Northern Italy Flashcards
Trentino and Alto Adige were once Provinces of which country?
1919
When are Trentino and Alto Adige incorporated into Italy?
1919
What is Alto-Adige also known as?
Südtirol
What languages are primarily spoken in Trentino and Alto-Adige?
Trentino - predominantly Italian speaking
Alto-Adige- predominantly German
What are the four most important white grape varieties of Trentino?
- Pinot Grigio
- Chardonnay
- Müller-Thurgau
- Gewürtztraminer
What are the four most important black grape varieties of Trentino?
Terolego
Merlot
Marzemino
Lagrein
What is the general climate of Trentino?
Moderate Continental
What are the most important climactic influencers on Trentino’s climate?
- The Dolomites protect the region from the worst of the cold northern winds.
- Cool air descends from the mountains at night, creating a high diurnal range.
- Lake Garda and heat building up on the valley floor moderates temperatures.
How much do white grape varieties account for in Trentino’s total land under vine?
Around 75%
Max. permitted yields of Trentino?
Maximum yields are high, with whites reaching around 100 hL/ha and reds approximately 90 hL/ha.
What are the most widely planted international grape varieties in Trentino?
Whites: Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Bianco, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Gewurztraminer.
Reds: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Pinot Noir.
How much does Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay account for in Trentino’s total land under vine?
About half of the planted hectares.
What three local black grape varieties mostly planted in Trentino?
Teroldego (black cherry), Marzemino (red cherry) and Lagrein (red cherry and black plum)
Teroldego, Marzemino and Lagrein are black varieties all closely related and mostly planted in which Italian wine region?
Trentino
What is the most common black variety in Trentino?
Teroldego
What are the most common training methods for Teroldego in Trentino?
Pergola (traditionally for high yields) and Guyot (for quality minded producers)
What are the best clones of Teroldego in Trentino?
The best clones are 145 and 152 for intense aromas
What hazards is Teroldego most susceptible to?
Drying out of stems, less susceptible to mildews
Where do the best wines from Teroldego in Trentino come from?
The best quality wines come from the Teroldego Rotaliano DOC on sandy and gravelly soils in the far north of Trentino
In Trentino, Teroldego cannot be bottled under the Trentino DOC.
What other GI can be used?
Vini delle Dolomiti IGT (which includes wines from both Trentino and Alto-Adige)
What hazards is Marzemino most susceptible to?
Prone to botrytis bunch rot and powdery mildew
How are Marzemino vines typically trained in Teroldego?
Older vines were usually trained on pergolas; newer lower-yielding clones have been trained as spurred cordons.
Where are the best wines from Marzemino in Trentino found?
The best, ripest, wines come from the Ziresi subzone of the Trentino DOC due to full sun exposure and rich calcareous/clay and basalt soils.
In what sites does Lagrein fare better?
Needs warm site with plenty of sunshine
What hazards is Lagrein most susceptible to?
Poor fruit set, and therefore low yields
How is Lagrein treated in the winery in Trentino?
Bitterness and some harshness on the finish is
being addressed by shorter maceration times and ageing in wood. Because of its deep colour,
the variety is also used for rosés.
Lagrein labelling terms in Trentino?
The wines can be labelled in either Italian or German as ‘red’ and ‘rosé’: Lagrein rubino/dunkel and Lagrein rosato/kretzer.
What style of wine is made from Moscato Rosa in Trentino?
Rose-scented sweet wines
The wines are made either by the appassimento method or by picking late harvest fruit. The wines are premium priced.
What hazards is Moscato Rosa most susceptible to?
Poor fruit set, botrytis bunch rot
Where in Trentino is the white variety Nosiola mostly planted?
Grown in the Valley of the Lakes, the warmest area with a sub-continental climate.
What styles of wines are made from Nosiola in Trentino?
It produces a small volume of distinctive white wines with a light hazelnut flavour. It is also made in a semi-dried fruit version, called Vino Santo (not Vin Santo).
What hazards is Nosiola most susceptible to?
Spring frosts, powdery mildew, sour rot
What prices can wines from Nosiola from Trentino achieve?
Dry wine is mid-priced, Vino Santo premium priced.
Describe the typical winemaking practices of white wines in Trentino.
Most white wines are made by soft pressing grapes and fermenting the juice in stainless steel at low temperatures (12–16º) to retain fruit character. They may be aged briefly on the lees for fruitiness, while some top whites are aged in small oak barrels for added vanilla and spice notes.
Describe the typical winemaking practices of red wines in Trentino?
Red wines come in two styles:
* Fresh and fruity with medium tannins and body, achieved through maceration on the skins during fermentation (5–7 days) at moderate temperatures (17– 20°C) and briefly aged in stainless steel or neutral casks.
* Premium reds undergo additional maceration and warm fermentation (26–32°C), then age in small oak barrels, resulting in intense fruit flavours and oak notes.
What are the different categories of Trentino DOC?
- Bianco (minimum 80% Chardonnay and/or Pinot Bianco)
- Rosso (single variety or blends of Cabernets, Carmenère, Merlot)
- Single variety wines (minimum 85% named variety)
- Two-variety blends (specific proportions of listed varieties)
- Rosé (Rosato or Kretzer)
What are the subzones of the Trentino DOC?
Sorni, Isera, Ziresi, Castel Beseno, Valle di Cembra
What are the key businesses and their responsibility in the total production of Trentino?
Trentino’s wine production is dominated by small growers, with co-operatives accounting for 70% of total production, led by Cavit, which produces 60% of the province’s wine.
How much do small estates account for in Trentino’s total production?
About 10%
Why might some producers avoid labelling their wines with Trentino DOC? Example?
Trentino DOC covers common varieties but has high yield allowances, leading high-quality growers like Foradori to sometimes avoid using it.
What styles of wines do each of the Trentino DOC subzones produce?
- Castel Beseno: Moscato Giallo in Bianco and Bianco Passito/Vendemmia Tardiva
- Valle di Cembra and Sorni: dry red and white wines
- Isera and Ziresi: Marzemino Superiore
What are the key DOCs of the Trento Provence?
- Trentino DOC and its 5 subzones
- Teroldego Rotaliano DOC
- Trento DOC
What are the six subzones of Alto-Adige?
Colli di Bolzano
Meranese
Santa Maddalena
Terlano
Valle Isarco
Valle Venosta
Describe the climate of Alto-Adige.
Alto Adige’s mild Alpine continental climate is ideal for grape ripening and acidity retention due to warm air currents, ample sunshine, and significant day/night temperature differences
Describe the soils of Alto-Adige.
The region features diverse soils like volcanic porphyry, quartz, mica rock, and Dolomitic limestone.
What are the typical vine training methods in Alto-Adige?
Vines are typically trained using pergola or Guyot systems.
Typical altitude of Alto-Adige vineyards?
300-700m
There are six unofficial subzones of Alto-Adige based on climate, topography and soils.
Name the two largest
Bassa Atesina
Oltradige
Where is Bassa Atesina, Alto-Adige?
In the south of the province with the warmer climate
Where is Oltradige, Alto-Adige?
Includes Lake Caldaro area
What are the five most grown white grape varieties of Alto-Adige?
Pinot Grigio
Gewurtztraminer
Chardonnay
Pinot Bianco
Sauvignon Blanc
What are the principal white grape varieties for Alto Adige DOC?
Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, and Chardonnay
What are the principal black grape varieties for Alto-Adige DOC?
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Lagrein, Malvasia, Merlot, Moscato Rosa, Pinot Nero, Schiava
What are the two most grown black grape varieties of Alto-Adige?
Shiava
Lagrein
Which three sub-zones of Alto-Adige specialise in Shiava production?
Colli di Bolzano, Meranese, and Santa Maddelena
What is the German name for Shiava?
Vernatsch
How are Shiava vines typically planted and trained in Alto-Adige?
The vines are typically grown on a pergola to cope with their natural vigour and the vines produce high yields
Describe a Shiava wine from Alto-Adige.
The wine is typically a pale ruby wine with perfumed violet and strawberry aromas with a medium to light body and low tannins.
What wines does Alto-Adige Santa Maddelena DOC specialise in?
The Santa Maddelena subzone, in the hillsides northeast of Bolzano, is especially renowned for Schiava, and the wines are typically blended with a small percentage of Lagrein (15%), providing a more full-bodied expression.
Describe the typical winemaking practices in Alto-Adige.
White winemaking focuses on preserving fruit aromas, fermenting must at moderate temperatures (12–15°C) and aging in stainless steel vessels. Mid-priced wines may age on fine lees for 4–6 months, premium wines nearly a year. Top whites and reds like Lagrein and Pinot Noir may be aged in French barriques.
How much do DOC wines account for in Alto-Adige’s total production?
98%
What are the assemblage requirements for Alto-Adige DOC Bianco?
Minimum 75% Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco or Pinot Grigio – two of these varieties must be present but no single variety can exceed 70% of the whole blend).
There is no corresponding Rosso category.
What are the requirements for two variety blends in Alto-Adige DOC?
Two variety blends, for example, Chardonnay-Pinot Bianco or Cabernet-Lagrein in which
both varieties must be more than 15 per cent of the blend each.
What wines are produced under the Alto-Adige DOC?
- Biano: min, 75% Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and/or Pinot Bianco.
- Single variety (red or white): min.85% of named variety.
- Two variety blend: min.15% labelled varieties.
What are the max. yields for white varieties in Alto-Adige?
Around 90h/L
What is the total land under vine in Alto-Adige?
5700ha
What is the average vineyard holding in Alto-Adige?
Around 1ha
How much of a role do co-operatives play in the total production of Alto Adige?
70% of the region’s wine, including high-quality options
Name two significant co-operatives in Alto-Adige.
Cantina Kaltern and Cantina di Tramin
What are the main markets of Alto-Adige wines?
Wine sales focus on Italy (65%), with significant local consumption due to tourism. Key export markets are Germany and the USA
What is the name of the promotional body of Alto-Adige wines?
What do they do?
The Consortium Alto Adige Wines promotes regional wines, branded with the Südtirol logo.
Where is Friuli-Venezia Giulia?
Northeastern Italy, bordering Austria and Slovenia
Describe the climate of Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
Warm maritime climate, influenced by Adriatic Sea and Alps; high rainfall (over 1000m annually).
How much does Friuli-Venezia Giulia account for in Italy’s total production?
3%
How much do white wines account for in Friuli’s total production?
76%
What are the two zones divided by climate and topography in Friuli Venezia Giulia?
Plains: Fertile, alluvial soils with rocky deposits. High yielding.
Hills: calcareous marl, compacted marl known as ponca and sandstone soils. 200-300m alt. Low yielding, high quality.
Name five examples of DOCs located in the plains of Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
- Prosecco DOC (Shared with Veneto)
- Friuli DOC
- Delle Venezia DOC (shared with Veneto & Trentino Alto)
- Grave del Friuli DOC
- Friuli Isonzo DOC
Name two examples of DOCs located in the hills of Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
Collio DOC and Friuli Colli Orientali DOC
What are the most important local varieties grown in Friuli?
Pinot Grigio, Glera, Ribolla Gialla, Malvasia Istriana, Verduzzo, Picolit, Refosco, Schiopettino, Pignolo, Tazzalenghe
What varieties in common with Austria and Middle Europe are planted in Friuli?
Riesling, Welschriesling, Gewürztraminer, Müller-Thurgau, Blaufränkisch
What French varieties are planted in Friuli?
Merlot, Sauvignonasse, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Carmenère
What are the six most planted white grape varieties of Friuli-Venezia Giulia?
- Pinot Grigio
- Glera
- Ribollo Gialla
- Chardonnay
- Friulano
- Sauvignon
What is the most planted black variety in Friuli?
Merlot
What is the most significant difference between the varieties grown in Collio and Friuli Colli Orientali DOCs?
Black varieties account for more than 30% of hectares planted, particularly Merlot and Refosco in Friuli Colli Orientali DOC
What are the seven most planted grape varieties in Collio DOC?
- Pinot Grigio
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Friulano
- Ribolla Gialla
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Bianco
- Malvasia Istriana
Describe the typical winemaking practices in Friuli-Venezia Giulia (classic styles).
- Use of stainless steel fermentation, temperature control, cultivated yeasts and pneumatic presses.
- Experimentation with late harvest fruit, skin maceration, lees stirring, oak usage
What have Friuli’s winemaking practices been influenced by?
- The style of clean, mainly unoaked, white wines associated with Friuli was introduced by Mario Schiopetto and others from the late 1960s.
- Drew on German expertise.
How are orange wines from Friuli typically made?
These wines are made from long maceration
(8 days up to 6–8 months) on the skins of white varieties followed by long ageing (2–6 years)
in large format barrels
Name the three pioneers of the orange wine movement of Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
What was the reason?
The pioneers of this movement, returning to old winemaking ways in the face of the perceived industrialisation of winemaking, included Joško Gravner (who also introduced amphora), Stanko Radikon and Dario Prinčič.
What are the principals of orange winemaking in Friuli as pioneered by Radikon and Gravner etc?
- Organic methods in the vineyard
- The use of local varieties (especially Ribolla Gialla), alongside international ones
- Long maceration on the skins
- Fermentation with ambient yeast with no temp. control.
- Long maturation in large format oak or other wood
- No fining or filtration.
- No or limitied s02
Describe an orange wine from Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
Amber, orange or gold in colour. They have pronounced flavours, unlike white wines from the same varieties, of dried fruits, dried herbs, hay and nuts, and medium tannins.
What prices to orange wines from Friuli typically achieve?
Premium prices
Much appreciated by Sommeliers.
When was the Friuli DOC created?
2016
What styles of wine are made under the Friuli DOC?
Bianco, Rosso, Spumante, Varietal
What are the max. permitted yields for Friuli DOC?
About 98hL/ha for most whites.
