Northern Italy Flashcards
What is the climate of Alto-Adige?
Moderate climate with short, dry summers and low rainfall.
What is the key grape variety for Alto-Adige?
Pinot Grigio
Where are the grapes planted in Alto-Adige?
Terraces on the South East and South West of the river valley (R. Adige)
What is the climate of Trentino?
Moderate climate with short dry summers with low rainfall.
Give 3 reasons why Trentino is warmer than Alto-Adige.
More southerly
More vineyards at lower altitude
Mountains protect region from cooling Lake Garda
Where are the vines planted in Trentino?
On the wider valley floor as well as the valley slopes.
What is the key grape variety for Trentino?
Pinot Grigio
Compare Pinot Grigio from Trentino’s valley floor to Alto Adige
Many of Trentino’s wines are made on the warmer valley floor so grapes are riper than in Alto Adige.
Trentino: dry, medium body, medium acidity, ripe stone fruit
Alto Adige: dry, light to medium body, high acidity, citrus and green fruit
Where in Italy is Friuli-Venezia Giulia?
North Eastern corner of Italy.
Friuli-Venezia Giulia can be thought of as two different regions. Highlight the two and their differences.
Fruili Grave DOC: flat plain, warm Mediterranean climate, simple fruity style
Collio DOC/ Collio Orientali DOC: alpine foothills, cooled by cold mountain air, moderate continental, premium concentrated wines
Describe a Pinot Grigio from Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
Medium to full body with peach and tropical fruit flavours.
What is the climate of Veneto?
Warm with moderate rainfall.
Cooling influences in the northern foothills come from:
Altitude
High diurnal temperatures
Evening cooling off the Alps
Higher acidity
Breezes off Lake Garda
Climate issues in the Southern flat plain:
Moist air & fog off the River Po.
Increased risk of rot, more spraying
What are the two important sub-regions of Veneto that have different climates in the Northern foothills versus Southern plains?
Soave & Valpolicella
What is the key grape variety in Soave DOC?
Garganega
A white wine from Veneto with medium to high acidity, medium body & aromas of pears, red apple, stone fruit & white pepper is?
Soave DOC or Soave Classico DOC
Compare the region and wines of Soave DOC to Soave Classico DOC
Soave DOC: flat plain, sandy alluvial soils aid ripening, fruity with medium acidity
Soave Classico DOC: alpine foothills, cooling limestone and clay soils with volcanic rocks, wines can age developing honey and almonds
What is the key grape variety in Valpolicella DOC?
Corvina
Compare the region of Valpolicella DOC to Valpolicella Classico DOC.
Valpolicella DOC: flat plain, gravel and sand soils aid ripening
Valpolicella Classico DOC: alpine foothill, cooling limestone and clay soils with some volcanic soils
Describe a typical Valpolicella DOC or Valpolicella Classico DOC.
Simple & fruity
Light tannins
Red cherry flavours
Rarely oaked
Drink young
What is the name of the method used widely in Veneto to increase structure, flavours & colour (for red wines)?
Passito
How is Passito carried out?
Grapes are picked early, so naturally high in acidity.
Dried indoors to concentrate flavours and sugars.
Fermented later during winter.
What are the two main styles of wines made using Passito and which is sweet?
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG
Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG (sweet)
Which wine from Valpolicella is dry or off dry, full bodied, high alcohol, medium to high tannins with concentrated red berry & spice and aged in large oak casks?
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG
Which wine from Valpolicella is sweet, full bodied, high alcohol, medium to high tannins with concentrated red fruit?
Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG
Which wine from Valpolicella is dry, medium to full bodied, medium to high tannins with stewed red cherry & plum flavours?
Valpolicella Ripasso DOC
Describe how a Valpolicella Ripasso DOC is made.
Before Amarone DOCG wines have finished fermenting the wine is drained off the skins.
Valpolicella that has finished fermenting is added to the Amarone skins.
Yeast and sugar in the skins complete fermentation before pressing.
How does Ripasso change a wine?
The extra skins give more colour, flavour and tannins to the wine.
Where in Italy is Piemonte?
North West Italy
What is Piemonte’s climate and the main influences on the climate?
Moderate continental:
Long summers & long cold winters
Summer hail, thunderstorms & fog
Northern mountains create a rain shadow.
Stops cooling winds and rain
Moderating influence of water:
River Po in the South
Lake Maggiore in the North
Altitude some vineyards on foothills 150-600m
What is the Piemonte region that is located on a south-facing horseshoe valley at 300-500m altitude?
Barolo DOCG
What is the only grape allowed in the production of Barolo DOCG?
Nebbiolo
Describe a good quality Barolo.
Pale coloured red.
High acidity
High tannins
Full bodied
Perfumed aromas of sour cherries, herbs & sometimes dried flowers
Able to develop in the bottle, truffles, tar & leather.
FYI: High tannins and pale colour is unusual, helps to identify the wine
Give three ways the grapes could be sourced for a Barolo and how this would be indicated on the label.
- Multi village blend: Barolo DOCG most common
- Single village: Barolo [village name] DOCG
- Single vineyard: Barolo [vineyard name] DOCG
What is the minimum length and type of ageing for a Barolo DOCG?
38 months including at least 18 months in oak. It can be released from the January of the 4th year after harvest.
Why were Barolo DOCG wines traditionally maturated in large oak barrels for several years?
To soften harsh tannins.
What changes have allowed Barolo DOCG wines to be maturated in small oak barrels?
Better vineyard practices & gentler extraction methods mean smoother, riper tannins that need less time to soften.
What are the two types of barrels used in Barolo DOCG?
Traditional large oak casks used for long, slow softening of tannins.
Shorter time in smaller barrels, some of them new oak.
A region that makes Nebbiolo wines similar to Barolo DOCG is?
Barbaresco DOCG
How does the aspect and altitude of Barbaresco DOCG influence the wine?
Barbaresco DOCG is similarly south facing but lower altitude at 200 - 400m (Barolo DOCG 300-500).
The warmer climate ripens Nebbiolo faster, creating fruitier, less perfumed wines.
What is the minimum length and type of ageing for a Barbaresco DOCG?
26 months including at least 9 months in oak. It can be released from the January of the 3rd year after harvest.
How might higher quality Barbaresco DOCG wines identify themselves on a label?
With the name of the vineyard or cru.
For Barbera d’Asti DOCG, what is the grape variety and where is the wine produced?
Grape: Barbera
Location: Asti in Piemonte
Which wine from Piemonte is medium to deep colour, low to medium tannins, high acidity with flavours of red cherries, plums and sometimes black pepper.
This wine also may or may not have oak influence and may age in bottle.
Barbera d’ Asti
FYI: low-medium tannins are unusual in Italy
For Dolcetto d’Alba DOC what is the grape variety and where does the wine come from?
Grape: Dolcetto
Location: Alba in Piemonte
Which Piemonte wine is deep purple with medium to high tannins and medium acidity, with aromas of red cherries and dry herbs?
This wine can be drunk young or aged.
Dolcetto d’Alba DOC
What is the grape in Gavi DOCG?
Cortese
What climatic features help slow the ripening of Gavi DOCG?
Altitude
Sea breezes
Which Piemonte white wine is pale, light bodied with high acidity & aromas of citrus, green apples and pears?
Gavi DOCG
What are the relevant wine making techniques used to make Gavi DOCG?
Protective winemaking (keep away from air).
Cool fermentation in stainless steel.
Some producers add complexity by using
Large old oak vessels
Lees stirring
Can Gavi DOCG wines age in bottle?
Most are ready to drink on release, the best can improve with ageing.
Summarise Nebbiolo from Piedmonte.
Barolo DOCG: 18/38 months
Barbaresco DOCG: 9/26 months
Pale
High tannin
Perfumed aromas, cherries and herbs, dried flowers. Aged: truffles, tar and leather
Traditionally a large barrel long maturation, to soften harsh tannins
Better vineyard & extraction for less harsh tannins, some new & small barrels.
Summarise Barbera from Piedmonte.
Barbera d’Asti
Optional oak
Med deep colour
Low medium tannin
Red cherries,
Plums
Sometimes black pepper
Summarise Dolcetto from Piedmonte
Dolcetto d’Alba
Deep purple
Med high tannin
Medium acidity
Black plums, red cherries, dried herbs
