Northern italy

Question 1

Pdos of italy:

Answer 1

1) Protected designation (aanwijzing) of origin:
- Denominazione Di Origine Protetta
but the following traditions are more seen on labels:
- Denominazione Di Origine Controllata
- Denominazione Di Origine Controllata i Garantita

2) Protected Geographical Indication
- Indicazione Geografica Protetta
also commonly used
- Indicazione Geographica Typica

3) other labelling terms:
a) classico:
wines that have been made from the original classified land and include the best wines of the area
b) riserva:
higher alc levels and longer ageing than the min stipulated by the app law

Question 2

what is the climate of the north ?

Answer 2

1) thevineyard regions of northern italy are located in the foothills of the alps and on the extended plain of the RIVER PO
2) Overall the area has a moderate climate with dry, short summers
3) the alps forms a barrier that extends (uitstrekt) over the length of the northern italian border
- — it shelters the vineyards from rain
4) local rivers incl the Po and Glacial lakes incl Garda have a moderate influance of to inland areas
5) areas closer to the sea can have more rain, so more chance to fungal diseases

Question 3

What are the grape growing conditions ?

Answer 3

1) the vineyards of the north where traditionally planted wiht high yielding vines at low densities.
2) pergola system was common:
- - protect the grapes from sunburn
- - air circulation less chance on rot
- — pergola system is still used when high acidity and low sugar is aquired: sparkling wines
- — and also for using dried grapes who needs to be free from damage and disease
3) now they use high density plantings with VSP training are now more common

Question 4

Alto Adige:

Answer 4

1) centered around the time of Bolzano in the foothills of the alps
2) italy’s most northern wine region
3) the vineyards are on south east and south west terraces of the river Adige
4) the region has a moderate climate, with short dry summers and low rainfall during the growing season
- - the most vineyards experience a large diurnal range due their altitude
- — making them ideal for the production of aromatic whites and light bodied reds
5) the most notable white wine is pinot grigio
- dry style, light to medium body, high acidity and flavours of citrus, and green fruit aromas

Question 5

Which white and red varieties do you find in Alto Adige ?

Answer 5

1) white:
- pinot grigio
- gewurztraminer
- chardonnay
- pinot blanc
these are the most important

2) red: most important:
- schiava: producing light fruity wines with low to med tann and flavours of raspberry and plum

Question 6

Trentino:

Answer 6

1) the valley is wider here than further north
2) the vines are planted on the valley floor as wel on the slopes on both sides of the valley
3) trentino has dry summers, with low rainfall during the growing season
- - similar to alto adige, but overall a slightly warmer climate
- – this due the trentinos more southerly lattitude
- — the grater number of vineyards at lower altitudes
- — and the mountains to the west side of the valley that protect cool influences from the garda lake

Question 7

what about the grape varieties in trentino?

Answer 7

1) the main whites are chardonnay and pinot grigio.
- the wines from the valley floor tend to be medium bodied with medium acidity and ripe stonefruit flavours
- the wines from higher altitudes on the slopes are similar to the wines of alto adige

2) the red varieties are:
Teroldego: 
- deep colour
- med to high tann 
- high acidity 
- med to full body with aromas of black fruit 
Merlot 
these grapes are grown mainly on the mid slopes or valley floor

Question 8

Friuli Venezia Giulia:

Answer 8

1) the most northern vineyards are planted on the foothills of the alps, enjoying the coling effects of the mountain
2) the climate is moderate continental, cooled by cold air from the mountains
3) The vineyard in the south are based on the flat plain near the adriatic sea and have warm maritime climate

Question 9

what about the grape varieties of friuli venezia giulia?

Answer 9

1) Pinot grigio:
- friuli produces some of the richest pinot grigios in italy
- med to full bodied wines displaying juicy peach and tropical flavours
2) merlot:
- med body
- med tann
- med acidity
- red fruit flavours
- often a hint of spice or oak
3) friulano:
- med to high acidity
- med body and aromas of pear, red apples and herbs

Question 10

wines from the plain are labelled collio doc and colli oriental doc and wines from the hills are labelled as friuli grave.

Answer 10

False:

1) wines from the plain are labelled Friuli grave doc
- - they tend to be white in a simpel fruity style
2) the wines from the hills both north and east are called
- collio doc
- coli orientali doc
- - premium more concentrated wines with coli orientali also noted for its reds

Question 11

veneto is one of italy’s largest wine producing region and known for its best known wines: ____-____

Answer 11

1) soave

2) valpoliciella

Question 12

Veneto: climate

Answer 12

1) the region extends from the southern end of lake garda in the west to venice in the east and ranges from the foothills of the alps in the norths to the flat plains of the Po river in the south

2) the climate is warm with moderate rainfall
3) cooling influences comes from:
- altitude
- exposing vineyards in the foothills to a large diurnal range
- breezes from lake garda
- – west of the region
4) the flat plain is affected by moist air and fog due the river po and so needs a lot of sprays to combat fungal diseases and rot

Question 13

veneto grapes:

Answer 13

the flat fertile plain is a source for high volume inexpensive wines from:

1) pinot grigio, chardonnay and merlot
2) garganega, trebbiano, corvina
- – high yields means that these wines are simpel and fruity and labelled as veneto igt

Question 14

Soave: climate:

Answer 14

soave is at the east of verona and has two distinct parts:

1) foothills to the north: limestone and clay with volcanic rocks
- - these soils are naturally cool, and this together with altitude slows down the ripening
- - leading to grapes with full ripeness yet high acidity
- - the wines are capable of mature for a number of years
2) The vines on the plain are planted on sandy alluvial soils that aid ripening
- - grapes are fruitier with med acidity
- - wines are meant to be drunk young

Question 15

what is the widely planted grape in Soave?

Answer 15

Garganega, small percentage of other grapes are allowed in the blend for soave wines.

the wine:

• med to high acidity
• aromas of ripe pear, red apple, stone fruit and sometimes some white pepper
• – theyre not typically display flavours of oak
• – some of the best examples can age well and develop flavours of honey and almonds

Question 16

wines made using grapes for soave classico, needs to come from the hills. wines made using grapes for soave doc, can come from enywhere in the soave region ?

Answer 16

yeees

Question 17

Valpolicella: soil:

Answer 17

1) north foothills have limestone and clay and volcanic soils
- - quite cold so slow down the ripening and retain a fresh acidity
2) more to the south gravel and sand
- - wines are more fruity with less acidity

Question 18

what kind of grape is corvina ?

Answer 18

1) the maingrape of valpolicella
2) thin skin
3) moderate colour
4) low to med tann
5) high acidity
- - often blended with local grape varieties

Question 19

grapes from the entire valpolicella region are permitted in valpolicella classico doc.

Answer 19

fault: the grapes needs to come from the foothills
for valpolicella doc you can use all the grapes of the region

the wines are simpel and fruity and displays red cherry flavours andlight tann, rarely oaked and made to drink immedeatly

Question 20

what can you tell about the passito method?

Answer 20

1) is widely used in veneto to increase structure and flavour concentration (and colour in the case of red wines)
2) the grapes are picked early when they are still high in acidity and dried indoors, concentrating the sugars and flavours
3) the fermentation does not get underway untill the wintermonths

Question 21

what can you tell me about the passito method in veneto?

Answer 21

1) amarone della valpolicella docg:
- dry or off dry styles
- full bodied with high alc
- med to high tann
- intensely concentrated red berry and spice flavours
- - these wines usually matured in large oak casks

2) recioto della valpolicella docg :
- made of grapes that are so sweet, the ferm naturally stops
- intense red fruit flavour
- high alc
- full bodied
- med to high tannins

3) recioto della soave docg: same passito method

Question 22

what can you tell me about valpolicella ripasso ?

Answer 22

1) uses skins from a fermenting amarone della valpolicella:
- just before the end of the fer of amarone they drain of the amarone
- they use the skins and transfer them into a vat of valpolicella that already has done with the ferm
- the yeast are also transferred so the yeast will ferm the rest of the skins of the amarone and give extra colour, flavour and tannins to the valpolicella
- — resulting in Valpolicella Ripasso DOC

2) med to full bodied wines, med to high tann, stewed red cherries and plums

Question 23

whats the climat of piemonte?

Answer 23

1) north west of italy
2) in the north there are mountains who provides a rain shadow who protects the region from northern winds and precipitation (ander geschut)
3) moderate and continental
- long cold winters and summers that can be subjected to thunderstorms, hail and fog
4) some moderate influences comes from the river Po
in the southern part
– and in the lake maggiore in the north
5) aspect: the area is known by its foothills, ranging from 150- 600 m
— which provides different aspect and lattitudes for viticulture

Question 24

the red grapes of piemonte are:

Answer 24

1) nebbiolo
2) barbera
3) dolcetto

Question 25

the white grapes are:

Answer 25

1) cortese
2) muscato
3) arneis,…

Question 26

there are a lot of pdos is piemonte but the most famous wines are located south of the main city____.

Answer 26

Turin

Question 27

there is no igt or igp in piemonte

Answer 27

thrue

Question 28

What can you tell me about barolo ?

Answer 28

1) The wine region of barolo is a horseshoe (hoefijzer) shaped area spanning several villages
2) the villages each having steep southfacing slopes (300m-500m)
3) the main grape needs to be nebbiolo
4) the wines are often made from grapes sourced of different villages:
- a villag name can appear: eg Barolo Serralunga d’Alba DOCG
- the best wines comes for the vineyard or crus
eg Barolo Canubi DOCG
5) the region does grow other grapes: mainly dolcetto and barbera, but these will be labelled with the generic alba DOC
6) Barolo must be aged for three years before release, whereof 18 months maturation in oak
— usually barolo spended a long time in large barrels to soften the tannins
— today imrovements in the vineyard management and softer ways of extraction can lead to wines with gentle tann

7) the wines can age well and continues in wines with softened tann complexity and aromas of truffles, tar and leather

Question 29

what about nebbiolo ?

Answer 29

1) high levels of tannins and acidity
2) but little colour
3) the grape ripens slowly at these altitude
- - developping fresh sour cherry aromas, herbs and sometimes dried flowers
4) the best year the wines are full bodied with high tann and acidity and have the ability to develop well in bottle

Question 30

whats the differenc between barbaresco and barolo ?

Answer 30

1) barbareco is more north and lower hills from 200-400 m
2) the lower altitude and the influence of a local river there
- - means that nebbiolo ripens earlier here then barolo
3) the acidity and tann level is the same
4) barbaresco is more fruity and less perfumed
5) both ability to age in bottle
6) Barbaresco can be released after 2y and must have matured 9 months in oak

Question 31

Barbera dasti often regarded as higher quality.

Answer 31

thrue

Question 32

what can you tell me about barbera ?

Answer 32

1) late ripening grape
2) thick skin, low to med tann, high acidity
- - displaying aromas of red cherry, plums and sometimaes a little pepper
- - the wines are typically made in 2 styles: youthfull and young, and some maye have oak influence

Question 33

Dolcetto is widely planted, because he is early ripening and therefore can be _____.

Answer 33

planted in the coolest region.
- the wines often have a deep colour 
- med - high tannins 
med acidity 
- black plums, red cherries and dried herbs

Question 34

both barbera and dolcette can be drunk young, but ___.

Answer 34

the best can age for several years

Question 35

you have Barbera d’Asti DOCG, Barbera d’alba ___, but what is Asti known for?

Answer 35

Barbera d’alba DOC, Asti is known for its sparkling wines made from moscato.

Question 36

The white wine region of ___ is located in south eastern Piemonte.

Answer 36

Gavi

Question 37

the vines are growin in ___, where the ___ and ____ ___ result in slow ripening of the white grape ____.

Answer 37

• hills
• altitude
• sea breezes
• Cortese

Question 38

you have Gavi DOCG or Cortese di Gavi DOCG, but what can you put on your label as the grapes comes from the Gavi town?

Answer 38

Gavi Di Gavi DOCG

Question 39

what are the characteristics of Cortese?

Answer 39

• natural high acidity
• pale and light bodied
• aromas of citrus, pear, green apple
• floral flavours

Question 40

most use cold fermentation in stainless steel tanks, what are the other options for this aromatic grape ?

Answer 40

1) they can use oald oak vessels for ferm
2) lees stirring to add complexity
3) most are ready to drink when released from the winery,
- – some can age well in bottle