Northern Italian Grapes by Region Flashcards

Identify the Italian regions where local and international varietals are primarily grown.

1
Q

Corvina (Corvina Veronese)

A

Veneto -
Primary Grape for Valpolicella & Bardolino
Produced in Verona (hence Veronese)
Late budding, mid-late ripening
Thick skins - appassimento
Light-Med Body, Med Color Intensity, Bright Acidity, Low-Med Tannins
Cherry, Violet, Herbs, Bitter Almonds

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2
Q

Rondinella

A

Veneto
Native - offspring of Corvina
Blending partner to Valpolicella & Bardolino
Easy to grow, resistance to disease, cold & drought
Adaptable to multiple soils and growing conditions
Good for appassimento
Light Body, Low Tannin, Cherry

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3
Q

Raboso, Raboso Piave

A

Veneto
Piave River historical home
Called Friularo around Padova
Raboso = angry due to harsh character, but could be named after tributary
Very High Tannins & Acidity
Confused with Raboso Veronese
Deep Color, Complex, Bright Berry, Violet, Tobacco, Leather

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4
Q

Refosco

A

Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto

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5
Q

Schiava

A

Alto Adige

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6
Q

Lagrein

A

Trentino-Alto Adige

mostly Alto Adige

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7
Q

Teroldego

A

Trentino

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8
Q

Nebbiolo

A

Lombardia, Piemonte (85%)
Valle d’Aosta - Picotendro - pale, less structured
13th C
Nebbia = fog
Early budding, very late ripenning - a challenge to grow
Needs exposure
Prefers calcareous marls
Pale Ruby turning Amber, High Acid/Tannin/ABV, Intense Red Fruits, Rose, Sweet Spice, Leather
Age worthy

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9
Q

Barbera

A

Campania, Emilia Romagna, Lombardia, Piemonte

primarily Piemonte, 67%

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10
Q

Dolcetto

A

Piemonte - Traditional
“Little Sweet One”
Maybe Dogliani or Monferrato
Mostly grown in Langhe and Monferrato
Prized for early ripening and on cooler sites = income sooner
Deep Color, Fragrant, Black Fruit, Tannins

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11
Q

Freisa

A
Piemonte - one of oldest reds
16th C
Lost ground to Barbera and Dolcetto
Light Color, High Acid/Tannin
Distinct wild Strawberry & Raspberry
Bitter so residual sugar added
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12
Q

Grignolino

A

Piemonte
Monferrato native - 13th C
Once widely planted
Grapes contains “pip” which is gignole in Italian
Pale Red (Pink), Light Body, High Tannin and Acid, Fresh Flowers, Red Berry
Immediate Consumption

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13
Q

Bonarda

A

Emilia Romagna, Lombardia, Piemonte

sometimes referred to as but unrelated to Uva Rara

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14
Q

Croatina

A

Emilia Romagna, Lombardia, Piemonte

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15
Q

Ruchè

A

Piemonte
Castagnole, Asti
Rare, aromatic red
Intensely Perfumed, Red Fruit, Spice

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16
Q

Uva Rara

A

Lombardia, Toscana, Piemonte, Puglia

Piemonte is the only province with DOCs for this grape

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17
Q

Sangiovese

A

Abruzzo, Campania, Emilia Romagna, Lazio, Marche, Puglia, Sardegna, Sicilia, Toscana, Umbria

(primarily Toscana, Puglia, and Emilia Romagna)

(most planted variety in Marche, Puglia, Toscana, and Umbria)

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18
Q

Lambrusco

A

Emilia Romagna, Lombardia, Puglia

(primarily Emilia Romagna and Puglia)

(used in several Trentino DOCs)

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19
Q

Cabernet Sauvignon

A

Emilia Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lombardia, Molise, Puglia, Sicilia, Toscana, Umbria, Veneto

(primarily Veneto, Sicilia, and Toscana)

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20
Q

Cabernet Franc

A

Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sicilia, Toscana, Veneto

primarily Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Toscana

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21
Q

Merlot

A

Throughout Italy

primarily Veneto, Sicilia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Toscana

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22
Q

Pinot Nero

A

Mostly Northern Italy

Primarily Lombardia, Trentino-Alto Adige, and Veneto

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23
Q

Grechetto

A

Emilia Romagna, Lazio, Umbria

primarily Umbria and Emilia Romagna

24
Q

Malvasia

A

Calabria, Campania, Emilia Romagna, Lazio, Marche, Puglia, Toscana, Umbria

(primarily Lazio, Puglia, and Umbria)

25
Q

Trebbiano

A

Mostly Central and Southern Italy

(primarily Emilia Romagna, Puglia, and Abruzzo)

(Trebbiano Toscano is wide spread and commonly used in Vin Santo)

26
Q

Vermentino

A

Liguria, Sardegna, Sicilia, Toscana

primarily Sardegna, 68%

27
Q

Arneis

A

Piemonte
Native to Roero Hills
15th C
Bruno Giacosa & Vietti save ’60s
called “Nebbiolo Bianco” - Poor and irregular yields, acid drops quickly
Med-Full Body, Perfumed and Complex, White flowers, Stone Fruit

28
Q

Cortese

A

Piemonte, Veneto

primarily Piemonte, 89%

29
Q

Erbaluce

A

Piemonte - Native Caluso town
White
17th C
Thick Skins, Very High Acid, Suitable for Passito
Vibrant floral, citrus, apple makes good dry

30
Q

Friulano

A

Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto

31
Q

Garganega

A

Puglia, Veneto (95%)
Primary white grape of Western Veneto
1 of most ancient Italian grapes
13th C
Identical to Sicilia’s Grecanico Dorato (its biotype)
Late-ripening, vigorous, very productive
Steely Acidity, White Flowers, Citrus
Used for passito and appassimento technique
related to TT, Albana, MBC, Cattaratto, Marzemina Bianco

32
Q

Glera

A

Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto (94%)
Principal grape of Prosecco (or Prosecco Tondo)
18th C
Late-ripening, prone to fungal disease and water stress
Semi-aromatic
Uncontrolled yields - neutral,
Controlled yields with South Facing =
Soft aromas of White Flowers, Lemon, Pears, Apple

33
Q

Moscato Bianco

A

Lombardia, Piemonte, Veneto

primarily Piemonte, 79%

34
Q

Ribolla Gialla

A

Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Puglia

primarily Friuli-Venezia Giulia, 69%

35
Q

Chardonnay

A

Abruzzo, Emilia Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lombardia, Piemonte, Puglia, Sicilia, Toscana, Trentino Alto-Adige, Veneto

(primarily Sicilia, Trentino-Alto Adige, and Veneto)

36
Q

Pinot Bianco

A

Emilia Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lombardia, Trentino Alto-Adige, Veneto

(primarily Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige, and Friuli-Venezia Giulia)

37
Q

Pinot Grigio

A

Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lombardia, Sicilia, Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto

(primarily Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Trentino-Alto Adige)

38
Q

Brachetto

A
Piemonte (mostly Piemonte 86%), Puglia
Aromatic red
Best in sweet, fizzy and sparkling reds 
Strawberry and Raspberry
Equivalent to Moscato Bianco
39
Q

Sauvignon Blanc

A

Emilia Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sicilia, Toscana, Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto

(primarily Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto, and Trentino-Alto Adige)

40
Q

Gewürztraminer

A

Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Toscana, Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto

primarily Trentino-Alto-Adige and Friuli-Venezia Giulia

41
Q

Picolit

A

Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Sweet

42
Q

Rossese

A

Liguria, Toscana
Identical to French Tibouren
Traditional to Riviera di Ponente
Dolceacqua DOC / Rossese Riviera Ligure di Ponente DOC
Pale Ruby, M Body, Bright Acidity, Floral, Red Berry

43
Q

Welschriesling

A

Lombardia, Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto

primarily Lombardia, 84%

44
Q

Pigato

A

Liguria
Classic White Grape of W Riviera
Riviera Ligure di Ponente DOC
Identical to Vermentino

45
Q

Bosco

A

Liguria
La Specia (Riviera di Levante)
Blended with Vermentino and Albarola (Cinque Terre DOC)
Body and structure

46
Q

Oremasco

A

Liguria for Dolchetto
Dry and Sweet reds for Ormeasco di Pornassio DOC
More herbal and lighter than Piemonte

47
Q

Prié Blanc or Blanc de Morgex

A

Valle d’Aosta
Only native white grape and most widely planted
Mt Blanc foothills 800-1,200m
No phylloxera, vines ungrafted
Pale, Light Body, Steely Acidity, Minerality

48
Q

Petite Arvine

A
Valle d'Aosta
Traditional
From Switzerland
Straw Yellow, High Acidity, High Extract & ABV
Late Harvest
Age Potential
49
Q

Petite Rouge

A
Valle d'Aosta
Indigenous, one of oldest reds
Known as Picciourouzo locally
Main Component in Central Valley
Dark, Medium Body, Acidity, Red Fruit and Flowers
50
Q

Fumin

A
Valle d'Aosta
High Quality native red
Traditionally Central Valley -
Blending partner for body and color
Deep Ruby, Full Body, High Acidity & Tannin
Red Fruit, Pepper, Herbs
Long-lived
51
Q

Timorasso

A
Piemonte
Ancient, rare from Tortona (SE)
Most distinctive white
Walter Massa saved in '80s
High Acidity, Creamy Palate Intense Mineral, Floral, Citrus, Honey
Age worthy
52
Q

Corvinone “Big Corvina”

A

Veneto
Veronese native once considered a Corvina clone (DNA both are different)
Bigger berries, looser clusters traditionally used in Valpolicella & Bardolino
Higher tannins, adds structure in appassimento and meaty savory notes.

53
Q

Glera Lunga

A
Veneto
Once called Prosecco Lungo
Less common then Glera. Not related
Spicier, less floral notes
Can be used as minor component (15%) for Prosecco
54
Q

Raboso Veronese

A
Veneto
Red grape Not Raboso Piave
Is similar but not the quality.
Often co-planted
Veronese is only 10% of plantings.
55
Q

Vespaiola

A
Veneto
Ancient variety and exclusive to Vicenza
name refers to wasps "vespe" which are attracted to the sweet grapes
Vigorous, High Acidity
Known for sweet passitos
56
Q

Manzoni Bianco

A

Veneto
Most successful and HQ Italian cross
Original name “Incrocio Manzoni” after Luigi Manzoni a professor at Enological School of Conegliano 1930s.
Maybe cross between Riesling and Chardonnay
Used in white blends for high acidity and spicy notes
Crisp, Light Aromatic, Mineral, Spicy, White Flowers, Apples, Stone Fruit, Pear