Sicilia - Grape Varieties

Question 1

This grape is grown on the volcanic archipelago of the Aeolian Islands.

The grape is used to produce the prized and complex passito wine.

Answer 1

Malvasia di Lipari (!)

(Lipari is the largest of this group of islands)

Question 2

What is the second most planted red grape overall in Sicilia today?

Answer 2

Syrah

Question 3

According to DNA analysis, what grape is suggested to be a natural cross between Moscato Bianco (Muscat Blanc a Petis Grains) and Axina de Tres bias, an obscure table grape of Sardegna.

Answer 3

Zibibbo(!)

Question 4

Which section of Sicilia is dominated overwhelmingly by red grapes?

Answer 4

The eastern part of Sicilia

Question 5

This red grape is a traditional variety historically grown around the town of Vittoria in southeast Sicily.

It was and is still traditionally blended with other red grapes.

Answer 5

Frappato (!)

Question 6

What is the most widely planted grape overall in Sicilia?

Answer 6

Catarratto Bianco (one third of the total area under vine)

Question 7

Why is white grapes concentrated in Sicilia’s western section?

Answer 7

Because of Marsala production

Question 8

What do native grapes account for of the total area under vine in Sicilia?

Answer 8

Almost 80% however much goes into bulk wine without origin

Question 9

With the combination of cool fermentation and highly reductive winemaking, Grillo is said to be sometimes reminiscent of what grape?

Answer 9

Sauvgino Blanc with the aromas of Grillo of fresh cut grass, grapefruit and passion fruit

Question 10

This grape variety is a noble, red grape native to Etna.

The grape is almost exclusive to the slopes of Etna and excels here. It is late ripening and expresses the nuances of individual sites.

Answer 10

Nerello Mascalese(!)

(The name derives from “nero” (black) and the town Mascali, located in the eastern foothills of Etna).

Question 11

Traditionally this grape plays a secondary role in Etna’s red wines.

It is often used in small amounts to soften and add color.

Answer 11

Nerello Cappuccio

Question 12

This old, native variety is one of the most important and widely planted of Sicilia’s white grapes.

Its stronghold lies in the western part of the island.

While it is listed with another name in National Registry, it is usually called by another name.

Answer 12

Inzolia (Ansonica) (!)

In Sicilia it is generally called Inzolia or Insolia.

Question 13

What is the percentage of white grapes in Sicilia’s total area under vine?

Answer 13

More than 60%

Question 14

According to DNA finding, what grape is a natural crossing of Catarratto Bianco and Zibibbo (Muscat of Alexandria)?

Answer 14

Grillo(!)

Question 15

This grape is a native, high quality white grape of Sicilia. The volcanic slopes of Etna are its historic home. and today it is almost exclusive grown on those slopes.

It grows at high altitude, between 3,000-3,900 ft/900-1,200 m above sea level.

Answer 15

Carricante (!)

Question 16

This grape variety has been cultivated on the island of Sicilia since ancient times.

The name refers to its abundant yields; it is considered the white workhorse grape of Sicilia.

Answer 16

Catarratto Bianco(!)

Question 17

According to recent studies, what grape is related to Corinto Nero, which is either its mutation or biotype?

Answer 17

Sangiovese

Question 18

This red grape is an ancient variety of unknown origin that was widely planted in Sicilia before the outbreak of phylloxera.

It is mostly used as a minor blending component (often with Nero d;Avola) to impart tannin and a textured mouthfeel.

Answer 18

Perricone

Question 19

What is the most widely planted international red grape variety in Sicilia today?

Answer 19

Syrah

Question 20

This grape is Sicilia’s predominant red grape and the key red variety for most of Sicilia’s appellations.

It requires warm growing conditions to perform well and it is therefore often trained close to the ground using the alberello method.

Answer 20

Nero d’Avola (!)

Question 21

What is a white grape variety considered the most important from a quality standpoint (providing texture, aroma and for high sugar levels)?

Answer 21

Grillo

Question 22

What grape variety ranks as the second most important native red grape?

Answer 22

the high quality variety Nerello Mascalese

Question 23

True or False

Overall native white grape varieties cover less than 20% of Sicilia’s vineyard area as of the beginning of the 21st century.

Answer 23

False

Native white varieties cover more than 50%

Question 24

What are grape varieties allowed for Marsala DOC(!)?

Answer 24

• Grillo
• Catarratto
• Inzolia
• Damaschino

For the less common Rubino (Ruby) Marsala:

• Nero d’Avola
• Perricone
• Nerello Mascalese

Question 25

What is the second most widely planted international grape?

Answer 25

Chardonnay (just behind Syrah)

Question 26

According to DNA studies, this grape grown in the Aeolian Islands is genetically identical to Malvasia di Sardegna and Calabria’s Greco Bianco.

Answer 26

Malvasia di Lipari(!)

Question 27

What red grape variety plantings largely dominate in Sicilia?

Answer 27

Nero d’Avola

Question 28

This grape name is the Sicilian name for the aromatic Muscat of Alexandria, an ancient grape historically grown on the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea.

Answer 28

Zibibbo(!)

Question 29

This white grape is traditional for Marsala production.

It was favored because of higher yields. It has tendency to oxidize quickly adding oxidative aromas and darker pigmentation.

Answer 29

Catarratto

Question 30

This important, traditional and high quality grape suddenly became the principal grape for Masala production as it made better Masala.

Answer 30

Grillo (!)

Question 31

What characteristics of Grillo are considered to be ideal for Masala production?

Answer 31

• Earthy
• Nutty
• Astringent
• Alcoholic with a predisposition for oxidation

Question 32

This white grape was widely used for Marsala before plantings were ravaged by oidium in the mid-19th century.

It contributes perfume.

Answer 32

Inzolia

Question 33

Carricante has intense minerality, racy acidity and moderate alcohol and it does age well.

What characteristics does the wine develop with age?

Answer 33

Develops flinty and petrol notes.

Question 34

Where does Grillo name derive from?

Answer 34

Sicilian dialect for “pips” or seeds.

Grillo in Italian means “cricket”.

Question 35

This grape variety is the other principal red grape of Etna. It is considered less distinctive than the more famous Nerello Mascalese and is therefore less widely planted.

Answer 35

Nerello Cappuccio

Question 36

What is the percentage of international grapes in Sicialia’s total area under vine?

Answer 36

20%

Question 37

The elegance and range of nuances expressed by this grape variety often draws comparisons to Nebbiolo and Pinot Noir.

Answer 37

Nerello Mascalese (!)

Question 38

This red grape was historically known as Calabrese, an Italianization of. the Sicilian dialect word “Calavrisi”, that makes reference to the origin of the grape, the coastal town in Sicilia’s southeastern corner.

Answer 38

Nero d’Avola (Calbrese) (!)

Question 39

Historically this grape was important for Masala production. Today it is mostly used for dry wine in various DOCs and IGTs, either as varietal wine or blended with other white grapes such as Catarratto or Grillo.

With moderate acidity, the grape must be picked early to maintain sufficient acidity.

Answer 39

Inzolia(!)

Question 40

What two ways Carricante producers use to soften the wine’s sharp acidity from its Malic acid?

Answer 40

• Keep the wine on its lees in barrels until the following spring.
• Harvest Carricante as late as possible in order to lower the variety’s acid levels.

Question 41

What are two main biotypes of Catarratto Bianco?

Answer 41

• Catarratto Bianco Comune
• Catarratto Bianco Lucido (considered to be of higher quality with small berries, lower sugar levels and higher acid levels than the Comune)

Question 42

Where is Zibibbo planting concentrated today and what type of wine is produced from the grape?

Answer 42

On the volcanic island of Pantelleria.

The grapes are used to produced sweet passito wines.

Question 43

Which section of Sicilia Catarratto Bianco historically considered to be its stronghold?

Answer 43

Western Sicilia where it was used as the base of Masala production.

Question 44

This grape plays a very minor role in the production of Marsala.

It is the least used white grape.

Its former popularity in the post phylloxera era was mainly linked to its high yields.

Answer 44

Damaschino