Rest of Italy

Question 1

Discuss the major differences between Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

Answer 1

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC
From Abruzzo
Dry red from min. 85% Montepulciano

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
From Tuscany
Province: Siena
min. 70% Prugnolo Gentile (Sangiovese) (max. 5% of non-aromatic white grapes and Malvasia Bianca Lunga Permitted)
Blends similar to Chianti with max. 30% other Tuscan red varieties permitted
-Min. ABV: 12.5% ; 13% Riserva

Question 2

Recommend a Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG to your guest and describe the wine

Answer 2

From Umbria (one of the most celebrated wines alongside Torgiano Rosso Riserva —70 to 100% Sangiovese)

Traditionally sweet passito red from Sagrantino grape
Now dry red and sweet passito from Sagrantino, minimum 12 months barrel aging

Sagrantino di Montefalco is produced from 100% Sagrantino; the resulting wines are naturally high in alcohol and tannin, and are aged for a minimum 37 months, including 12 months in wood for the dry wines.
The secco style of Sagrantino di Montefalco is a recent development; historically the wines were produced as passito. The DOCG allows both styles.

Question 3

Producers of Sagrantino di Montefalco (Umbria)

Answer 3

Marco Caprai

Paolo Bea

Question 4

Fiano di Avellino DOCG and describe the style

Answer 4

From Campania

White dry wine from Fiano grape.

Question 5

Name the grape(s) and style of Taurasi DOCG

Answer 5

From Campania

Agliánico
Dry red wine

Question 6

State the local synonym for Zinfandel in Southern Italy

Answer 6

From Puglia

Primitivo

Question 7

State the type of wine from Marsala DOC and where it is made

Answer 7

Fortified wine from Sicily

Marsala DOC (from Sicilia)
Fortified wine
White grapes: Grillo, Inzolia, Catarratto, Damaschino & others (max. 30%)
Red grapes: Perricone, Calabrese(Nero d’Avola), NerelloMascalese(min. 70%)
Dry to sweet
Oro, Ámbar or Rubino Color
Fine, Superiore, Vergine or Solera indicate aging

Question 8

State the style of wine of Orvieto Amabile and Muffato and where they are made

Answer 8

From Umbria

Amabile is off-dry, semi-sweet

Muffato is botrytized

Orvieto DOC
Grechetto (min. 40%) and Trebbiano-based (20-40%) white wine-DOC overlaps into Latium
Grechetto growing in importance to improve the quality of Orvieto Wines
Styles range from dry to sweet, including Orvieto Amabile (Semi-sweet wine)

Amabile: semi-sweet
Muffa Nobile or Muffato: Botrytis wine

Question 9

Talk about the wine called Vermentino di Gallura

Answer 9

Only DOCG in Sardegna
Vermentino di Gallura DOCG
A classic Vermentino di Gallura DOCG dry white wine is typically bright straw-yellow with a greenish tinge.

Question 10

Name the grape(s) and style of Greco di Tufo

Answer 10

From Campania

Dry white from min. 85% Greco, and max. 15% Coda di Volpe grape

Question 11

State the international name of the grape of Cannonau Di Sardegna

Answer 11

Grenache

Question 12

Name the region in which to find Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG and grapes

Answer 12

Sicilia

Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG
Red from Nero d’Avola & Frappato

Question 13

Name the principal grape variety for the red wines of Etna DOC

Answer 13

Etna DOC
Vines planted on slopes of volcano

White from Carricante plus Catarratto

Rosé & red from Nerello Mascalese with Nerello Cappuccio

Question 14

Most important grape from Marche

Answer 14

Verdicchio

Castelli di Jesi DOC (Riserva is DOCG)
Dry white, still to spumante from Verdicchio grape

Verdicchio di Matelica DOC (Riserva is DOCG)
Same as above from hilly region of Macerata
Dry white, still to spumante from Verdicchio grape