Sicilia Flashcards
How did the Greeks influence viticulture in Sicilia?
-Economic prosperity
-Brought native grapes
-Viticultural practices
-Alberello training and pruning
How did the Romans influence viticulture in Sicilia?
More wheat planted to support military expansion
What historical events impacted the Marsala industry?
-Great Britains presence in the Med led to increased Marsala demands
-1880s - med 20th c peak of wine growing
-Later 20c decline in fortified wine demand
How did Sicilia’s wine industry shift to its modern wine making trends?
Research of the Isitutoe Regionale della Vite e del Vino (IRW)
-Researched varities, clones, rootstocks, training and experimental vineyards
Who were the key producers of dry wines in the 20th c in Sicilia?
Duca de Salaparuta
Tasca d’Almerita
What are unique geographical features of Sicily?
Italys largest region
Italys largest island
Italys largest mountain south of the Alps - Etna
Italys southernmost region
What is the topographical breakdown of Sicilia?
62% Hills
24% Mountains
14% Plains
What is Sicilia’s climate?
Coasts - Mediterranean: warm, dry summers, mild winters
Mountains, Etna, Enna - semi-continental
Snow common in high elevations, drought in summer, low disease pressure
What are the top 5 most planted grapes in Sicilia?
- Catarratto Bianco -1/3 of vineyard area (white, native)
- Nero d’Avola (red, native)
- Syrah
- Grillo (white, native)
- Nerello Mascalese (red, native)
Describe Sicily’s role in Italy’s wine industry
-Italy’s largest area under vine: 250,000 acrea
-3 or 4 total wine production = 12% of country’s production
-Largest producer of fresh grape must and RCGM
40% IGT
20% DOC (increasing recently)
Remained wine w/o origin
What is Garganega called in Sicily?
Grecanico Dorato
What are the 3 appellation groupings in Sicilia and how are they grouped?
3 corners and 3 historic administrative sub-regions:
1. Val Demona - northeast
2. Val di Noto - southeast
3. Val di Mazara - western
Describe the growing conditions in Etna DOC
Some of Italy’s (and Europes) highest vineyards - 1,000
Continental to alpine with significant diurnal swings
More Northern style grapes than southern
Alberello used
What style is Etna Rosso made in?
Burgundian - elegant, soft tannins, bright acid, aromatic finesse
Reds - some aged in small barrels, other botti
Whites - stainless steel or large old oak
What is required of Etna Bianco Superiore?
80% Carricante
Must come from Milo
What are contrade?
Neighborhoods or hamlets with differing volcanic soil types on the side of Mt Etna
133 contradas can be added to label if 100% come from there
What appellation other than Etna makes wines from Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappucio?
Faro DOC
45-60% Nerello Mascalese
15 - 30% Nerello Cappucio
5 - 10% Nocera
What is the famous Roman wine from Sicilia?
Mamertinum - one of the best red wines in Italy during Roman times
What is vino perpetuo?
A fortified wine similar to Madeira made in an Italian solera system. Became the base for Marsala
Who are the important producers in Marsala?
Wood house
Ingram
Florio
Marco di Bartoli
What were important progessions for development of Marsala?
English interest in 1770s
Phyloxera decline in quality
1931 officially delimited to protect quality, long before 1960s DOC system
Marsala Speciali after WWII flavored with food. Turned it into cooking product - damaged image.
Quality producers and creation of DOC with elimination of Speciali
What are the 4 main grapes for Marsala and what is their associated style?
Grillo: best quality, high sugar
Catarratto: traditional, high volume. Lower alcohol, quick oxidation
Inzolia: widely used before oidium, perfumed
Damas chino: least used, high yielding
What is the style of Marsala Vergine?
White grape base
Fortified with acquavite or ethyl alcohol only
Aged in partially filled barrels
5 years aging, If 10 years can be riserva or stravecchio
4% r/s, 18% abv
Vergine and Solera are interchangeable
What is the style of Marsala Fine?
80% of total Marsala production
Vino conciato
Mainly sold to food industry
1 year aging, 17.5% abv
What is the style of Marsala Superiore?
20% of Marsala production
Vino conciato
2 years aging. Can be riserva after 4 years. Can also be labeled vintage
18% abv
Can be labeled by color (oro, ambra, Rubino) and sweetness levels
What does concia/conciato mean?
“Treated” akak adding grape spirit, ethyl alcohol, or grape must to a base wine. Used in Marsala production
What are the grapes and style of Contea di Scalfani?
Sicliy’s most prestigious appellation
Rosso - Nero d’Avola, Perricone
Bianco - Catarratto
What are the styles of Cerasuolo do Vittoria DOCG?
50 - 70% Nero d’Avola, 30 - 50% Frappato - red (not rose)
Min 13% abv
Released after June 1 following harvest
Sicily’s first DOCG
What styles are allowed in Vittoria DOC?
Varietal: Frappato, Nero d‘Avila, Inzolia, Vittoria Rosso
Novello on red allowed
What are the native red grapes of Sicily?
Nero d’Avola/Calabrese - most grown native red in Sicily
Nerello Mascalese- named after town on slopes of Mt Etna
Frappato
Perricone
What international varieties are most planted in Sicily?
Syrah
Chardonnay
20% of area under vine
What are the native white grapes of Sicily?
Catarratto Bianco (Commune & Lucido are biotypes)
Grillo
Inzolia/Ansonica
Zibibbo/Moscasto di Alessandria
Carricante
Malvasia di Lipari
What are the islands of Sicily?
Pantelleria - largest, close to Tunisia.
Aeolian Islands - Lipari, Stomboli, Vulcano
How is Passito di Pantelleria made?
Step 1: Air dried Zibibbo (muscat) grapes hand-harvested
Sun-dried either on graticci in stenditoi (open-air, stone walled enclosed spaces) or plastic tunnels for 1 - 4 weeks
Sugar concentrates to 25 - 50%
Step 2: Second harvest of fresh grapes in Sept and vilified.
Air-dried grapes added to must
Makes lusciously sweet, complex dessert wine
How is Moscato di Pantelleria different from the passito version?
Moscato is made from fresh grapes, made in a sweet style (no air-drying)
Only one vinification
How is Malvasia delle Lipari Passito and Malvasia made?
Passito: Late-harvest grapes, appassimento for 1 - 3 weeks.
6%./ 60 g/L r/s
Malvasia only: late-harvest, non-appassimento grapes
What grapes are used to make red Marsala?
Nero d’Avola
Perricone
Nerello Mascalese
What does conca mean in Sicily?
Shallow holes dug in the ground to shield vines from wind (Pantelleria)
What is the traditional vine training method in Pantelleria?
Alberello Pantesco
Unseco designated term
What are the appellations on volcanic soils in Sicilia?
Etna
Panetelleria
Lipari
