Northern Italy Flashcards
How many independent wine growing regions are in Italy?
20
What seas surround Italy?
Tyrrhenian
Ligurian
Ionian
Adriatic
What mountain range runs down the center of the Italian peninsula?
The Apeennine Mountains
What is the climate in Italy?
From cool continental in the north to warm Mediterranean in the south
How many grape varieties are in Italy?
Over 1,300 registered grape varieties, hundreds of them indigenous to Italy
How many registered vineyards are in Italy?
Over 900,000 registered vineyards
What is vino?
Generic wines without geographic indication that are labeled with or without a vintage. Can be blanco, rosso or rosato.
What is IGP/IGT?
Wines with a geographic indication. Indicazione Geografica Protetta or Indicazione Geografica Tipica
What is DOP? What does it include?
Denominazione di Origine Protetta includes DOC and DOCG
What is DOC?
Denominazione di Origine Controllata system introduced in 1963 as a means of formalizing and protecting Italian wine appellations.
What is DOCG?
Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita which is the strictest regulation possible. Quality and authenticity are guaranteed.
List the Italian wine classifications from least regulated to most
Vino
IGT
DOC
DOCG
What does “Classico” mean?
A traditional, theoretically superior vineyard area within a DOC or DOCG
What does “Riserva” mean?
“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.
What does “Superiore” mean?
Denotes a higher level of alcohol and longer aging depending on appellation
What does “Spumante” mean?
Sparkling
What does “Frizzante” mean?
Lightly sparkling
What does “Metodo Classico” mean?
Traditional method for making sparkling wines
What does “Secco” mean?
Dry
What does “Amabile” mean?
Off-dry
What does “Dolce” mean?
Sweet
What does “Recioto/Passito” mean?
Wine made from dried grapes that is often sweet
What are the northern wine regions in Italy?
Piedmont Valle d'Aosta Lombardy Trentino-Alto Adige Veneto Friuli-Venezia Giulia Emilia-Romagna Liguria
What does the word “Piedmont” mean in French?
Foot of the mountain
What countries does Piedmont border?
France and Switzerland
What mountains are to the north and west of Piedmont?
The Alps
What mountains are to the south and east of Piedmont?
The Apennines
What is the most important river in Italy?
The Po River
Piedmont Factors of Production
Location: Northwestern Italy
Climate: Continental with a rain shadow effect from the Alps
Topography: Mountains and rolling foothills
Soil: Limestone and sandstone
Piedmont Grape Varieties
Moscato Cortese Arneis Nebbiolo Barbera Dolcetto Brachetto
What is “Nebbia”?
The pervasive fog that often settles over the vineyard near harvest time
Appellations and grape varieties of Piedmont
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)
What grape variety are Barolo and Barbaresco?
100% Nebbiolo
Where are the best vineyard in Barolo and Barbaresco planted?
On hillsides with optimal exposure to ripen Nebbiolo
What are the aging requirements for Barolo?
Minimum 38 months total with 18 months in oak
What are the aging requirements for Barbaresco?
Minimum 26 months total with 9 months in oak
Lombardy Factors of Production
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
Lombardy Grape Varieties
Chardonnay
Pinot Bianco
Pinot Nero
Nebbiolo
Appellations of Lombardy
Franciacorta DOCG - Metodo classico sparkling wines
Valtellina Superiore DOCG - Nebbiolo
Trentino-Alto Adige Factors of Production
Location: On the Alpine border of Austria and Switzerland
Climate: Continental with cold winters and surprisingly warm summers
Topography: Mountainous and rolling foothills
Trentino-Alto Adige Grape Varieties
Pinot Grigio Sauvignon Blanc Pinot Bianco Merlot Lagrein
Trentino-Alto Adige Appellations
Trentino DOC Alto Adige (Südtiroler) DOC
Veneto Factors of Production
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
Veneto Appellations
Soave DOC - Garganega (Dry White)
Prosecco DOC - Glera (Charmat sparkling)
Valpolicella DOC - Corvina & Rondinella (Dry reds)
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG - Corvina & Rondinella
Amarone is made using what process?
Appassimento Process
What is the Appassimento Process?
Grapes are harvested and dried for several weeks. Dry to off-dry, high alcohol wine 14%-16% ABV
Friuli-Venezia Giulia Factors of Production
Location: Northeastern Italy, extending eastward to the border with Slovenia
Climate: Continental
Vinification: Mostly unoaked whites and reds
Friuli-Venezia Giulia Grape Varieties
Pinot Grigio
Sauvignon
Friulano
Merlot
Emilia-Romagna Factors of Production
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.
Emilia-Romagna Appellations
Lambrusco DOC - Lambrusco (Dry or off-dry, charmat red sparkling)
What else is Emilia-Romagna famous for?
Considered the breadbasket of Italy. Famous for Parmigiano-Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma and Balsamic vinegar.
