SIcilia 2 Flashcards
What are the 4 grape varieties used for Marsala?
Grillo - most important, best quality
Catarratto - traditional, higher yields, lower ABV can oxidize
Ansonica (Inzolia) - widely used until phylloxera add perfume
Damaschino -minor role; high yield; least used white grape
FOR REDS (Rubino Marsala - Ruby)
Nero d’Avala
Perricone
Nerelloc Mascalese
Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG produces what kind of wine
Produces only rosato based on Nero d’Avola
Which statemnet is false
a. Marsala Vergine is. made only from white grapes
b. Marsala Vergine is the most authentic style of Marsala
c. Cooked grape must is required to be added to Marsala Vergine
d. Marsala Vergine must spend at least 5 years in wood
c. Cooked grape must is NOT required
What statement about Pantelleria Island is false
a. It is covered in dark green volcanic rock
b. It is sheltered from oceanic wind currents by coastal mountain ranges
c. It is closer to Africa that it is to Sicilia
d. It has 2 viable agrecultural crops- capers & grapevines
b, It IS NOT SHELTERED, but rather gets hot winds Sirocco rfom N Africa
What was John Woodhouse’s contribution to Sicilia’s wine industry?
in 1770s he developed the modern style of Marsala and created a market for it in the UK
What grape is not native to Sicilia?
a. Grillo
b. Frappato
c. Zibbibo
d. Ner d’Avola
c. Zibbibo
What are the principal red and white grapes of Etna’s wine growing area?
Nerello Mascalese (red) & Carricante (white)
What are the grapes of The Contea di Sclafani DOC
Focuses on Nero d’Avola, Perricone and Catarratto
What is the topology of Marsala’s vineyards?
Lie on flat coastal area and low, inland hills
In Sicilia, Muscat of Alexandria is more widely known by what name?
Zibibbo
What is the warm wind that affects the western and southern areas of Sicilia?
Sirocco
Etna Bianco DOC must contain a majority of which grape variety?
Carricante
Etna Rosso DOC can contain up to 20% Nero d’Avola. True or false?
Etna Rosso must be made from >80% Nerello Mascalese
& up to 20% Nerello Cappucio
NOT NERO D’AVOLA
The majority of Sicilia’s vineyards use the alberello training system. True or false?
False
This was the case until 1950s. In 1980/90s the EU paid winegrowers to remove plants.
Now Guyot and Cordone Speronato accounts for 80% of vinetraining
Sicilia’s grape harvest can take place as late as November. True or false?
True - Harvest can take place as early as July for white varieties in West Siciliy were it is hot and dry or in November for red grapes in Etna where altitude is more alpine
Frappato is a grape variety historically grown around which town in southeast Sicilia?
Vittoria
Carricante can be used in the production of Marsala. True or false?
False
Only grapes for Marsala are:
Grillo
Catarratto
Inzolia
Damaschino
Reds - Nero d’Alvoa, Perricone and Nerello Mascalese
Etna Bianco Superiore DOC must have higher alcohol level and can be produced anywhere within the Etna DOC. True or false?
False - Superiore must have 80% and most importantly be from the village of MILO
Carricante historical home is Mount Etna. True or false?
True
Name Italy’s most famous fortified wine, produced in Sicilia
Marsala
Grillo is the result of a natural crossing between Catarratto Bianco and …
Zibibbo (Muscat of Alexandria)
Sicilia’s Calabrese grape is more widely known by what name?
Nero d’Avola
The eastern part of Sicilia is overhwelmingly planted to white grapes. True or false?
False - White grapes dominate in the west with Marsala
Sicilia’s grape harvest can begin as early as July. True or false?
True - white grapes in Western Sicily where the growing temperatures are warm/hot
Name Europe’s largest and most active volcano, found in Sicilia
Mount Etna
That acid is most notable in Carricante?
Malic Acid - requires MLF & lees
Oftern, the grape is harvested as late as possible to reduce acidity levels
Name Sicilia’s most widely planted red grape variety
Nero d’Avola
What is the most important grape from a quality standpoint in Marsala?
Grillo
Sicilia’s Ansonica grape is better known by what name?
Inzolia
Faro DOC must include a blend of Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio and Nero d’Avola. True or false?
False - There is no Nero d’Avola
Nerello Masaclese 45-60%
Nerello Capuccio 15-30%
Nocera 5-10%
1 year aged
Cataratto Bianco Lucido is a biotype of Catarratto Bianco. True or False?
True
Catarratto Bianco Lucido is considered higher quality and has smaller berries, lower sugar and higher acidity
Is Sicilia predominantly planted to red or white grapes?
White 60%
The Etna DOC is included in which Sicilian province?
Catania
Damaschino can be used in the production of Marsala. True or false?
True
Sicilia is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. True or false?
True
What is Sicilia’s capital city?
Palermo
Name the two active volcanoes located on Sicilia’s Aeolian Islands
Stromboli & Vulcano
Sicilia’s Malvasia di Lipari is genetically distinct from Malvasia di Sardegna. True or false?
False it is also identical to Greco Bianco in Calabria
What is Sicilia most widely planted international red grape?
Syrah
Name Sicilia’s most widely planted grape variety
Cataratto Bianco
Name Sicilia’s first DOC appellation
Etna DOC
Name the body of water that separates Sicilia from Calabria
Straits of Messina
What are the bodies of water that lie to the North, East and South of Sicily
Tyranhhean Sea - North
Ionia Sea - East
Canale di Sicilia - South and West
What are the mountain peaks in NE Sicily?
Sicilian Apennines and considerd an extension from the mainland Southern Apennines
What are the 3 areas of Sicily?
Val Demone (NE)
Val di Mazara (NW)
Val di Novo (South)
What Sicilian grape was revealed to be a mutation or biotype of Sangiovese?
Cortino Nero
What are contrada’s?
Small geographic sub-divisions within a municipal
Analogous to hamlets
Vineyards are historically known by their Contrada rather than vineyard name
Not official, other than. in Etna DOC (2011)
What is Nocera?
It is a grape native to Faro DOC and rare
Used in part of the blend with Nerello Macalese and Nerello Cappuccio
What producer is considered the best in Sicilia and Contea di Sclafani?
Tasca d’Almerita
What is Nero d’Avola known as in Sicily (and the official registry)?
Calabrese
Is what SE area of Sicily and what was the synonym for Nero d’Avola?
Eloro DOC and Pachino (the town) since it produce vino da taglio (table wine) for blending in France and Italy
What are the only viable crops on Pantelliria other than grapes?
Capers and grapes
What is Conche?
Shallow holes dug in Pantelleria to plant and protect vines from the high winds Sirocco (300 + days per year). A version of Alberello
Low yields high sugars
Describe the use of graticci with stenditoi in the production of Passito di Pantelleria?
Pasto di Panterellria - Most renowned wine -
1st harvest air dried Zibibbo, picked in August, dried in sun, open-air on mats of GRATICCI within a STENDITOI (an open airs spot enclosed in stone walls)
2nd harvest - in September. Grapes immediately vilified
During fermentation - destemmed (by hand) air dried grapes added to must in intervals
These are best in Italy golden amber, ripe stone, orange jam, tropical, dried, raisin, figs apricots, candied, honey and spice - dense and complex
How high can sugar content achieve with Passito di Pannelleria for appassimento grapes?
Zibbibo dried on graticci (mats) in open air stenditoi (open are spots enclosed by stone walls) can achieve between 25-50% sugar concentration
What does Zahib mean in Arabic?
Raisin
When did Rome arrive in Silicia?
2nd c BC
Used Sicilia as the Granary of Rome
What are two famous ancient Greek wines?
Byblinos from Siracusa
Murgentium from central Sicilia
What were the Arabs called that took over Sicilia?
Arab Saraceni
How large did production in Sicily get during the phylloxers outbreak in France?
300,000 ha or 3 times what is produced today
What are the active volcanos in Aeolian islands?
Stromboli
Volcuno
What producer brough back sweet wines of Malvasia di Lipari?
Carlo Hauner
What is the legal blending partner of Malvasia di Lipari?
Corinto Nero 5-8%
It is a mutaion of Sangiovese
What is officially the Southern most part of Italy?
Lampedusa which is part of an archipelago of Pelagie
What mountain ranges form the Sicilian Apennines? (East to West)
Mt Peloritani
Mt Nebrodi
Mt Madonie
What is Italy’s largest mountain range outside the Alps?
Mt Etna
What is the largest plain in Sicily?
Catania plain between Etna and Iblei
Where can you find a plateau on Sicilia?
Mt Iblei
What is the circumference of Mt Etna?
90 miles
What is the grape referred to as “Cricket”
Grillo
But it actually means grilli or SEEDS
What is the historic home of Grillo?
Trapani Province
What are the parents of Zibibbo?
Moscato Bianco (Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains)
and
Axina de Tres Bias (an obscure table wine of Sardegna)
Why are many Sicilian DOCs relatively unknown?
Most producers will bottle under Sicilia DOC or Terre Siciliane IGT since they are better branded.
What are the 3 subdividions of Sicilia
Demone (NE)
Noto (SE)
Mazara (W)
Where are some of the most distinctive wines appellations in Sicilia?
NE in Val Demone
Where are the most productive wine growing in Sicilia?
West in Val di Mazara
What area in Sicilia focuses primarily on traditional grapes?
South in Val di Noto
Where is the most productive and densely planted in all of Italy?
Western Sicilia - Val di Mazara
Where are some of the highest elevations in all of Italy and EU?
Southern part of Etna
Where is the best place to grow Nerello Mascalese?
Northern part of Etna up to 900m
Between the towns of Randazzo, Castiglione di Sicili and Linguaglossa)
What are vineyards and viticulture like on Etna?
With regular erruptions, the land is rugged, terraced and grown with aberello to promote ripening at the higher altitudes.
Many areas are pre-phylloxera given volcanic soils.
Where is Nocera considered native?
Sicilia in Faro DOC (Messina)
What are the only 2 areas with Nerello Mascalese and Capuccio?
Etna and Faro
What was the wine the John Woodhouse 1st tasted in Marsala in the 1700s?
Vino Perpetuo (or Perpetuum)
Wine produced similar to Solera in Jerez
What are Marsala Speciali?
Flavored Marsala that was a response to drop in demand especially after WW2.
Marsalas were mixed with fruit, nuts, spices, chocolate and egg.
It was eliminated in 1984
Describe the soils of Marsala DOC
calcareous, but diverse given appellation size,
Marsala - terra rosa;
Salemi – high clay and terre argillose;
Belice Valley – fertile dark soil
What is Rubino Marsala?
Red Marsala
Using Nero d’Avola; Perricone; Nerello Mascalese
What is Conciati?
For Marsala Superiore and Fine only
Refers to the process of adding
1. Grape Spirit (acquavit)
2. Mosto Cotto (cooked grape must)
3. Sifron (fortified grape must)
4. Mosto Concentrato (concentrated grape must)
What are the 3 labels of Marsala Fine & Superiore?
Oro
Amber
Rubino
How many styles of Marsala are unique?
29 - Including Vergine + Vergine Superiore
27 for Marsala Fine, Superiore and Superiore Riserva with sweetness and ageing
What is the most produced Marsala?
Marsala Fine (80%)
Marsala Superiore (<20%)
Marsala Vergine (<1%)
What is the difference between Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG versus Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo?
Vittoria is a still red from Nero d’Avola and Frappato
Where as Abruzzo is Rose from Montepulciano
What are cuddie (kuddie)?
Irregular hills of volcanic orgina
What is the Montagna Grande?
Pantelleria’s highest peak at 800m and still an active volcano
What Marsala matches the following:
a. allows only white graps, mosto cotto forbidden
b. allows red and white grapes
c. allow only white grapes, must contains at least 1% mosto cotto
d. Sweet, with more than 100 g/L RS
a. Oro Marsala
b. Rubino Marsala
c. Ambra Marsala
d. Dolce Marsala
What are the following:
a . Mosto Cotto
b. Mosto Concentrato
c. Sifone
d. Acquavite
a . Mosto Cotto - cooked grape must
b. Mosto Concentrato - concentrated grape must
c. Sifone - fortified grape must
d. Acquavite - grape spirit
Alberello Pantesco is….
Pantelleria’s traditional vine-training method
What was the most famous wine during Roman times?
Mamertinum - consider best in Italy then
was revived in the ’60s around Milazzo
Became DOC 2004
