Northern Italy - WSET L3 in Wines Flashcards
What are the key wine regions in Northern Italy?
Alto Adige, Trentino, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto, and Piemonte.
What is the climate of Northern Italy?
Moderate climate with short, dry summers; influenced by the Alps, rivers, and lakes.
How do the Alps affect Northern Italy’s vineyards?
They provide a rain shadow, sheltering vineyards from excessive rainfall.
What is the traditional trellising system in Northern Italy?
Pergola, where vines are trained high with fruit hanging below a canopy of leaves.
What is Alto Adige known for?
Aromatic whites and elegant, light-bodied reds.
What is the main white grape variety in Alto Adige?
Pinot Grigio.
What is the primary red grape in Alto Adige?
Schiava, producing light, fruity wines with flavors of raspberry and plum.
What is the climate of Alto Adige?
Moderate, with a large diurnal range due to high altitudes.
How does the climate of Trentino compare to Alto Adige?
Slightly warmer due to its southerly location and lower altitudes.
What are the primary grape varieties in Trentino?
Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio for whites; Teroldego and Merlot for reds.
What is Teroldego?
A black grape producing deeply colored, medium to full-bodied wines with black fruit aromas.
How are Trentino wines labeled?
Under the regional name Trentino DOC.
What is Friuli-Venezia Giulia known for?
Rich, ripe white wines, especially Pinot Grigio.
What are the main sub-regions of Friuli-Venezia Giulia?
Friuli Grave DOC, Collio DOC, and Colli Orientali DOC.
What are the characteristics of Pinot Grigio from Friuli?
Medium to full-bodied with juicy peach and tropical fruit flavors.
What is the native white grape of Friuli?
Friulano, producing wines with pear, red apple, and herb aromas.
What are Veneto’s most famous wines?
Soave, Valpolicella, and Prosecco.
What is the primary grape in Soave?
Garganega, producing medium-bodied wines with high acidity and citrus flavors.
What is the passito method?
A winemaking technique where grapes are dried to concentrate sugars and flavors.
What is Valpolicella Ripasso?
A wine made by fermenting Valpolicella with Amarone grape skins to enhance flavor and tannins.
What are the two sub-zones of Soave?
Soave Classico DOC and Soave DOC.
What is the typical flavor profile of Soave wines?
Medium to high acidity with flavors of pears, apples, and white pepper.
What is the main grape in Valpolicella wines?
Corvina, providing acidity and red cherry flavors.
What are Amarone della Valpolicella wines?
Full-bodied wines made using the passito method, with intense red berry and spice flavors.
What is Recioto della Valpolicella?
A sweet red wine made from dried grapes, with high sugar levels.
What are Piemonte’s most famous wines?
Barolo, Barbaresco, and Gavi.
What grape is used in Barolo and Barbaresco?
Nebbiolo.
What are the characteristics of Nebbiolo?
High tannins, high acidity, and flavors of sour cherries, herbs, and roses.
How long must Barolo DOCG wines be aged?
Three years, with 18 months in oak.
How does Barbaresco differ from Barolo?
It is slightly lighter and ripens earlier due to lower altitudes.
What is the main grape in Barbera d’Asti DOCG?
Barbera, producing wines with high acidity and low tannins.
What grape is used in Dolcetto d’Alba DOC?
Dolcetto, producing wines with medium tannins and black plum flavors.
What grape is used in Gavi DOCG?
Cortese, making light-bodied, high-acid wines with citrus and green apple flavors.
What is the ripasso method?
A technique where Amarone grape skins are added to fermenting Valpolicella for more body and flavor.
What is the primary aging vessel in Barolo?
Large oak barrels, although some producers use smaller barrels for modern styles.
How does altitude influence wines in Northern Italy?
Higher altitudes preserve acidity and create fresher, more aromatic wines.
Why are coastal breezes important in Veneto?
They cool the vineyards, helping to maintain acidity and freshness in wines.
What is the difference between Valpolicella Classico and Valpolicella Superiore?
Classico comes from the original, higher-quality area, while Superiore requires higher alcohol and aging.
What are the characteristics of Corvina in Valpolicella wines?
High acidity, low tannins, and bright red cherry flavors.
What is the role of Rondinella in Valpolicella blends?
Adds color and floral notes but has neutral flavor.
What distinguishes Amarone from Recioto?
Amarone is dry to off-dry, while Recioto is sweet, both made from dried grapes.
How are grapes dried in the passito method?
Grapes are dried on mats or racks in well-ventilated rooms to concentrate sugars.
What is the aging requirement for Barbaresco DOCG wines?
Two years, with nine months in oak.
What is the primary difference between Barbera and Dolcetto?
Barbera has higher acidity and lower tannins, while Dolcetto has lower acidity and medium tannins.
What are the typical flavors of Gavi DOCG wines?
Citrus, green apple, and sometimes a hint of almond.
What is Moscato d’Asti DOCG?
A lightly sparkling, sweet wine made from Moscato grapes, with low alcohol and floral aromas.
What is Asti DOCG?
A fully sparkling sweet wine made from Moscato grapes, with pronounced peach and grape flavors.
What are the characteristics of Schiava wines?
Light-bodied with bright red fruit flavors, low tannins, and high acidity.
What are the key moderating factors for the climate in Northern Italy?
The Alps provide a rain shadow, rivers (like the Po and Adige) moderate temperatures, and lakes (e.g., Garda) offer cooling breezes.
How do coastal breezes influence Veneto wines?
They help maintain acidity and freshness in the grapes, especially for whites like Soave and Prosecco.
What role does altitude play in Northern Italy’s vineyards?
Higher altitudes preserve acidity and create fresher, more aromatic wines.
Name four white grape varieties commonly grown in Alto Adige.
Pinot Grigio, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay.
What are the characteristics of Teroldego wines?
Deeply colored, medium to full-bodied, with black fruit flavors and high acidity.
Which region in Italy is Teroldego growing?
Trentino.
What is the regional appellation of Trentino?
Trentino DOC, producing wines from a variety of international and native grapes.
What are the main appellations in Friuli-Venezia Giulia?
Friuli Grave DOC, Collio DOC, and Colli Orientali del Friuli DOC.
What is the style of wines from Friuli Grave DOC?
Fresh, easy-drinking whites with crisp acidity made from Merlot and Pinot Grigio.
How do Collio DOC and Colli Orientali DOC wines differ from Friuli Grave?
Collio wines are on slopes and shocase richer, more structured, and often showcase premium white grape varieties.
What are the characteristics of Soave wines?
Light to medium-bodied with high acidity and flavors of pears, apples, and white flowers.
What are the primary soils in Soave Classico?
Volcanic soils on the hillside vineyards.
How does the topography of Soave influence its wines?
Hillside vineyards produce more structured and complex wines, while flatter areas yield simpler styles.
What are the primary soils in Valpolicella?
Limestone, clay, and volcanic soils, varying between hillside and valley-floor vineyards.
What is the climate of Valpolicella?
Moderate, with cooling breezes from nearby Lake Garda, preserving freshness in the wines.
How does the topography of Valpolicella influence wine quality?
Hillside vineyards produce more concentrated wines, while valley floors yield lighter styles.
What is the climate of Piemonte?
Moderate continental, with hot summers and cold winters.
What are the key climate factors influencing Piemonte wines?
Altitude, fog (nebbia), and the protection offered by the Alps.
How does altitude affect Piemonte wines?
Higher vineyards produce Nebbiolo with high acidity and aromatic complexity.
How does Lake Garda influence Veneto wines?
Moderates temperatures, reducing frost risk and preserving acidity in the grapes.
What is the purpose of the pergola trellising system in Veneto?
Protects grapes from direct sunlight and promotes air circulation, reducing disease.
What is the winemaking style of Gavi wines?
Gavi wines are typically fermented in stainless steel to preserve fresh fruit and floral aromas. Some producers use lees aging to enhance texture and complexity, resulting in light-bodied, crisp wines with high acidity, flavors of citrus, green apple, and subtle nutty or creamy notes from the lees.
