Northern Italy Flashcards
In what year was the DOC system introduced in Italy?
1963
What does DOCG stand for?
Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita
When was the first DOCG awarded?
1980 (Brunello di Montalcino, Barolo, Barbaresco and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano were upgraded from DOC to DOCG)
What is the name of the river that runs through Piedmont?
Po
What is the climate in Piedmont like?
Continental
What mountain range provide a rain shadow effect in Piedmont?
The Alps
What are the main red grapes of Piedmont?
Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, Barbera and Brachetto
Which is Piedmont most planted red grape?
Barbera
Both Barbaresco DOCG and Barolo DOCG are included inside of what bigger DOC?
Langhe DOC
Different aging requirements of Barolo and Barolo Riserva
Barolo: 38 months (including 18 in wood)
Barolo Riserva: 62 months
In what vessel do Barolo traditionalists usually age their wine?
Botti (big Slovanian oak barrels)
In what vessel do the Barolo modernists usually age their wine?
New French barriques
Where in Piedmont is Barolo located?
Southwest
Different aging requirements for Barbaresco and Barbaresco Riserva
Barbaresco: 26 months (including 9 in wood)
Barbaresco Riserva: 50 months
What modernist producer helped Barbaresco achieve acclaimed status?
Gaja
What traditionalist producer distinctively offers great value in Barbaresco?
Produttori del Barbaresco
What is Barolo Chinato?
Aromatized DOCG wine flavored with quinine
Which river helps moderate the temperature in Barolo and Barbaresco?
Tanaro river
Where are Barbaresco, Roero and Barolo compared to the Tanaro river?
Barbaresco and Barolo are south of the river, Roero is north
What styles of wine are produced in Roero DOCG?
Red (min. 95% Nebbiolo)
White (95% Arneis)
Spumante (95% Arneis)
Between Barbera d’Asti and Barbera d’Alba, which is a DOC and which a DOCG?
Barbera d’Asti DOCG
Barbera d’Alba DOC
How is the wine composition different between Barbera d’Asti and Barbera d’Alba?
Barbera d’Alba (min. 85% Barbera, max. 15% Nebbiolo)
Barbera d’Asti (min. 90% Barbera)
What are the main DOC/Gs of both Langhe and Monferrato?
Langhe: Barolo DOCG, Barbaresco DOCG, Barbera d’Alba DOC
Monferrato: Barbera d’Asti DOCG, Nizza DOCG (100% Barbera)
What grape is Gavi made of?
Cortese
In which Italian major region can Gavi be found?
Piedmont
What is the term for both sparkling and slightly sparkling wines in Italy?
Spumante and frizzante
What is the largest region of production by volume of DOCG wine in Italy?
Asti
What grape is Moscato d’Asti mostly made of?
Moscato bianco
Is Moscato d’Asti frizzante or spumante?
Frizzante
What red, sweet, frizzante wine is made in Piedmont?
Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG
In which Italian major region is Franciacorta DOCG located?
Lombardy
What are the three allowed grapes of Franciacorta?
Chardonnay, Pinot Nero and Pinot Bianco
What percentage of grapes from the stated vintage does Franciacorta millesimato require?
85%
Aging on the lees requirements for Franciacorta
Franciacorta: 18 months on the lees
Franciacorta millesimato: 30 months on the lees
Franciacorta millesimato riserva: 60 months on the lees
What are the two DOC/Gs in Lombardy for Nebbiolo?
Valtellina DOC and Valtellina Superiore DOCG
Nebbiolo is locally known here as Chiavennasca
What style of wine is Lambrusco and where is it located?
Red, frizzante, usually sweet wine.
Emilia-Romagna
What is the Italian major region that produces the most wine by volume?
Veneto (lots of unexpensive Pinot Grigio and Prosecco)
What are the different DOC/Gs of Valpolicella?
Valpolicella DOC, Valpolicella Ripasso DOC, Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG and Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG
What is the main grape of Valpolicella and what other grape is usually blended with?
Corvina (main) blended with Rondinella
What is the famous lake of the Veneto?
Lake Garda
Both Recioto and Amarone della Valpolicella are driven by which process?
Appassimento
What is the difference between Recioto della Valpolicella and Amarone della Valpolicella?
Recioto is made in a semi-sweet to sweet style while Amarone is dry to slightly off-dry
What DOC is a stepping stone between Valpolicella DOC and Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG?
Valpolicella Ripasso DOC
What is the main grape of Soave DOC and what is it blended with?
Min. 70% Garganega
Max. 30% Trebbiano di Soave and Chardonnay
What are the two DOCGs of Soave?
Soave Superiore DOCG and Recioto di Soave DOCG
What two major Italian regions share Prosecco DOC?
Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia
What is the main red grape of Trentino-Alto Adige?
Schiava
What are the main DOCGs of Piedmont from west to east?
Barolo, Barbaresco, Roero, Moscato d’Asti, Barbera d’Asti, Brachetto d’Acqui, Gavi
Main DOCGs of Lombardy
Franciacorta, Valtellina Superiore (nebbiolo)
What Italian major region borders Austria and Switzerland?
Trentino-Alto Adige
What are the main DOC/Gs of the Veneto?
Soave, Prosecco, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella
What is the equivalent to off-dry in Lambrusco?
Amabile