Northern Italy

Question 1

What are the 4 main grape growing regions in Northern Italy?

Answer 1

Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto, Fruili-Venezia Giulia

and Piemonte

Question 2

What is Italy’s most northern grape growing region and what is the climate like?

Answer 2

Alto Adige - Moderate climate with short dry summers and moderate rainfall

Question 3

What is the main white grape variety of Alto Adige and what is the style?

Answer 3

Pinot Grigio

Style: Dry, light to medium body, high acidity with citrus and green fruit flavours.

Question 4

What is the main black grape variety of Alto Adige and what is the style?

Answer 4

Schiava

Style: light, fruity wines with low to medium tannins and flavours of raspberries and plums.

Question 5

How are wines labelled in Alto Adige?

Answer 5

Alto Adige DOC

Question 6

What are the two sub-regions in Trentino-Alto Adige and what are they like?

Answer 6

Alto Adige - Large diurnal range which makes this area idea for the production of aromatic whites wand elegant, light-bodied reds
Trentino - Slightly warmer moderate climate due to being a bit further south, vineyards at lower altitudes, mountains to the west side of the valley that protect the vineyards from the cooling influences of Lake Garda.

Question 7

What are the main white varieties in Trentino and what are their style?

Answer 7

Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio are the main varieties.
Grapes from valley floor tend to be medium-bodied, medium acidity with ripe stone fruit flavours.
Grapes from higher altitudes are similar to those from Alto Adige.

Question 8

What are the main black varieties in Trentino and what are their style?

Answer 8

Merlot and Teroldego (Italian variety) are the two most planted black grape varieties.
Grown mid-slope and valley floor.
Teroldego produces wines with a deep colour, medium to high tannins, high acidity and medium to full body with aromas of black fruit, matured in oak and has ability to age.

Question 9

How are wines labelled in Trentino?

Answer 9

Trentino DOC

Question 10

Describe the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region and what style of wines do they produce?

Answer 10

Located in NE corner of Northern Italy.
Moderate, continental climate cooled by the warm air from the mountains.
Southern vineyards- located on a flat plain near the Adriatic Sea and these have a warm maritime climate.
The vineyards produce rich white and red wines made from Pinot Grigio and Merlot.

Question 11

Describe the style of Pinot Grigio from Friuli-Venezia.

Answer 11

Style - medium to full-bodied with juicy peach and tropical fruit flavours.
Richest style in Italy.

Question 12

Describe the style of Merlot from Friuli-Venezia.

Answer 12

Style - medium bodied, medium acidity, medium tannins and ripe red fruit flavours with a hint of spice from oak.

Question 13

Describe the style of Friulano from Friuli-Venezia.

Answer 13

Style - medium to high acidity wines, medium body and aromas of pear, red apples and herbs.

Question 14

How are wines labelled in Friuli-Venezia?

Answer 14

Friuli Grave DOC - wines from the plain that are white and made in a simple fruity style
Collio DOC and Colli Orientali DOC- located in the hills and are known for more premium, more concentrated white wines and Colli Orientali is known for its red wines.

Question 15

Describe the terrain of the Veneto region.

Answer 15

Extends from the southern end of Lake Garda to the west to Venice in the east, from the foothills of the Alps in the north to the flat plains of the Po in the south.

Question 16

In general what type of wines are produced here?

Answer 16

The flat fertile plain is a source of fruit for inexpensive high volume brands such as Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Merlot and Italian grapes such as Corvina, Garganega and Trebbiano.
Simple, fruity wines labelled Veneto IGT
Prosecco is a sparkling wine DOC. Most are located in Veneto, but some are in Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Question 17

What are the two subregions in Veneto?

Answer 17

Soave and Valpolicella

Question 18

Describe the Soave region.

Answer 18

Located east of Verona and has two distinct parts: foothills to the north and a flat plain in the south, near the River Po.

Question 19

Describe the soils and wines from the Soave foothills.

Answer 19

The soils are made of limestone and clay with some volcanic rocks. These soils are naturally cool and this with altitude helps slow ripening. Wines are full flavour with high acidity and are capable of maturing for several years.

Question 20

Describe the soils and wines of the Soave plain.

Answer 20

Plain- The soils are sandy, alluvial soils that aid ripening so the grapes are fruity with medium acidity. Wines are meant to be drunk young.

Question 21

What is the main white Italian variety grown in Soave?

Answer 21

Garganega- white Italian grape variety. Other varieties can be added to the blend.
Style: medium to high acidity, medium body, aromas of pears, red appel, stone fruit and sometimes white pepper without aromas or flavours of new oak. With age: aromas of almonds and honey.

Question 22

How are wines labelled in Soave?

Answer 22

Soave DOC - wines made using grapes from the entire region

Soave Classico DOC - wines made using grapes from the foothills.

Question 23

Describe the location and terrain of Valpolicella.

Answer 23

Northwest of Verona and has a similar topography to Soave.
Foothills in North - limestone, clay and volcanic soils. These slow the ripening in the grapes so they have more acidity.
Flatter South- gravel and sand which is warmer. The grapes are fruitier with less acidity.

Question 24

What is the main black grape in Valpolicella?

Answer 24

Corvina is the main grape. Thin skin, moderate colour, low to medium tannins and high acidity. Local grapes are often added to the blend to add colour and tannins.

Question 25

How are wines labelled in Valpolicella?

Answer 25

Valpolicella DOC- wines made using grapes from the entire region
Valpolicella Classico DOC- wines made using grapes from the foothills.

Question 26

What are the style of wines from Valpolicella?

Answer 26

Style - wines are simple, fruity, light tannins, red cherry flavours and are rarely oaked. They are made to drink immediately.

Question 27

Describe the passito method and where is it used?

Answer 27

Used in the Veneto to increase the structure and flavour concentration (and colour for red wines). The grapes are picked early when they are still high in acidity and dried indoors, which concentrates the sugars and flavours. Fermentation takes place in winter months.

Question 28

What two types of red wine and one type of white wine from Valpolicella use the passito method? Describe these wines.

Answer 28

Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG - dry or off-dry, full-bodied, high alcohol, medium to high tannins, intensely concentrated red berry and spice flavours. Usually aged in large oak casks
Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG- made from grapes that are so sweet the fermentation naturally stops. These sweet wines have intense red fruit flavours, high alcohol, full body and medium to high tannins.
Recioto di Soave DOCG - sweet white wine using the same method.

Question 29

Describe the ripasso method and what is the style of wine created like?

Answer 29

This method uses grape skins from a fermenting Amarone della Valpolicella. Shortly before fermentation finishes, the Amarone is drained off the skins. The skins remain unpressed and are added to the vat of Valpolicella that has finished its fermentation. Yeast, which are also transferred in this process, ferment the remaining sugar on the Amarone grape skins, during which time the grape skins give more colour, flavour and tannins to the wine they have been added to. Wines made in this method are labelled Valpolicella Ripasso DOC.

Style- medium to full-bodied, medium to high tannins, flavours of stewed red cherries and plums.

Question 30

Describe the terrain of Piemonte.

Answer 30

This region is located in the north-west corner of Italy. Mountains to the north provide a rain shadow protecting the region from northern winds and precipitation.
Climate - moderate, continental with long, cold winters and summers that can be subject to thunderstorms, hail and fog. The River Po provides some moderating influences in the southern part of the region and Lake Maggiore in the North.
The area is noted for its foothills that range from 150 to 600 metres. These provide different aspects and altitudes.

Question 31

What are the main black and white grape varieties from Piemonte?

Answer 31

Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto (Black varieties) Cortese and Moscato/Muscat (white varieties)

Question 32

Where do the most famous wines of Piemonte come from and how are they labelled?

Answer 32

Most famous wine areas are near the towns of Asti and Alba. Barolo DOCG and Barbaresco DOCG are the most prestigious appellations in the region. There is not IGT or IGP for this region. All wines achieve either DOC or DOCG status.

Question 33

Describe the grape variety and style of wine that comes from Barolo.

Answer 33

Nebbiolo - black grape with high levels of acidity and tannins but little colour.
Style - the grapes ripen slowly at these high altitudes and develop perfumed aromas of sour cherries, herbs and sometimes dried flowers. Best years the wines are full-bodied, high acidity and tannins and they have the ability to develop in the bottle.
All Barolo benefits from further bottle ageing. This softens the tannins and adds further complexity, giving the wine aromas of truffles, tar and leather.

Question 34

How are wines labelled in Barolo?

Answer 34

Labelling - Barolo DOCG must be made from 100% Nebbiolo
Wines are often made from grapes sourced from different villages. The village name may appear on the label if the grapes are source purely from that area (eg: Barolo Serralunga d’Alba DOCG)
The best wines come from named vineyards or crus, which may appear on the label. (eg: Barolo Cannubi DOCG)
Other grapes grown in this area, mainly Dolcetto and Barbera are labeled using the generic Alba DOC.

Question 35

What are the ageing requirements for wines in Barolo?

Answer 35

geing requirements: Barolo DOCG must be aged for 3 years before release, of which 18 months must be in oak. Traditionally, Barolo was aged in large oak barrels to soften harsh tannins for many years. However, with improvements in vineyard management and gentler methods of extraction, which results in wines with smoother, riper tannins and means that many producers choose to mature their wines for shorter periods of time.
Oak maturation may take place in small barrels or larger casks depending on the desired style.

Question 36

How are Barbaresco wines different from ones from Barolo?

Answer 36

South-facing slopes at lower altitudes than those of Barolo (200-400 metres). The lower altitude and influences from a local river means that Nebbiolo ripens earlier here compared with Barolo.
Style - fruitier and less perfumed, similar acidity and tannin levels which gives the wines the ability to age in bottle.

Question 37

How are wines labelled in Barbaresco and what are the ageing requirements?

Answer 37

Barbaresco DOCG - must be aged for two years with nine months in oak.
There are fewer mentions of villages on the labels but higher quality wines will be from a single named vineyard or cru.

Question 38

Describe the Barbera grape and style of wine from Alba and Asti.

Answer 38

Barbera - the black grape is the most widely planted variety and is used to produce Barbera d’Alba DOC and Barbera d’Asti DOCG (higher quality).
Late ripening grape with medium to deep colour, low to medium tannins and high acidity. Aromas of red cherries, plums and sometimes black pepper.
Two styles: Youthful and fruity with no oak or barrel-aged to give spicy flavours.

Question 39

Describe the Dolcetto grape and style of wine from Alba and Asti.

Answer 39

Dolcetto is also widely planted. Earlier ripening than Nebbiolo and Barbera and can be planted in the coolest sites.
Dolcetto d’Alba DOC tends to produce many of the finest wines.
Style: deep, often purple, colour with medium to high tannins and medium acidity. They display aromas of black plums, red cherries and dried herbs. Both Barbera and Dolcetto can be drunk young but the best examples can be aged for many years.

Question 40

What grape is used to produce sparkling wines from Asti?

Answer 40

Moscato

Question 41

Describe the Gavi region of Piemonte and the main grape from here.

Answer 41

This is a white wine region is located in the SE Piemonte
The vines are grown in hills where the altitude and sea breezes result in long, slow ripening of the white Cortese grape, which emphasises its natural high acidity and floral character.

Question 42

How are wines labelled in Gavi?

Answer 42

Gavi DOCG or Cortese di Gavi DOCG

Gavi di Gavi DOCG - the grapes come from the town of Gavi.

Question 43

What is the style of wines from Gavi?

Answer 43

The wines are pale, light bodied, high acidity and aromas, and flavours of citrus, green apples and pears.
Protective winemaking in stainless steel is the norm but some producers use old oak vessels for fermentation and lees stirring to add complexity to the wines.
Most is ready to drink on release but those from the best producers can age well in bottle.