Northern Italy

Question 1

How many independent wine growing regions are in Italy?

Answer 1

20

Question 2

What seas surround Italy?

Answer 2

Tyrrhenian
Ligurian
Ionian
Adriatic

Question 3

What mountain range runs down the center of the Italian peninsula?

Answer 3

The Apeennine Mountains

Question 4

What is the climate in Italy?

Answer 4

From cool continental in the north to warm Mediterranean in the south

Question 5

How many grape varieties are in Italy?

Answer 5

Over 1,300 registered grape varieties, hundreds of them indigenous to Italy

Question 6

How many registered vineyards are in Italy?

Answer 6

Over 900,000 registered vineyards

Question 7

What is vino?

Answer 7

Generic wines without geographic indication that are labeled with or without a vintage. Can be blanco, rosso or rosato.

Question 8

What is IGP/IGT?

Answer 8

Wines with a geographic indication. Indicazione Geografica Protetta or Indicazione Geografica Tipica

Question 9

What is DOP? What does it include?

Answer 9

Denominazione di Origine Protetta includes DOC and DOCG

Question 10

What is DOC?

Answer 10

Denominazione di Origine Controllata system introduced in 1963 as a means of formalizing and protecting Italian wine appellations.

Question 11

What is DOCG?

Answer 11

Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita which is the strictest regulation possible. Quality and authenticity are guaranteed.

Question 12

List the Italian wine classifications from least regulated to most

Answer 12

Vino
IGT
DOC
DOCG

Question 13

What does “Classico” mean?

Answer 13

A traditional, theoretically superior vineyard area within a DOC or DOCG

Question 14

What does “Riserva” mean?

Answer 14

“Reserve” but it is legally defined. This term usually indicates extended aging in cask or bottle and can denote lower yields and higher alcohol depending on the appellation.

Question 15

What does “Superiore” mean?

Answer 15

Denotes a higher level of alcohol and longer aging depending on appellation

Question 16

What does “Spumante” mean?

Answer 16

Sparkling

Question 17

What does “Frizzante” mean?

Answer 17

Lightly sparkling

Question 18

What does “Metodo Classico” mean?

Answer 18

Traditional method for making sparkling wines

Question 19

What does “Secco” mean?

Answer 19

Dry

Question 20

What does “Amabile” mean?

Answer 20

Off-dry

Question 21

What does “Dolce” mean?

Answer 21

Sweet

Question 22

What does “Recioto/Passito” mean?

Answer 22

Wine made from dried grapes that is often sweet

Question 23

What are the northern wine regions in Italy?

Answer 23

Piedmont
Valle d'Aosta
Lombardy
Trentino-Alto Adige
Veneto
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Emilia-Romagna
Liguria

Question 24

What does the word “Piedmont” mean in French?

Answer 24

Foot of the mountain

Question 25

What countries does Piedmont border?

Answer 25

France and Switzerland

Question 26

What mountains are to the north and west of Piedmont?

Answer 26

The Alps

Question 27

What mountains are to the south and east of Piedmont?

Answer 27

The Apennines

Question 28

What is the most important river in Italy?

Answer 28

The Po River

Question 29

Piedmont Factors of Production

Answer 29

Location: Northwestern Italy Climate: Continental with a rain shadow effect from the Alps Topography: Mountains and rolling foothills Soil: Limestone and sandstone

Question 30

Piedmont Grape Varieties

Answer 30

``` Moscato Cortese Arneis Nebbiolo Barbera Dolcetto Brachetto ```

Question 31

What is "Nebbia"?

Answer 31

The pervasive fog that often settles over the vineyard near harvest time

Question 32

Appellations and grape varieties of Piedmont

Answer 32

Barolo Barbaresco Moscato d'Asti-Asti - Moscato (White Sparkling) Barbera d'Asti - Barbera (Dry red) Gavi - Cortese (Dry White) Brachestto d'Acqui - Brachetto (Sweet sparkling red)

Question 33

What grape variety are Barolo and Barbaresco?

Answer 33

100% Nebbiolo

Question 34

Where are the best vineyard in Barolo and Barbaresco planted?

Answer 34

On hillsides with optimal exposure to ripen Nebbiolo

Question 35

What are the aging requirements for Barolo?

Answer 35

Minimum 38 months total with 18 months in oak

Question 36

What are the aging requirements for Barbaresco?

Answer 36

Minimum 26 months total with 9 months in oak

Question 37

Lombardy Factors of Production

Answer 37

Location: Northeast of Milan in the foothills of the Alps near the famous lakes Como, Iseo and Garda Climate: Cool continental Topography: Mountainous and rolling foothills

Question 38

Lombardy Grape Varieties

Answer 38

Chardonnay Pinot Bianco Pinot Nero Nebbiolo

Question 39

Appellations of Lombardy

Answer 39

Franciacorta DOCG - Metodo classico sparkling wines | Valtellina Superiore DOCG - Nebbiolo

Question 40

Trentino-Alto Adige Factors of Production

Answer 40

Location: On the Alpine border of Austria and Switzerland Climate: Continental with cold winters and surprisingly warm summers Topography: Mountainous and rolling foothills

Question 41

Trentino-Alto Adige Grape Varieties

Answer 41

``` Pinot Grigio Sauvignon Blanc Pinot Bianco Merlot Lagrein ```

Question 42

Trentino-Alto Adige Appellations

Answer 42

``` Trentino DOC Alto Adige (Südtiroler) DOC ```

Question 43

Veneto Factors of Production

Answer 43

Location: Northeastern Italy in the foothills of the Alps extending eastward to the border of the Adriatic Sea Climate: Continental with a warmer maritime climate near the coast

Question 44

Veneto Appellations

Answer 44

Soave DOC - Garganega (Dry White) Prosecco DOC - Glera (Charmat sparkling) Valpolicella DOC - Corvina & Rondinella (Dry reds) Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG - Corvina & Rondinella

Question 45

Amarone is made using what process?

Answer 45

Appassimento Process

Question 46

What is the Appassimento Process?

Answer 46

Grapes are harvested and dried for several weeks. Dry to off-dry, high alcohol wine 14%-16% ABV

Question 47

Friuli-Venezia Giulia Factors of Production

Answer 47

Location: Northeastern Italy, extending eastward to the border with Slovenia Climate: Continental Vinification: Mostly unoaked whites and reds

Question 48

Friuli-Venezia Giulia Grape Varieties

Answer 48

Pinot Grigio Sauvignon Friulano Merlot

Question 49

Emilia-Romagna Factors of Production

Answer 49

Location: A large region extending from the heart of north-central Italy eatward to the coast of the Adriatic Sea Climate: Continental Topography: Broad, vast plains with intensive agriculture and viticulture.

Question 50

Emilia-Romagna Appellations

Answer 50

Lambrusco DOC - Lambrusco (Dry or off-dry, charmat red sparkling)

Question 51

What else is Emilia-Romagna famous for?

Answer 51

Considered the breadbasket of Italy. Famous for Parmigiano-Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma and Balsamic vinegar.