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WSET Level 3 in Wines - Thirsty and Wise > Northern Italy - WSET L3 in Wines > Flashcards

Northern Italy - WSET L3 in Wines Flashcards

1
Q

What are the key wine regions in Northern Italy?

A

Alto Adige, Trentino, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto, and Piemonte.

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2
Q

What is the climate of Northern Italy?

A

Moderate climate with short, dry summers; influenced by the Alps, rivers, and lakes.

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3
Q

How do the Alps affect Northern Italy’s vineyards?

A

They provide a rain shadow, sheltering vineyards from excessive rainfall.

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4
Q

What is the traditional trellising system in Northern Italy?

A

Pergola, where vines are trained high with fruit hanging below a canopy of leaves.

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5
Q

What is Alto Adige known for?

A

Aromatic whites and elegant, light-bodied reds.

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6
Q

What is the main white grape variety in Alto Adige?

A

Pinot Grigio.

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7
Q

What is the primary red grape in Alto Adige?

A

Schiava, producing light, fruity wines with flavors of raspberry and plum.

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8
Q

What is the climate of Alto Adige?

A

Moderate, with a large diurnal range due to high altitudes.

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9
Q

How does the climate of Trentino compare to Alto Adige?

A

Slightly warmer due to its southerly location and lower altitudes.

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10
Q

What are the primary grape varieties in Trentino?

A

Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio for whites; Teroldego and Merlot for reds.

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11
Q

What is Teroldego?

A

A black grape producing deeply colored, medium to full-bodied wines with black fruit aromas.

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12
Q

How are Trentino wines labeled?

A

Under the regional name Trentino DOC.

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13
Q

What is Friuli-Venezia Giulia known for?

A

Rich, ripe white wines, especially Pinot Grigio.

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14
Q

What are the main sub-regions of Friuli-Venezia Giulia?

A

Friuli Grave DOC, Collio DOC, and Colli Orientali DOC.

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15
Q

What are the characteristics of Pinot Grigio from Friuli?

A

Medium to full-bodied with juicy peach and tropical fruit flavors.

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16
Q

What is the native white grape of Friuli?

A

Friulano, producing wines with pear, red apple, and herb aromas.

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17
Q

What are Veneto’s most famous wines?

A

Soave, Valpolicella, and Prosecco.

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18
Q

What is the primary grape in Soave?

A

Garganega, producing medium-bodied wines with high acidity and citrus flavors.

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19
Q

What is the passito method?

A

A winemaking technique where grapes are dried to concentrate sugars and flavors.

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20
Q

What is Valpolicella Ripasso?

A

A wine made by fermenting Valpolicella with Amarone grape skins to enhance flavor and tannins.

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21
Q

What are the two sub-zones of Soave?

A

Soave Classico DOC and Soave DOC.

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22
Q

What is the typical flavor profile of Soave wines?

A

Medium to high acidity with flavors of pears, apples, and white pepper.

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23
Q

What is the main grape in Valpolicella wines?

A

Corvina, providing acidity and red cherry flavors.

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24
Q

What are Amarone della Valpolicella wines?

A

Full-bodied wines made using the passito method, with intense red berry and spice flavors.

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25
Q

What is Recioto della Valpolicella?

A

A sweet red wine made from dried grapes, with high sugar levels.

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26
Q

What are Piemonte’s most famous wines?

A

Barolo, Barbaresco, and Gavi.

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27
Q

What grape is used in Barolo and Barbaresco?

A

Nebbiolo.

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28
Q

What are the characteristics of Nebbiolo?

A

High tannins, high acidity, and flavors of sour cherries, herbs, and roses.

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29
Q

How long must Barolo DOCG wines be aged?

A

Three years, with 18 months in oak.

30
Q

How does Barbaresco differ from Barolo?

A

It is slightly lighter and ripens earlier due to lower altitudes.

31
Q

What is the main grape in Barbera d’Asti DOCG?

A

Barbera, producing wines with high acidity and low tannins.

32
Q

What grape is used in Dolcetto d’Alba DOC?

A

Dolcetto, producing wines with medium tannins and black plum flavors.

33
Q

What grape is used in Gavi DOCG?

A

Cortese, making light-bodied, high-acid wines with citrus and green apple flavors.

34
Q

What is the ripasso method?

A

A technique where Amarone grape skins are added to fermenting Valpolicella for more body and flavor.

35
Q

What is the primary aging vessel in Barolo?

A

Large oak barrels, although some producers use smaller barrels for modern styles.

36
Q

How does altitude influence wines in Northern Italy?

A

Higher altitudes preserve acidity and create fresher, more aromatic wines.

37
Q

Why are coastal breezes important in Veneto?

A

They cool the vineyards, helping to maintain acidity and freshness in wines.

38
Q

What is the difference between Valpolicella Classico and Valpolicella Superiore?

A

Classico comes from the original, higher-quality area, while Superiore requires higher alcohol and aging.

39
Q

What are the characteristics of Corvina in Valpolicella wines?

A

High acidity, low tannins, and bright red cherry flavors.

40
Q

What is the role of Rondinella in Valpolicella blends?

A

Adds color and floral notes but has neutral flavor.

41
Q

What distinguishes Amarone from Recioto?

A

Amarone is dry to off-dry, while Recioto is sweet, both made from dried grapes.

42
Q

How are grapes dried in the passito method?

A

Grapes are dried on mats or racks in well-ventilated rooms to concentrate sugars.

43
Q

What is the aging requirement for Barbaresco DOCG wines?

A

Two years, with nine months in oak.

44
Q

What is the primary difference between Barbera and Dolcetto?

A

Barbera has higher acidity and lower tannins, while Dolcetto has lower acidity and medium tannins.

45
Q

What are the typical flavors of Gavi DOCG wines?

A

Citrus, green apple, and sometimes a hint of almond.

46
Q

What is Moscato d’Asti DOCG?

A

A lightly sparkling, sweet wine made from Moscato grapes, with low alcohol and floral aromas.

47
Q

What is Asti DOCG?

A

A fully sparkling sweet wine made from Moscato grapes, with pronounced peach and grape flavors.

48
Q

What are the characteristics of Schiava wines?

A

Light-bodied with bright red fruit flavors, low tannins, and high acidity.

49
Q

What are the key moderating factors for the climate in Northern Italy?

A

The Alps provide a rain shadow, rivers (like the Po and Adige) moderate temperatures, and lakes (e.g., Garda) offer cooling breezes.

50
Q

How do coastal breezes influence Veneto wines?

A

They help maintain acidity and freshness in the grapes, especially for whites like Soave and Prosecco.

51
Q

What role does altitude play in Northern Italy’s vineyards?

A

Higher altitudes preserve acidity and create fresher, more aromatic wines.

52
Q

Name four white grape varieties commonly grown in Alto Adige.

A

Pinot Grigio, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay.

53
Q

What are the characteristics of Teroldego wines?

A

Deeply colored, medium to full-bodied, with black fruit flavors and high acidity.

54
Q

Which region in Italy is Teroldego growing?

A

Trentino.

55
Q

What is the regional appellation of Trentino?

A

Trentino DOC, producing wines from a variety of international and native grapes.

56
Q

What are the main appellations in Friuli-Venezia Giulia?

A

Friuli Grave DOC, Collio DOC, and Colli Orientali del Friuli DOC.

57
Q

What is the style of wines from Friuli Grave DOC?

A

Fresh, easy-drinking whites with crisp acidity made from Merlot and Pinot Grigio.

58
Q

How do Collio DOC and Colli Orientali DOC wines differ from Friuli Grave?

A

Collio wines are on slopes and shocase richer, more structured, and often showcase premium white grape varieties.

59
Q

What are the characteristics of Soave wines?

A

Light to medium-bodied with high acidity and flavors of pears, apples, and white flowers.

60
Q

What are the primary soils in Soave Classico?

A

Volcanic soils on the hillside vineyards.

61
Q

How does the topography of Soave influence its wines?

A

Hillside vineyards produce more structured and complex wines, while flatter areas yield simpler styles.

62
Q

What are the primary soils in Valpolicella?

A

Limestone, clay, and volcanic soils, varying between hillside and valley-floor vineyards.

63
Q

What is the climate of Valpolicella?

A

Moderate, with cooling breezes from nearby Lake Garda, preserving freshness in the wines.

64
Q

How does the topography of Valpolicella influence wine quality?

A

Hillside vineyards produce more concentrated wines, while valley floors yield lighter styles.

65
Q

What is the climate of Piemonte?

A

Moderate continental, with hot summers and cold winters.

66
Q

What are the key climate factors influencing Piemonte wines?

A

Altitude, fog (nebbia), and the protection offered by the Alps.

67
Q

How does altitude affect Piemonte wines?

A

Higher vineyards produce Nebbiolo with high acidity and aromatic complexity.

68
Q

How does Lake Garda influence Veneto wines?

A

Moderates temperatures, reducing frost risk and preserving acidity in the grapes.

69
Q

What is the purpose of the pergola trellising system in Veneto?

A

Protects grapes from direct sunlight and promotes air circulation, reducing disease.

70
Q

What is the winemaking style of Gavi wines?

A

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.

WSET Level 3 in Wines - Thirsty and Wise (41 decks)

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