NORTHERN ITALY (Trentino/AA/Friuli/Veneto/Piemonte) Flashcards
Climate?
Moderate with dry short summers
When is Pergola still used?
When high acidity and low sugar levels are required (such as for sparkling wine grapes) and also when wines are to be made from dry grapes
Italy’s most northerly wine region?
Alto Adige
Most notable white in Alto Adige?
Pinot Grigio
What red dominates in Alto Adige?
Schiava
What are almost all wines labelled under in Alto Adige?
The regional name of Alto Adige DOC
Climate in Adige?
Moderate climate, short dry summers, low rainfall during growing season
Climate in Trentino
Dry summers, low rainfall during growing season, vineyards experience slightly warmer climate than Alto Adige
Main varieties in Trentino?
Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio
Wines made from grapes grown on the valley floor in Trentino?
Medium body/acidity
Ripe stone fruit flavors
Wines made from grapes grown at higher altitudes in Trentino?
More similar to the whites from Alto Adige
2 most planted black grapes in Trentino?
Merlot, Teroldego (Grown mainly mid slope and valley floor)
Teroldego characteristics?
Deep color
Medium-high tannins
High acid
Med-full body
Aromas of black fruit
Usually matured in oak
Most wines labelled in Trentino as?
Under regional name Trentino DOC
Most northerly vineyards in Friuli located where?
Foothills of the Alps
Friuli climate?
Moderate and continental, cooled by cold air from the mountains
Most prevalent grapes in Friuli?
Pinot Grigio and Merlot
Pinot Grigio in Fruili?
Rich
Medium-full body
Juicy peach, tropical fruit flavors
Merlot in Friuli?
Medium body, acid, tannins
Ripe red fruit flavors
Hint of spice from oak
Native white Friulano from Friuli?
Med-high acid
Med body
Aromas of pear, red apple, herbs
What are wines from the Plain labeled?
Friuli Grave DOC
(Tend to be white and made in a simple fruit style)
What is Collio DOC and Colli Orientali DOC known for?
Both located in the hills
Premium, more concentrated whites, with Orientali also know for reds
Veneto climate?
Warm with moderate rainfall
What does Lake Garda cool in Veneto?
The vineyards in the West of the region
The flat plain in Veneto is affected by what?
Moist air and fog from rivers
The flat fertile plain in Veneto is a source of fruit for what?
Inexpensive, high volume brands growing international grape varieties such as…Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Merlot
and Italian grapes…Corvina, Garganega, Trebbiano
*Labelled Veneto IGT
What is Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie DOC?
Covers Veneto, Friuli, Trentino
For Pinot Grigio
2 distinct parts of Soave?
Foothills to the North
Flat plain to the South near River Adige
Soils on foothills in Soave?
Limestone, clay, some volcanic rocks
Soils on Plain in Soave?
Sandy, alluvial soils that aid ripening so the grapes are fruitier, with medium acid, meant to be drunk young
Garganega characteristics?
Medium-high acid
Medium body
Aromas of pear, red apple, stone fruit, sometimes white pepper
*Do not usually have new oak
With age, almonds and honey
Wines made using grapes from entire region in Veneto can be labelled as?
Soave DOC
Wines made using grapes solely from original classified area in Veneto labelled as?
Soave Classico DOC
Foothills in the North soils in Valpolicella?
Limestone
Clay
Volcanic
(Slow down ripening so grapes have more acid)
Soils in flatter south of Valpolicella?
Gravel and sand
(Which is warmer, so grapes are fruiter with less acid)
Main grape in Valpolicella?
Corvina
Moderate color, low-med tannins, high acid
Valpolicella- Wines made using grapes from the entire region can be labelled as?
Valpolicella DOC
Valpolicella- Wines made using grapes solely from the original classified area can be labelled as?
Valpolicella Classico DOC
What is the Passito method?
-Increases structure and flavor concentration
-Grapes picked early when they are still high in acid and dried indoors (concentrates sugar and flavors)
-Fermentation in winter months
2 types of Passito wine in Valpolicella?
Amarone Della Valpolicella DOCG- Dry/off dry, full bodied, high alcohol, medium-high tannins, concentrated red berry/spice flavors, aged in large oak casks
Recioto Della Valpolicella DOCG- Made from grapes so sweet the fermentation stops naturally, intense red fruit flavors, medium to high alcohol, full body, medium-high tannins
Soave regions makes a sweet wine using passito method, name it?
Recioto di Soave DOCG
What is the Ripasso method?
-Uses grapes skins from a fermenting Amarone Della Valpolicella.
-Before fermentation finishes the Amarone is drained off the skins
-Valpolicella wine that has finished its fermentation is added to the vat of unpressed skins
-The remaining sugar on the unpressed Amarone skins is feremented by yeast present on those grape skins, during which time those skins give more color, flavor, tannin to Valpolicella wine
-Can be labelled Valpolicella Ripasso DOC (Medium-full body, med-high tannins, flavors of stewed red cherry/plum
Piemonte climate?
Moderate and continental, long cold winters and summers that can have thunderstorms, hail, fog
What is Piemonte known for?
Foothills ranging from 150-600m which provide different aspects and altitudes
3 main black grapes in Piemonte?
2 main whites?
Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto
Cortese, Moscato (Muscat)
Rules for Barolo DOCG?
-100% Nebbiolo
-Village name may appear on label if grapes are sourced purely from that area (Barolo Serralunga d’Alba DOCG)
-Best wines come from named vineyards or crus, which may appear on the label (Barolo Cannubi DOCG)
-Must be aged for a min 38 months with a min 18 months in wood and released from the January of the 4th year after harvest
Nebbiolo characteristics?
High acid and tannins, little color
Ripen slowly at these altitudes, perfumed aromas of sour cherry, herbs, dried flowers
South facing slopes at lower altitudes that Barolo?
Barbaresco
Nebbiolo from Barbaresco characteristics?
Lower altitude and influence from local river, means Nebbiolo ripens earlier here compared to Barolo and is fruitier and less perfumed
Barbaresco DOCG rules?
-Must be aged for min 26 months, with min 9 months in wood and released from the January of the third year after harvest
-High quality wines will often be made from a single vineyard or cru
What are a lot of appellations named after in Asti and Alba?
A grape variety followed by their nearest town
Most planted variety is Asti and Alba?
Barbera
Barbera d’Alba DOC and Barbera d’Asti DOCG–>Higher quality
Barbera characteristics?
Late ripening
Med-deep color
Low-med tannins
High acid
Aromas of red cherries, plums, black pepper
2 styles: Youthful/fruity/no oak
OR
Barrel aged
Characteristics of Dolcetto?
Earlier ripening than Nebbiolo and Barbera, so can be planted in the coolest sites
What does Dolcetto d’Alba produce?
Many of the finest wines
Deep, purple color
Medium-high tannins
Medium acid
Aromas of black plum, red cherries, dried herbs
Where is Gavi located?
SE Piemonte
Where are vines grown in Gavi?
In the hills, where altitude and sea breezes result in long slow ripening of the white Cortese
What are wines labelled as in Gavi?
Gavi DOCG or Cortese di Gavi DOCG
If grapes come from town of Gavi themselves what can wine be labelled as?
Gavi di Gavi DOCG
Gavi (Cortese characteristics)?
Pale
Light body
High acid
Aromas/flavors of citrus, green apple, pear
