?

A

Asti and its sub-zones, including Nizza (now its own DOCG)

40
Q

Barbera is grown in Alba as well as Asti. Why is it more prized in Asti?

A

Best sites in Alba are reserved for Nebbiolo. Barbera is the key grape in Asti so gets best sitse.

41
Q

Barbera buds early or late?

A

bUDS EARLY, SPRING FORST

42
Q

Barbera has good disease resistance, but is susceptible to what?

A

Fan leaf virus

43
Q

Barbera ripens early or late?

A

Late, but earlier than Nebbiolo

44
Q

Barbera acidity and tannin levels?

A

High acid, relatively low tannin

45
Q

Typical Barbera style (everyday, early drinking)

A
Medium to deep ruby
Medium intensity red plum, red cherry, lack pepper
High acid
Medium tannin
Medium alcohol
46
Q

Pioneering producer for concentrated, ageworth Barbera?

A

Giacomo Bologna

French oak barriques, low yields, old vines et

47
Q

Barbera d’Asti DOCG: yield and ageing

A

63hl/ha

min four months ageing

48
Q

Nizza DOCG: yield and ageing

A

49hl/ha
18 months ageing
Barbera!

49
Q

Benefit of Dolcetto vs. Nebbiolo and Barbera?

A

It ripens early, can be grown on cooler sites

50
Q

Dolcetto is reductive in the winery. So what?

A

Frequent pump overs and rack and return needed, to introduce oxygen and prevent off-flavours

But it has naturally high tannins so need gentle extraction!

51
Q

Dolcetto has naturally high tannins. Avoid excessive extraction how?

A

Mid-range fermentation
Short time on skins (7-15 days)
Soft extraction

52
Q

DOC/Gs for Dolcetto?

A

Dolcetto d’Alba DOC
Dolcetto di Ovada DOC
Dogliani DOCG
Piemonte DOC

53
Q

Significant producers of Dolcetto?

A
Marcarini (Alba)
Marziano Abbona (Dogliani)
54
Q

What is Freisa

A

Black grape in Piedmont
Renewed attention on it today
Highly aromatic

55
Q

Cortese: yields and flavour intensity

A

High yielding

Typically light inensity (apple, pear, lemon, white flowers)

56
Q

Cortese style

A

light inensity apple, pear, lemon, white flowers
High acid
Medium body

57
Q

% of Cortese in Gavi and Gavi di Gavi

A

100%

58
Q

Important producers of Gavi

A

Castellari Bergaglio

La Scolca

59
Q

Where is Arneis grown mostly?

A

Roero (PIEDMONT)

60
Q

Arneis style

A

Light intensity but complex aromas of white flowers, chamomile, white peach, lemon
Medium (-) acid

61
Q

Roero Arneis DOCG is what % Arneis?

A

95%

62
Q

Champions of Roero Arneis DOCG?

A

Vietti

Bruno Giacosa

63
Q

Name of the IGT in Piedmont?

A

N/A
No IGT at all - either “vino” or DOC/G
Piemonte DOC allows for both local and international varieties

64
Q

Example of a large Piedmont producer that smaller growers traditionally sold grapes to

A

Fontanafredda

65
Q

Why do many small growers in Piedmont now bottle and market their own wines?

A

Higher prices for Nebbiolo wines

66
Q

What % of Barolo and Barbaresco is exported?

A

Barolo: 85%
Barbaresco: 75%

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