Sicily and Sardegna

Question 1

What separates Sicily from Calabria

Answer 1

Strait of Messina

Question 2

What Italian region produces more wine than Sicily?

Answer 2

Only the Veneto surpasses in volume

Question 3

Who discovered Marsala

Answer 3

Englishman John Woodhouse - 1773

Question 4

When did Marsala become DOC?

Answer 4

1969

Question 5

Producers revitalizing Sicily?

Answer 5

Marco de Bartoli - Marsala
Planeta
Cos
Palari

Question 6

Climate of Sicily

Answer 6

Arid Mediterranean

Question 7

Main White grapes of Sicily

Answer 7

• Cataratto (Most planted - 3rd most in Italy but only found here)
• Carricante
• Grecanico
• Inzolia
• Grillo
• Zibibbo (not indigenous) (muscat of Alexandria)
• Malvasia (not indigenous)

Question 8

Main Red grapes of Sicily

Answer 8

• Nero d’Avola (Calabrese) - most planted red grape
• Frappato
• Perricone
• Nerello Mascalese
• Nerello Cappuccio

Question 9

Most planted grape in Sicily?

Answer 9

Catarratto - used for Marsala blends and grape concentrate, distillation in Alcamo Bianco DOC

3rd most cultivated in Italy, but only found in Sicily

Question 10

Main grapes of Etna DOC?

Answer 10

Carricante - white
Nerello Mascalese - red

well drained, volcanic soil

Question 11

Main grapes and features of Faro DOC?

Notable producer?

Answer 11

Extreme northern coast of Sicily

Nerello Mascalese

Palari notable producer

Question 12

DOCG of Sicily, main grapes

Answer 12

Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG (2005)

• Nero d’Avola with 30-50% Frappato blended in
• Normale or Classico
• limited maceration to retain “cherry-red” color

Question 13

Is Marsala a DOCG?

Answer 13

No - DOC

Question 14

What grapes might you find in a sweet wine from Sicily?

Answer 14

Moscato/Zibbibo, Malvasia

Question 15

Name two DOCs for sweet wine of Sicily

Answer 15

Moscato di Noto
Moscato di Siracusa
Malvasia delle Lipari
Moscato di Pentelleria

Question 16

When is Marsala fortified?

Answer 16

during or after fermentation, depending on required sweetness level

Question 17

How do you add color and sweetness in marsala

Answer 17

add either
Mosto cotto - cooked must
sifone - mistelle from fortified unfermented must of overripe grapes

mosto cotto can only be added to ambra style

Question 18

Process used to make Marsala

Answer 18

In perpetuum - similar to solera

Question 19

Three styles (colors) of Marsala

Answer 19

Ambra - from white grapes
Oro - from white grapes
Rubino - from red grapes

Question 20

White grapes used in Marsala

Answer 20

Gillo, Catarratto, Inzolio (Ansonica), Damaschino

used for ambra and oro styles

Question 21

Red grapes used in Marsala

Answer 21

Perricone, Calabrese (Nero d’Avola), Nerello Mascalese

used for rubino styl

Question 22

Sugar indication on Marsala bottles?

Answer 22

Secco - max 40 g/l RS
Semi-secco - 41 to 100 g/l RS
Dolce - min 100 g/l R

Question 23

Marsala aging requirements

Answer 23

Fine, - 1 year in cask (17%abv)
Superiore, - 2 years in cask (18%abv)
Superiore Riserva - 4 years in cask (18%abv)
Vergine - 5 yr in cask (18%abv)
Vergine Stravecchio. / Soleras Riserva– min of 10 yr in cask

Question 24

Where is Sardegna located?

Answer 24

Just south of Corsica in Tyrrhenian sea

Question 25

Main grapes of Sardegna

Answer 25

Cannonau (Grenache)
Carignano (Carignan)

Vermentino
(Naragus is another white grape in south)

Question 26

Climate of Sardegna

Answer 26

Hot, Mediterranean

-high alcohol

Question 27

What are Malcasia di Bosa DOC and Vernaccia di Oristano DOC known for?

Answer 27

historic style of fortified wine produced like sherry in Sardegna

Question 28

Name the DOCG of Sardegna

Answer 28

Vermentino di Gallura

• hot, high elevation
• poor rocky granitic soil

Question 29

What DOC covers all of Sardegna?

Answer 29

Cannonau di Sardegna DOC

3 subzones:
Oliena
Jerzu
Capo Ferrato