Sicily Flashcards
Where are the wettest and driest areas of Sicily
Northeast (Messina) - wettest
Southern Most - Driest because of Scirocco
What are the Red and White grapes of Etna
Red: Nerello Mascalese w Nerello Cappuccio
White: Carricante w Catatatto Comune & Minella Bianca
What is Sicily’s only DOCG and what is it produced from?
Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico
Nero d’avola and Frappato
THe Faro DOC is a blend of what grapes
Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio and Nocera
The original Marsalla was made using what method
“in perpetuum” toping up the barrels containing wine from the previous year, with wine from the new production.
What are the native Red grapes of Sicily - 6
Frappato Nerello Mascalese Nerello Cappuccio Nero d'avila (calabrese) Nocera Perricone
What are the important Native White grapes of Sicily
Carricante The Cataratto's Grillo Inzolia (Ansonica) Zibibbo (Moscato di Alessandria)
What are the grapes of Marsala
Grillo Catarrattos Inzolia Perricone Nero D'Avola
What are the native grapes of Delia Nivolelli
Grillo, Izolia, Grecanico
Perricone, Nero D’avola
What are the native grapes of Menfi
Catarratto
Inzolia
Grecanico
Nero D’Avola
What are the native grapes o Contessa Entellina
Inzolia
Catarratto
Nero D’Avola
What are the native grapes of Contessa di Scaflani
Catarrato
Perricone, Nero D’avola
Where is Eloro and Noto located in Sicily
Southern most tip
What are the native grapes of Eloro
Nero D’avola
Frappato
Perricone
What are the native grapes of Noto
Moscato Bianco
Ansonica (Inzolia) does not produce very good wine in sicily - Why?
Where is the best Ansonica grown
It is a low acid grape so not ideal for hot climate
Best is off the coast in Tuscany on Elba and Giglio where (acidic) granite soils helps the grape retain acid.
Which Sicilian cultivator has always made dry white wine
Carricante
Where is Carricante grown in Etna
usually over 900 meters where Nerello does not ripen well
Where are Carricantes oldest vines found
on the eastern and southern slope of Etna
What grape does Caricante resemble with age
old riesling with its obvious flinty and diesel like aroma
a wine labeled Etna Bianco Superiore must be produced from grapes grown where?
on the eastern slopes of Mt Etna
What are the three sub zones of Etna
Northern
Eastern
Southern
Which commune is considered to have the highest quality Carricante
Milo
What is considered the Grand Cru of Carricante
Casselle in Milo
Where does Cataratto get its name
Cataracts or “water fall” of wine
what are Cataratto’s 3 biotypes
Comune
Lucido
Extralucido - now rare
Where are the cataracts most abundant
Trapani & Palermo
What is Sicily’s number one planted grape
Catarratto Bianco Comune
Where is Catarratto Comune and Lucido best grown
Commune - high elevations
Lucido - Lower sites around 400 meters
What is garganega called in Sicily
Grecanico Dorato
How did Grillo get its name
Grilli the sicilian word for “pips”
What is Grillio a crossing of and when did it become popular in Sicily
Catarratto Bianco Lucido and Moscato di Alessandria
17th c
How does picking Grillo impact its style
Early - Thiol dominate Passionfruit and lime
Late - Terpine dominate and musky
What is unique about Moscato di Noto
It is made from a unique biotype of moscato bianco that has adapted to that specific part of the island
What grape is Zibibbo and what is unique about it
It Moscato di Alessandria
2nd oldest muscat variety
it is very heat and drought resistant and tolerates wind well
What are the two wines of Pantelleria and how are they diffrent
Moscato di Pantelleria - Dry, fresh, aromatic
Passito di Pantelleria - air dried grapes, sweet and creamy
What two nutrients are Passito Pantelleria wines rich in and how do the impact the wine style
Potassium from volcanic nature of the soil - creates fleshier, richer mouthfeel
Sodium - seawater salt saturated winds - creates the salty saline character
What is Frappatos DOCG
Cerasuaolo di Vittoria
What province does Frappato call home
Province of Ragusa
What is the best soil for frappato
Red Sandy Calcareous Soils
How does Nerello Cappuccio balance Nerello Mascalese
Cappuccio provides color and tannin to balance Mascalese’s acid.
What is the difference in flavor profile between Nerello Cappuccio and Nerello Mascalese
Mascalese marked by more tobacco and musky character
Cappuccio has more vanilla, riper red cherry and clove
What is the best vine training system for Nerello Mascalese
Alberello Etneo - Bush vine
What are the three sub zones of Mt Etna
Northern
Eastern
Southern
What are the Crus of Etna called
Contrade
What two elements define Etna’s Contrade - explain
How many Contrade are defined?
Geological - most contrade correspond to ancient lava flows
Social - many cantrade refer to fiefdom or specific activities that happened on that plot
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What is the official name in italy for Nero d’Avola
Calabrese
where is Nero d’Avola birthplace
Avola - The dark grape from Avola
What is Sicily’s second most planted grape
Nero d’Avola
What physiological growing traits has made Nero d’Avola so popular in Sicily
the ability to maintain acidity when planted in high saline soils and heat. Grapes produce greater aromatic intensity in high saline soils
What is Nero d’Avolas DOCG wine and what is often blended with it
Cerasuaolo di Vittoria - Frappato
What is the difference in style on Nero d’Avola when planted at high or low altitude in North Central Sicily
High Altitude - paler color with more spice and the most refined in sicily
Low altitude - richer more tannic with stronger tobacco and licorice notes
What style of Nero dAvola is produced in Noto and Eloro area.
What is the best area for Nero d’Avola
Very ripe and herbal with strong saline and even anchovy note
Pachino - great concentration, super ripe and pungently fragrant
What is Nocera ideal for warm climates
It is very sweet but does not drop acid
What wine is Perricone most often use in
Marsala Rubino
What are the primary grapes of Marsala Oro/Gold and Amber
Grillo, Catarrattos and Ansonica
What are the primary grapes for Marsala Rubino
Perricone, Nero d’Avola, Nerello Mascalese
What are the 6 classifications for Marsalla from youngest to oldest
Fine Superiore Superiore Riserva Vergine/Solera Vergine Riserva Vergine Stravecchio
