Northern Italy Flashcards
River Pó
Very long river in Italy which extends, west to east, along the plain below The Alps in Norther Italy and south to Lake Garda.
The Alps
This mountain range extends across the northern border of Italy. The Aloo Adige DOC is located within it and is the most northern wine region in Italy. Austria and Slovenia are on the other side of the border.
Lake Garda
A glacial lake located in Trentino, just south of Alto Adige. It is fed by the River Adige and
River Adige
Vinegards along this river in the Alto Adige are planted in terraces on both sides of the river, which runs to the south. The aspect of the vines are SE and SW.
Adriatic Sea
Abuts the Veneto, and Venice in northeastern Italy.
Prosecco
A region in northern Italy where sparkling wine is made. It can be labeled Prosecco DOC or
passito
The passito is an Italian term for grapes that have been picked early, to preserve acidity, then dried indoors on racks. The usually occurs through winter, then the semi-dried grapes are fermented. The passito method concentrates, flavors and sugar. This method most famously makes the recioto and amarone, and is widely used in the Veneto region, but it is also used in other parts of Italy.
recioto
A northern Italian wine made from grapes so sweet that fermentation stops naturally. There are two famous ones Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG and Recioto di Soave DOCG.
amarone
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG, is a dry or off-dry, FULL-bodied, with red berry and spice flavors and aromas. There is also Valpolicella DOC and Valpolicella Classico DOC. All are within the Veneto region.
ripasso
This is the method that uses grape skins from a fermenting Amarone della Valpolicella. Skins are removed just before fermentation stops and the unpressed skins are added to a vat of Valpolicella that has completed its fermentation. The fermentation continues, thus increasing color, flavor, and tannins.
apassimento
An Italian adjective that means withered. Often seen on wine labels for the recioto and amarone which use the passito method of drying before fermentation.
friulano
Native WHITE Italian varietal widely grown in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region. It produces a wine with MED to HIGH acidity, MED body, with aromas and flavors of red apple, pears and herbs.
schiava
A RED Italian varietal, the most planted one in the Alto Adige. It makes a light fruity wine with LOW to MED tannins, and red berry and plum flavors.
teroldego
The main RED grape of the Trentino wine growing region in northern Italy. It is makes a DEEPly colored, MED to HIGH tannin, dry wine wtih HIGH acidity, MED to FULL bodied with black fruit flavors.
classico
Italian term that appears on wine labels to indicate that the grapes and the wine made from them come the original heart of the region, before the boundaries were expanded over the years. Classicos are considered the best of the region.
