Northern Italian Grapes by Region Flashcards
Identify the Italian regions where local and international varietals are primarily grown.
Corvina (Corvina Veronese)
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
Rondinella
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
Raboso, Raboso Piave
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
Refosco
Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto
Schiava
Alto Adige
Lagrein
Trentino-Alto Adige
mostly Alto Adige
Teroldego
Trentino
Nebbiolo
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
Barbera
Campania, Emilia Romagna, Lombardia, Piemonte
primarily Piemonte, 67%
Dolcetto
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
Freisa
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
Grignolino
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
Bonarda
Emilia Romagna, Lombardia, Piemonte
sometimes referred to as but unrelated to Uva Rara
Croatina
Emilia Romagna, Lombardia, Piemonte
Ruchè
Piemonte
Castagnole, Asti
Rare, aromatic red
Intensely Perfumed, Red Fruit, Spice
Uva Rara
Lombardia, Toscana, Piemonte, Puglia
Piemonte is the only province with DOCs for this grape
Sangiovese
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)
Lambrusco
Emilia Romagna, Lombardia, Puglia
(primarily Emilia Romagna and Puglia)
(used in several Trentino DOCs)
Cabernet Sauvignon
Emilia Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lombardia, Molise, Puglia, Sicilia, Toscana, Umbria, Veneto
(primarily Veneto, Sicilia, and Toscana)
Cabernet Franc
Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sicilia, Toscana, Veneto
primarily Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Toscana
Merlot
Throughout Italy
primarily Veneto, Sicilia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Toscana
Pinot Nero
Mostly Northern Italy
Primarily Lombardia, Trentino-Alto Adige, and Veneto