Northern Italy Flashcards
What are two mountain ranges in Italy?
Capped in north by the Alps.
Defined lengthwise by Apennine Mountains.
What does DOP stand for?
Denominazione di Origine Protetta?
Includes DOC and DOCG
When was the Denominazione di Origine Controllata system introduced?
1963
What does Classico mean?
Traditional, theoretically superior vineyard area within a DOC or DOCG
What does riserva mean?
“Reserve” legally defined. Appellation specific but can indicate longer oak aging, lower yields, or higher alcohol.
What does superiore mean?
Appellation specific.
Denotes higher level of alcohol or longer aging.
What is spumante?
Sparkling
What is frizzante?
Lightly sparkling
What is secco?
Dry
What is Amabile?
Off-Dry
What is Dolce?
Sweet
What is Recioto/Passito?
Wine made from dried grapes that is often sweet
What are the appellations of Northern Italy?
Liguria, Piedmont, Valle d’Aosta, Lombardy, Trentino Alto Adige, Fruili-Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna
What is the Nebbia?
Pervasive fog that often settles over the vineyards during harvest time. Block sunlight to the grapes
Where is Piedmont located?
Northwestern Italy, bordering France and Switzerland.
Cradled by Alps to the north and west and the Apennines to the south and east.
What does Piedmont mean in French?
“foot of the mountain”
Why are hilltop sites preferred in Piedmont?
Avoid the Nebbia fog
What is the climate of Piedmont?
Continental with a rain shadow effect from the Alps protecting the wine region
What is the topography of Piedmont like?
Mountains and rolling foothills
What is the soil in Piedmont?
Limestone and sandstone
Serravallian soil
Helvetian sandstone soils.
Common in Monforte d’Alba and Serralunga d’Alba.
Provide more structure.
Tortonian soil
High proportion of calcareous marl and limestone.
Common in La Morra and Barolo.
Provide a softer style of wine
What are the white grape varieties in Piedmont?
- Moscato
- Cortese
- Arneis
What are the red grape varieties in Piedmont?
- Nebbiolo
- Barbera
- Dolcetto
- Brachetto
What are the regions of Piedmont?
- Barolo
- Barbaresco
- Moscato d’Asti
- Gavi
What is a major river that begins in Piedmont?
Po River
Drains the semi-circle of Apennine and Alps that surround the region
What river do the communes of Barolo and Barbaresco lie?
Tanaro River
What region has the most DOC zones in Italy?
Piedmont
17 DOCGs
42 DOCs
What are the requirements for Barolo?
- 100% Nebbiolo
- 18 months in oak
- 38 months total (from November 1 of harvest year)
What are the requirements for Barbaresco?
- 100% Nebbiolo
- 9 months in oak
- 26 months total (from November 1 of harvest year)
Traditionalists vs Modernist styles of Barolo
Traditionalists: preferred older winemaking techniques. (long macerations, large foudres)
- i.e. Giacomo Conterno, Bartolo Mascarello, Gieseppi Rinaldi
Modernists: use of barriques, shorter macerations, and rounder style of wine,.
- i.e. Paolo Scavino, Luciano Sandrone, Elio Altare
What are the requirements for Barolo Riserva?
- 100% Nebbiolo
- 18 months in oak
- 62 months total (from November 1 of harvest year)
What are the requirements for Barbaresco Riserva?
- 100% Nebbiolo
- 9 months in oak
- 50 months total (from November 1 of harvest year)
What is Barolo Chinato?
DOCG aromatized wine that is flavored with quinine.
Can the Roeroo DOCG produce red and white wine?
Yes.
Red: 95% Nebbiolo.
White: Arneis
Sandy soil creates more lifted and lighter style.
What style of wine is made in Ghemme and Gattinara?
Nebbiolo based reds. Can be blended with Vespolina and Bonarda di Gattinara.
Lighter and more focused acidity
What is Spanna?
Nebbiolo
Are Bonarda di Gattinara and Bonarda di Argentina genetically related?
No
When did Barbera attain DOCG status?
2008
What are the two regions that produce Barbera?
Barbera d’Asti DOCG
Barbera del Monferrato Superiore DOCG
What was the first still white wine promoted to DOCG level in Piedmont?
Gavi DOCG
100% Cortese
Moscato d’ Asti DOCG vs Asti DOCG
Asti DOCG: 100% Moscato Bianco sourced from across Piedmont before undergoing secondary fermentation via Charmant Method. Can also make still wines.
Moscato d’ Asti DOCG: Artisanal product crafted from the ripest grapes and is always frizzante and typically off-dry.
What style of wine is made in Brachetto d’ Acqui DOCG?
100% Brachetto
Typically a sweet sparkling wine, but dry styles do exist.
Where is the Valle d’Aosta?
Northern Italy nestled in western Alps.
Smallest and most populous region
What is the climate in Valle d’ Aosta
Continental.
Long cold winters, short hot summers
Where is Lombardy?
Northeast of Milan in the foothills of the Alps and near Lakes Como, Iseo, and Garda.
east of Valle d’Aosta
What is the climate of Lombardy?
Cool, continental
What is the topography of Lombardy?
Mountainous and rolling foothills
What are grapes that are used in Lombardy?
White: Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco
Red: Pinot Nero and Nebbiolo
What style of wine is made in Franciacorta DOCG?
Metodo Classico sparkling wines
White: Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco
Red: Pinot Nero
What are the aging/lees requirements for Franciacorta DOCG?
- 18 months on lees
- 25 months total
Bottled at 5-6 atm
What does a bottle of Franciacorta labeled Saten indicate?
Wine is made from all white grapes.
Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco
Bottled at less than 5 atm
What percentage of grapes from stated vintage are required to label it as a vintage wine in Franciacorta?
85%
What is the region that still wines from Franciacorta are released under?
Curtefranca DOC or Sebino IGT
What are the aging/lees requirements for vintage Franciacorta?
- 18 months on lees
- 37 months total
Bottled at 5-6 atm
What are the aging/lees requirements for rose Franciacorta?
- 18 months on lees
- 25 months total
- bottled at 5-6 atm
- 25 % Pinot Nero
What is chiavenneasca?
Nebbiolio
Where is Vallentina Superiore in relaton to Franciacorta?
Directly north
What is the climate of Valtellina Superiore?
High altitude and alpine
Abundant sunshine allows for slow growing season
What are the aging requirements for Valtellina Superiore?
- 12 months in cask
- 24 months total
What are the aging requirements for Valtellina Superiore Riserva?
- 12 months in cask
- 36 months total
What type of wines are made in Moscato di Scanzo?
Sweet, red passito wines made from red Moscato grape
Must be aged for 2 years–no wood allowed
What is a futura?
slender 500mL bottle that Moscato di Scanzo is bottled in
similar to shape of Inniskillin’s ice wine
What varietal is famous in Liguria?
Vermentino
Where is Trentino Alto Adige located?
Alpine border of Switzerland and Austria>
Region of two distinct cultures with two nearly autonomous regions . Germany to the north, Italy to the south.
What is the climate of Trentino Alto Adige?
Continental with cold winters and warm summers
What is the topography of Trentino Alto Adige?
Mountainous and rolling foothills
What grape varietals are grown in Trentino Alto Adige?
White: Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay, Sylvaner
Red: Merlot, Lagrein, Teroldego
What is Sudtirol?
Trentino Alto Adige
Where is Fruili-Venezia-Giulia?
Northeaster Italy–extending eastward to the border of Slovenia.
What are the grape varietals are grown in Fruili-Venezia-Giuila?
White: Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Friulano, Chardonnay, Ribolla Gialla
Red: Merlot, Rofosco, Schipettino,
Where is Veneto located?
Northeastern Italy in the foothills of the Alps extending eastward to the border of the Adriatic Sea
What is the climate of Veneto?
Continental with warmer maritime near the coast
What region produces the most wine in Italy?
Veneto
What are the subzones of Veneto?
- Soave DOC
- Soave Superiore DOCG
- Prosecco DOC
- Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG
What are the grapes used in Soave?
Garganega (70%)
Trebbiano di Soave
Chardonnay
What are the grapes used in Prosecco?
Glera
What is the highest regarded cru of Prosecco by the consorzio?
Cartizze
How much of the wine is from the vintage if listed on a bottle of Prosecco?
85%
Where is Fruili-Venezia-Giulia located?
Northeastern Italy, extending eastward to the border of Slovenia
What is the climate of Fruili?
Continetal
What are the grape varieties in Fruili?
White: Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Fruilano, Chardonnay
Red: Merlot
Where is Emilia-Romagna located?
A large region extending from the heart of north-central Italy out toward the Adriatic Sea
What is the climate of Emilia Romagna?
Continental
What is the topography of Emilia Romagna?
Broad and vast plains with intensive agricultural and viticulture elements
What famous foods are from Emilia Romagna?
Parmigiano Reggiano
Prosciutto di Parma
Modena Balsamic Vinegar
What is the primary style of wine produced in Emilia Romagna?
Charmant/tank method red sparkling wine
Is Lambrusco dry or sweet?
Varying levels of sweetness from dry to dolce
What is the grape in Lambrusco?
Lambrusco!
There are over 60 sub-varieties of the grape used.