Sicilia: Terroir, Grapes Flashcards
Which region is the largest in Italy?
Sicilia
It is also the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.
Its surface area extends about 9,900sq mi/25,700km².
What factors are important to consider regarding viticulture on a region as large as Sicilia?
Because of its size, this island has a wide range of conditions:
* topographic
* geologic
* climatic
Where is Sicilia located?
This triangle shaped island represents the southernmost region of Italy. It is positioned in the center of the Mediterranean Sea, right in front of the tip of the Italian Boot. The Strait of Messina separates it from Calabria. The island faces the Tyrrhenian Sea to the north and the Ionian Sea to the east. The Canale di Sicilia (Sicilian Channel) separates it from North Africa.
What surrounds the island of Sicilia?
Several archipelagos and small islands.
The island of Pantelleria is the largest and is the closest Italian outpost to North Africa.
What percentage of Sicilia is made up of hills/mountains/plains?
- 62% Hills
- 24% Mountains
- 14% Plains
Where are the majority of vineyards planted in Sicilia?
On hills;
Almost two-thirds of the islands topography comprises hills.
Describe the mountains in Sicilia.
Mountain ranges account for almost a quarter of the region.
The peaks of northeast Sicilia form the Sicilian Apennines, which are considered an extenstion of the mainland’s Southern Apennines.
Name the volcanos of Sicilia.
- Etna: on the northeastern coast
- Vulcano: island in the Aeolian archipelago
- Stromboli: island in the Aeolian archipelago
What is the volcanic and seismic activity in Sicilia due to?
The island’s position between the Africain and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Name the rivers of Sicilia.
- Salso River (Imera Meridionale): flows south from the moutain of Madonie in central Sicilia, emptying into the Canale di Sicilia.
- Simeto River: flows south-south-east from Monti Nebrodi in eastern Sicilia, emptying into the Ionian Sea.
- Belice River: flows south and west in western Sicilia, emptying in to the Strait of Sicily
How large is Etna?
Mount Etna rises more than 10,000ft/3,000m above the sea and has a basal circumference of approx. 90mi/140km.
It is the highest and largest active volcano in Europe and is Italy’s highest mountain peak south of the Alps.
In 2013, it was included on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
What is the climate in Sicilia?
A typical Mediterranean climate.
* dry summers
* mild, wet winters
* summer heat moderated by sea breezes/winds (particularly along the coast)
* fungal diseases generally not a threat thanks to dry and breezy conditions
Climate shifts to moderate Mediterranean and even semi-continental conditons in some of the central and elevated areas such as:
* the Sicilian Apennines
* the slopes of Etna
* the province of Enna
Does Sicilia receive snow?
Snow is common in winter at elevations above 2953-3281ft/900-1,000m.
The top of Etna can be blanketed in snow until late spring.
What are temperatures like in Sicilia?
- Overall average temperatures are among the highest in Italy (59-64°F/15-18°C).
- Cooler growing areas are in the northeast.
- Western and southern areas are affected by the warm, African Sirocco wind which blows from the southeast. These areas experience more intense heat than the rest of the island. Summer temperatures can easily exceed 95°F/35°C and sometimes crest 104°F/40°C.
How is rainfall in Sicilia?
- Large portions of western and southern areas have very low rainfall, on average, between less than 20in/500mm to 23-25in/600-650mm per year. Some of these areas can experience severe periods of drought during the hottest and driest summers and can be classified as semi-arid.
- rainfall increases with altitude. Most rainfall occurs around the various moutain ranges - in particular the Sicilian Apennines and Etna. Annual average varies from 30-40in/800-1,000mm or more.
- Rain mostly falls between November and April. Summer is the driest season.
What influences the broad harvesting period in Sicilia?
Due to variation in:
* climate
* altitude
* temperatue
Grape harvest can take place as early as July (for white varieties in the western portion) and as late as November (for red grapes in Etna).
What soil types are found in Sicilia?
- Limestone & calcareous-clay soils: in western part and in southeastern corner.
- Mix of metamorphic & igneous rocks: in northeastern corner.
- Marine-clay sedimentary soils: in the upper Belice River Valley.
- Clay, sandstone & marl: in the area stretching from Alcamo to the Madonie mountain range in the northwest.
- Layers of dark lava, ash & volcanic debris: surrounding Etna
- Volcanic soils: the volcanic Aeolian Islands & Pantelleria
How is it that old vines growing on their own rootstocks are commonplace surround Etna, on the Aeolian islands and Pantelleria?
These areas consist of loose and sandy volcanic soils that phylloxera cannot survive in.
How do the number of plantings for red grapes compare to that of white grapes in Sicilia?
White grapes account for more than 60% of the total area under vine.
In western Sicilia, particularly where Marsala is made, there is a concentration of white grapes.
The eastert part of the island is overwhelmingly dominated by red grapes.
How has the grape plantings in Sicilia changed over the past 40 years?
From the 1980s until the early 2000s, great importance was given to international grapes in the making of quality wine.
Over the last few years, more and more Sicilian producers have recognized the importance of the island’s indigenous grapes and have begun to focus on them.
What percentage of plantings in Sicilia are made up of native grapes?
Almost 80% of the total area under vine are native grapes.
What percentage of plantings in Sicilia are made up of native white varieties?
More than 50% of total area under vine.
What is the most widely planted grape variety in Sicilia?
Catarratto Bianco
It represents one-third of the total area under vine. But it has fallen out of favour and plantings are declining.
Which white variety has substantially increased in plantings in Sicilia?
Grillo
Rank the grape varieties grown in Sicilia from most to least widely planted.
- Catarratto Bianco (33%)
- Nero d’Avola (16%)
- Grillo (6%)
- Inzolia (Ansonica) (6%)
- Syrah (5%)
- Chardonnay (5%)
- Merlot (4%)
- Grecanico Dorato (4%)
- Cabernet Sauvignon (3%)
-
Nerello Mascalese (2%)
Others (16%)
What is the meaning of the name Catarratto Bianco?
The name refers to it abundant yields; it is considered the workhorse grape of Silcilia.
What is the story behind the Catarratto Bianco variety?
This variety has been cultivated on Sicilia since ancient times.
In the past, it was believed there were several distinct Catarratto grapes but DNA profiling has established that all are genetically identical. However, there are 2 main biotypes.
Name the 2 main biotypes of the Catarratto Bianco variety.
- Catarratto Bianco Comune
- Catarratto Bianco Lucido: considered to be higher quality; it has smaller berries, lower sugar levels and higher acid levels.
Where is the stronghold for Catarratto Bianco?
Western Sicilia.
What kinds of wines are produced from the Catarratto Bianco grape?
Historically, it was used as the base of Marsala production.
Today, most are made into a simple and quaffable everyday wine and is often blended with other grapes.
What factors in the vineyard assist in Catarratto Bianco’s ability to achieve its potential for producing quality wine?
- the right altitude
- ideal exposure
What is the history of the Grillo variety?
There is no mention of it earlier than the late 19th century. This grape suddenly became the principal grape for Marsala production in the first decades of the 20th century. After phylloxera, many farmers replaced Catarratto Bianco with Grillo because it made a better Marsala.
This changed in the 2nd half of the 20th century when growers sought more productive grapes.
Since the 2000s, Grillo’s potential for distinctive dry wines has resulted in increased plantings.
DNA analysis has shown that Grillo is the result of a natural crossing between which two varieties?
- Catarratto Bianco
- Zibibbo (Muscat of Alexandria)
What style of wine was Grillo used to make up until the 1980s?
Dry wines that were typically deep in colour, earthy, nutty, astringent and alcoholic with a predisposition for oxidation.
These characteristcis were considered ideal for Marsala production, and even today, the best versions are usually Grillo-based.
