Northern Italy Flashcards
Trentino-Alto Adige: Trentino (most Trentino DOC)
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
Veneto Climate, General
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
Piemont - Gavi
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
Recitoto della Valpolicella DOCG
and Recioto di Soave DOCG
Passito made from high brix grapes – sticks
Sweet wines
Intense red fruit, high alcohol, full body, med-to-high tannins.
Valpolicela - Pasito Method
Increases structure and flavor concentration (and color in reds)
- Grapes picked early (high acid) and dried indoors
- Ferment later in winter months
Piemonte Climate
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
Italian Wine Labelling
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
Valpolicella Ripasso DOC
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
Piemont - Barbaresco DOCG
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
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
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
North Italy Climate
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
Piemont - Barolo DOCG
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
Trentino-Alto Adige: Alto Adige (Most Alto Adige DOC)
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
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG
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
Northeast Italy Map