Northern Italy Flashcards

1
Q

Trentino-Alto Adige: Trentino (most Trentino DOC)

A

Similar to Alto Adige, slightly warmer, more South latitude, lower altitude, vyds on valley floor and slopes (both sides)

WHITES: Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio

  • Valley floor: med body, med acid, ripe stone fruit
  • Higher altitudes tend to be like Alto Adige

REDS: Merlot and Teroldego

Deep color, med-high tannin, high acid, med-full body, black fruit

Normally matured in oak, best can age

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2
Q

Veneto Climate, General

A

Warm w moderate rainfall

Foothills vyds: cooling influence from altitude, high diurnal shift, breezes (Lk Garda)

Flat plains vyds: rivers, moist air and fog around rivers (sprays)

  • Veneto IGT-high yielding, simple wines
  • Prosecco DOC-sparkling
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3
Q

Piemont - Gavi

A

Cooler: vines on hills (altitude) and sea breezes

Cortese (local white) long slow ripening in these conditions

  • High acid, floral, pale, light body, high acid, citrus, green apple
  • Protective winemaking, cool ferment in stainless
  • Some use old oak and lees stirring for complexity
  • Some of the best can age
  • Label as Gavi DOC or DOCG
  • If from town of Gavi, label as Gavi di Gavi DOCG
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4
Q

Recitoto della Valpolicella DOCG

and Recioto di Soave DOCG

A

Passito made from high brix grapes – sticks

Sweet wines

Intense red fruit, high alcohol, full body, med-to-high tannins.

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5
Q

Valpolicela - Pasito Method

A

Increases structure and flavor concentration (and color in reds)

  • Grapes picked early (high acid) and dried indoors
  • Ferment later in winter months
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6
Q

Piemonte Climate

A

Moderate Continental, cool winter, summer fog, thunderstorms

Mountains to north = rain shadow, wind protection

Some moderation from River Po and Lake Maggiore

Noted for foothills 150 – 600m providing aspect and altitude

Most famous areas are South of Turin – Asti and Alba

No IGT or IGP wines, only DOC or DOCG

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7
Q

Italian Wine Labelling

A

PDO general: DOP: Denominazione di Origine Protetta

DOC: Demoninazione di Origine Controllata

  • By geographic boundaries and grape/production limits

DOCG: Demoninazione di Origine Controllata Garantita

  • Meets all DOC, bottled in area of production
  • Also may be subject to tasting by Ministry of Agriculture

PGI wines: IGP or IGT: Indicazione Geografica Protetta / Tipica

Classico – original boundaries, often the best wines in the area

Riserva – higher alcohol and longer aging than required

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8
Q

Valpolicella Ripasso DOC

A

Ripaso Method: Unfinished Amarone ferment, juice drains off

Unpressed skins (still fermenting) remain

Finished Valpolicella added, ferment continues

Gives color, flavor, and tannins to the wine

Med-to-full body, med-to-high tannin, red cherries and plum

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9
Q

Piemont - Barbaresco DOCG

A

Small, known for Nebbiolo, different than Barolo

Lower south-facing slopes at 200-400m, moderating river

Ripens earlier, more fruit flavors, similar acid and tannin, ages

9 months oak min, 2 years min to release

Smaller region, so less villages are named

Higher quality wines are single vineyards or CRU

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10
Q

Friuli-Venezia Giulia

A

Moderate Continental, cooled by cold mtn air

Most southern vyds near sea = warm maritime climate

Pinot Grigio: Med-to-full body, juicy peach, tropical fruit

Merlot: Med body, med acid, med tannin, red fruit, oak spice

Friulano: Med-to-high acid, med body, pear, red apple, herbs

Collio DOC & Collio Orientali DOC - located in the hills

Premium, more concentrated white

Colli Orientali know for reds

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11
Q

North Italy Climate

A

Moderate climate with dry, short summers

  • Alps shelter from rain
  • Local rivers provide moderate
  • Close to the sea more rain and fungal diseases

Tradition viticulture: high yield at low density, pergola trellis still used for high acid/low sugar (sparkling) or drying

Modern, higher-density planting mostly on VSP

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12
Q

Piemont - Barolo DOCG

A

Horseshoe shaped valley with steep S-facing slopes

Nebbiolo only (others Alba DOC), ripens slowly at this altitude

  • Perfumed sour cherries, herbs, dried flowers
  • Best years: full-bodied, high acid, high tannins, ages well
  • Age: softens tannins, complexes, truffles, leather, tar

Single village and Single vineyard (Cru) labelling

18 months oak age min, 3 years min age to release

Tradition was long aging to deal with harsh tannins

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13
Q

Trentino-Alto Adige: Alto Adige (Most Alto Adige DOC)

A

Terraced vineyards on SE and SW valley hills

Moderate climate - short dry summers, low rainfall

Large diurnal range - altitude

Pinot Grigio: Dry, light-med body, high acid, citrus/green fruits

Also Gewurz, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc

Reds: Schiava - Light, fruity, low-med tannin, raspberry, plums

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14
Q

Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG

A

Passito made dry or off-dry in style

Full-bodied, high alcohol, med-to-high tannin, concentrated red berry and spice

Aged in large oak casks

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15
Q

Northeast Italy Map

A
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16
Q

Piemont - Asti and Alba

A

Defined by the wider area around these two towns

Most DOCc and DOCGs named after a grape then town

  • Barbera d’Asti DOCG for example

Barberra: youthful and fruity w no oak OR oak aged for spice

Dolcetto: Dolcetto d’Alba DOC some of the finest wines

Nebbiolo is widely planted

Asti is famous for Moscato Sparkling

17
Q

Veneto-Soave DOC

A

Soave Classico DOC-foothills, cool soils/altitude, slow ripening

  • Full flavor ripeness and yet high acidity, can age

Soave DOC Vyds on plains, sandy, alluvial soils

Grapes are fruity, med acid, drink young

Garganega – Italian white (and some others)

  • High acid, med body, pears, red apple, stone fruit, white pepper, AGE to almonds and honey
  • Not typically new oak
18
Q

Piemont Grapes

A

Nebbiolo: Slow ripening, high acid & tannin, low color

perfumed sour cherries, herbs, dried flowers

Barbera: Late ripening, med-to-deep color, high acid

low-to-med tannins, red cherries, plums, black pepper

Dolcetto: Early ripening, deep color, med acid

med-to-high tannin, black plum, red cherries, dried herbs

White grapes: Cortese, Muscat

19
Q

Piemont Map

A
20
Q

Valpolicela

A

SAME hills/plains effects as Soave

Corvina – red, thin-skinned native

  • Med color, low-to-med tannins, high acid

Foothills grapes: Valpolicella Classico DOC

The rest: Valpolicella DOC

Pasito >> Amarone, Recitoto, Ripasso