Sicily (Sicilia) Flashcards

1
Q

Sicily

Most planted grape

A

Cataratto

  • 3rd most cultivated grape in Italy, despite only vineyards in Western Sicily
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2
Q

Who is credited with the discovery of Marsala?

A

John Woodhouse

  • Englishman
  • Discovered on Sicily’s western edge
  • 1773, first to fortify to ensure safe shipment to his home country
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3
Q

Marsala

  • Styles
  • Grapes
A
  • Oro/Ambra:
    • Grillo, Ansonica (Inzolia), Catarratto, Damaschino
  • Rubino:
    • Perricone, Calabrese (Nero d’Avola), Nerello Mascalese
    • max. 30% white grapes
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4
Q

Malvasia delle Liparia DOC

  • Location
  • Styles
  • Grapes
A

Malvasia delle Lipari DOC

  • Small group of islands off the northern coast of Sicily
  • Bianco, Passito, Liquoroso
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5
Q

Narrow waterway that separates Sicily from Calabria

A

Straight of Messina

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6
Q

Sicily

Producers that have led the resurgence of higher quality / lower yields in recent years

A
  • Marco de Bartoli (Marsala)
  • Planeta
  • Palari
  • COS
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7
Q

Faro DOC

  • Location
  • Style
  • Grapes
A
  • Sicily’s extreme NE coast
  • Rosso only
    • 45-60 Nerello Mascalese
    • 15-30 Nerello Cappuccio
    • 5-10 Nocera
    • max 15, alone or comb, Calabrese (Nero d’Avola), Gaglioppo (Montonico Nero), Sangiovese
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8
Q

Marsala

Sweetness levels

A
  • Secco: max. 40 g/l rs
  • Semisecco: 40-100 g/l rs
  • Dolce: min. 100 g/l rs
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9
Q

Sicily

Major white grapes

A
  • Cattaratto
  • Carricante
  • Inzolia (Ansonica)
  • Grillo
  • Grecanico
  • Zibbibo
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10
Q

Zibbibo synonym

A

Muscat of Alexandria

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11
Q

Nero d’Avola synonym

A

Calabrese

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12
Q

Sicily

Most planted red grape

A

Nero d’Avola

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13
Q

Sicily

Sole DOCG

A

Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG

  • Normale and Classico
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14
Q

Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG

Grapes

A
  • 50-70% Nero d’Avola
  • 30-50% Frappato
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15
Q

Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG

Soils

A

Iron-rich clay over limestone

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16
Q

DOC contiguous with Cerasuolo di Vittoria

A

Vittoria

  • Rosso: 50-70% Nero d’Avola, 30-50% Frappato
  • Novello: 80% Nero d’Avola and Frappato
  • Varietal: Calabrese, Frappato, Ansonica (Inzolia)
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17
Q

Sicily

Sweet wine DOCs

A
  • Moscato di Noto DOC
  • Moscato di Siracusa DOC (SE; east of Vittoria)**
  • Malvasia delle Lipari DOC (N; off the coast)
  • Moscato di Pantelleria DOC
  • Passito di Pantelleria DOC (SW; off the coast)
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18
Q

Etna DOC

Styles

A
  • Bianco: 60% Carricante, + Catarratto Bianco Comune, Catarratto Bianco Lucido, +
  • Bianco Superiore: 80% Carricante, +
  • Rosato/Rosso/Riserva: 80% Nerello Mascalese, plus Nerello Mantellato, +
  • Spumante: rosato or bianco, 60% Nerello Mascalese, +
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19
Q

Etna Rosso Riserva aging

A
  • 4 yrs, 1 yr wood
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20
Q

Etna Spumante aging

A
  • Metodo Classico
  • 18 mos on the lees
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21
Q

Besides Etna, another DOC based on Nerello Mascalese

A

Faro DOC

  • Rosso only
  • 45-60% Nerello Mascalese, 15-30% Nerello Mantellato, 4-10% Nocera
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22
Q

Sicily

DOC that covers the island

A

Sicilia DOC

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23
Q

Hottest, driest region of Italy

A

Sicily

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24
Q

Political event that created the original demand for Marsala

A

The War of the Spanish Succession

(England v. France)

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25
Q

Sicily’s other major grape-derived product

A

Concentrated grape musts, made by vacuum-evaporating or cooking down unfermented juice

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26
Q

latifondo

A
  • System of land ownership in Italy
  • Overturned by the Agrarian reforms of the 1950’s
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27
Q

mezzadria

A

Sharecropping

More prevalent in the NORTH than the south of ITALY

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28
Q

Two biggest wine producers in the latter part of the 20th century (accounting for nearly all production other than Marsala)

A
  • Corvo-Duca di Salaparuta
  • Conte Tasca d’Almerita / Regaleali
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29
Q

Where is Marsala, what style of wines are produced?

A

The western end of Sicily
Fortified, often sweet, maybe dry

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30
Q

What are the indigenous white grapes of Sicily?

A

Cattarratto
Carricante
Inzolia
Grillo
Grecanico
Zibbobo

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30
Q

What are the indigenous red grapes of Sicily?

A

Nero d’Avola (Calabrese)
Nerello Mascalese
Nerello Cappuccio (Manatello)
Frappato
Perricone

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31
Q

Zibbobo is a synonym for:

A

Muscat of Alexandria

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32
Q

Synonym for Nero d’Avola?

A

Calabrese

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33
Q

What is Sicily’s most-planted red grape?

A

Nero d’Avola

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34
Q

What’s the sole DOCG of Sicily?

A

Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG
Normale & Classico

50-70% Nero d’Avola (Calabrese)
30-50% Frappato

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35
Q

What are the different aging requirements between Cerasuolo di Vittoria Normale and Classico?

A

Cerasuolo di Vittoria: May not be sold until June 1 of the year following the harvest

Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico: May not be sold until March 31 of the second year following the harvest

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36
Q

What are the soils of Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG?

A

Iron-rich clay over limestone

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37
Q

What DOC is contiguous with Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG?

A

Vittoria DOC

Rosso
50% - 70% Calabrese
30% - 50% Frappato

Novello
min 80% Calabrese
(Nero d’Avola) and/or Frappato
maximum 20% other black grapes

Varietal wine: Calabrese (Nero d’Avola)
Frappato
Ansonica (Insolia/Inzolia)
minimum 85% of the stated varietal
maximum 15% other grapes of the same color suitable for cultivation in Sicilia

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38
Q

What are the sweet wine DOC’s of Sicily?

A
  • Moscato di Noto DOC
  • Moscato di Siracusa DOC (southeast; east of Vittoria)
  • Malvasia delle Lipari DOC (off the coast, to the north)
  • Moscato di Pantelleria DOC
  • Passito di Pantelleria DOC (off the coast, southwest)
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39
Q

Pantelleria: Denominazione

A

Moscato/Moscato Spumante/Moscato Dorato: 250g/L must weight, 100 g/L RS, fortified

Moscato Liquoroso
Passito Liquoroso
Passito

Zibbibo Dolce: frizzante (min 1.7 atmospheres)
Bianco/Frizzante: 85% Zibibbo [all others are 100%]

*Passito is not allowed for wines labeled Moscato

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40
Q

Etna DOC: Styles

A

Bianco: 60% Carricante, plus Catarratto Bianco Comune, Catarratto Bianco Lucido, plus
Bianco Superiore: 80% Carricante, plus
Rosato/Rosso/Riserva: 80% Nerello Mascalese, plus Nerello Mantellato, plus
Spumante: rosato or bianco, 60% Nerello Mascalese, plus

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41
Q

Etna Rosso Riserva aging:

A

48mos from 11/1, 12mos in wood

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42
Q

Etna Spumante aging:

A

Metodo Classico

18mos on the lees

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43
Q

What other DOC is based on Nerello Mascalese?

A

Faro DOC
Rosso only
45-60% Nerello Mascalese
15-30% Nerello Mantellato
4-10% Nocera

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44
Q

Which DOC covers the island of Sicily?

A

Sicilia DOC

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45
Q

What is the hottest, driest region of Italy?

A

Sicily

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46
Q

What political event created the original demand for Marsala?

A

The War of the Spanish Succession (England v. France)

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47
Q

What is Sicily’s other major grape-derived product?

A

Mosto Cotto Concentrated grape musts, made by vacuum-evaporating or cooking down unfermented juice.

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48
Q

What is latifondo?

A

The system of land ownership in Italy, overturned by the Agrarian reforms of the 1950’s.

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49
Q

What were the two biggest wine producers in Sicily in the latter part of the 20th century (accounting for nearly all production other than Marsala)?

A

Corvo-Duca di Salaparuta
Conte Tasca d’Almerita / Regaleali

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50
Q

Cataratto makes up what percentage of Sicily’s 330,000 acres?

A

60%

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51
Q

What is the Sirocco?

A

A hot, fierce wind that blows up across the Mediterranean from the Sahara, mainly affecting Sicily and Sardinia.

52
Q

What are the Aeolian Islands? What DOC encompasses them?

A

Salina, Lipari, and Vulcano

Malvasia delle Lipari DOC

53
Q

Which Aeolian Island produces the most wine?

A

Salina

54
Q

Which two sweet wine DOC’s of Sicily are essentially extinct?

A

Moscato di Siracusa DOC
Moscato di Noto DOC

55
Q

What young winemaker/agronomist did Dr. Giuseppe Benanti hire to kickstart the modern era of winemaking on Etna?

A

Salvo Foti

56
Q

Besides alcohol, acid, and varietal requirements what must be fulfilled in order for an Etna Bianco to call itself Superiore?

A

Must be from the commune of Milo

57
Q

What grape varieties may be used in the production of Marsala Oro/Ambra?

A

Grillo, Ansonica (Inzolio), Catarratto, Damaschino

58
Q

Who first imported and popularized Marsala wine in England?

A

John Woodhouse

59
Q

Name at least two of Sicily’s winds and the direction from which they blow?

A

Levante (E)
Scirocco (SE)
Ostro (S)
Libeccio (SW)
Ponente (W)

60
Q

What is the most famous Amaro to hail from Sicily, having been produced there since 1868?

A

Averna

61
Q

This Sicilian dish has its origins from the time of Arab rule. Resembling the Levantine Kibbeh its name comes from the dish’s resemblance to the island’s rich diversity of citrus fruit.

A

Arancini

62
Q

Malvasia delle Lipari can be said to come from the Lipari Islands but what is the more common name for this archipelago?

A

Aeolian Islands

63
Q

Name a producer of varietally-labelled Nerello Cappuccio:

A

Benanti
Tenuta di Fessina
Calabretta
Feudo Vagliasindi
Al-Cantàra

64
Q

What is the min aging for Marsala Vergine Riserva and Solera Riserva?

A

10 years in oak or cherrywood

65
Q

On which side of Mt. Etna are there no vineyards?

A

West

66
Q

Mt. Etna lies on which side of Sicily

A

East

67
Q

Name a contrada produced by Passopisciaro:

A

C - Chiappemachine
G - Guardiola
P - Porcaria
S - Sciaranuova
R - Rampante

68
Q

What is Albarello Pantesco?

A

A unique form of vine training on Pantelleria, gobelet-style with a short truck. The vine is placed in a shallow hole. The hole does two things, it creates a protective barrier from the wind, and it funnels any moisture and humidity that collects overnight in the form of dew towards the roots of the vine.

69
Q

What is the RS range for Marsala Semisecco?

A

40-100 g/l

70
Q

Calabria and Sicily are separated by what natural feature?

A

Straight of Messina

71
Q

What is the name for the Geographical Designations of Etna? How many are there?

A

Contrade, 142

Arena
Bocca d’Orzo
Civita
Dafara Galluzzo
Eremo di S. Emilia
Feudo
Feudo di Mezzo
Fleri
Fornazzo

72
Q

Arianna Occhipenti’s Passo Nero is labeled with what lawful designation?

A

Terre Siciliane IGP

73
Q

Who produces “Mille e una Notte”?

A

Donnafugata, Nero d’Avola

74
Q

Aging requirements for Marsala Vergine Riserva/Solera Stravecchio:

A

Min 10 years in oak/cherry wood

75
Q

What is ”concia” and in what styles is it not permitted?

A

The addition of mosto cotto in Marsala

Not permitted for Oro, Rubino styles of Marsala

76
Q

Who is Frank Cornelissen and what are his most prominent bottlings?

A

A biodynamic producer who owns 19ha at higher elevation of Mt. Etna, producers Nerello Mascalese and Cappucio
Pistemuta, Susucaru, Munjebel,

77
Q

What is Gaja’s Sicilian project?

A

Idda

78
Q

What 3 grapes in decreasing order must be present in the wines of Faro DOC?Who is the top producer here?

A

Nerello Mascalese
Nerello Cappuccio
Nocera

Palari is the top producer

79
Q

Legend has it that Apollo was tricked into thinking wine from this DOC was ambrosia, a beverage for gods, that confers immortality upon the imbiber?

A

Passito di Pantelleria/Moscato di Pantelleria DOC

80
Q

What crossing produced Grillo?

A

Muscat of Alexandria x Catarratto

81
Q

What are the 3 Moscato DOCs of Sicily?

A

Moscato di Noto DOC
Moscato di Siracusa DOC
Moscato di Pantelleria

82
Q

Aging requirements for Etna Spumante? Producers?

A
  • Metodo Classico, 18 mos on the lees
  • Murgo Brut, Terrazze dell’Etna
83
Q

Local synonym for Marsala’s “Inzolia”?

A

Ansonica

84
Q

What is the only DOC in Sicily to ensure Cabernet Sauvignon is part of the wine?

A

Riesi DOC

Rosso/Novello:
min 80% Calabrese and/or Cabernet Sauvignon
max 20% other non-aromatic black grapes suitable for cultivation in Sicilia

85
Q

In which doc do you find the lesser-known red grape Perricone?

A

Contea di Sclafani DOC

Rosso/Rosso Riserva/Novello
Varietal: min 85%
Rosso: min 50% Calabrese and/or Perricone
max 50% other black grapes suitable for cultivation in Sicilia

86
Q

Which DOC allows for Syrah?

A

Contessa Entellina DOC

Rosso/Rosato:
min 50% Nero d’Avola and/or Syrah
max 50% other non-aromatic red grapes suitable for cultivation in Sicilia

87
Q

What are the parent grapes of Nerello Mascalese?

A

Sangiovese X Mantonico Bianco

88
Q

What is the only commune of production for Etna Bianco Superiore?

A

Milo

89
Q

What are the allowed varietal percentages for Cerasulo di Vittoria?

A

50-70% Nero d’Avola
30-50% Frappato

90
Q

What styles in Pantelleria allow other grapes other than Zibbibo?

A

Bianco & Bianco Frizzante allow max 15% other white grapes

91
Q

Who is accredited with “discovering” Marsala…

A

John Woodhouse – 1773

92
Q

Nerello Mascalese, Lievuso, and Occhi di Lepre all share what same parent?

A

Sangiovese

93
Q

Who produces the Ben Ryé and what is it?

A

Donnafugata – Passito di Pantelleria DOC

93
Q

In terms of sugar, what styles of Sparkling Wine are produced in the Etna DOC?

A

Brut & Extra Brut only

94
Q

Are green grape varieties allowed in the production of Marsala DOC Rubino?

A

Yes - 30%

95
Q

In the production of Marsala Vergine DOC, is it fortified? If so, when?

A

Yes, after fermentation

96
Q

What does the “Classico” designation indicate in Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG?

A

An additional year of aging

97
Q

This wind brings heatwaves to the island of Sicily and at times can cause “blood rain”:

A

Scrirocco (SE) – Blood Rain: warm wind from the Sahara + sand + moist air

98
Q

What are the aging requirements for Etna Rosso Riserva?

A

Minimum 4 years including 12 months in wood

99
Q

What is the name of Sicily’s ancient design of high-density vines trained on individual stakes and planted in a square?

A

Quinconce

100
Q

List the aging distinctions for Marsala and their requirements:

A

Fine - 1 year in oak or cherry wood (first 4 months may be in alternative containers)
Superiore - Min. 2 years in oak or cherry wood
Superiore Riserva - Min. 4 years in oak or cherry wood
Vergine/Solera - Min. 5 years in oak or cherry wood
Vergine Riserva/Solera Riserva - Min. 10 years in oak or cherry wood

101
Q

Body of water that separates Sicily from Calabria

A

Strait of Messina

102
Q

Englishman who discovered and first fortified Marsala to ship to his home country

A

John Woodhouse

103
Q

Sicilian Climate

A

Arid, Mediterranean

  • Quality vineyards found in the higher altitudes - which allow large diurnal swings that even ripening process
104
Q

Sicily

5 native white grapes

A
  • Cataratto
  • Inzolia
  • Grecanico
  • Carricante
  • Grillo
105
Q

Sicily

5 native red grapes

A
  • Nero d’Avola
  • Frappato
  • Perricone
  • Nerello Mascalese
  • Nerello Capuccio
106
Q

Calabrese

Synonym (aka)

A

Nero d’Avola

107
Q

Sicily

Island’s most planted grape

A

Cataratto

  • Found only in the vineyards of Western Sicily
  • Utilized in the Marsala blends and the Alcamo Bianco DOC table wines
108
Q

Marsala

White Grapes

A
  • Grillo, Inzolia, Catarratto, Ansonica (Inzolia), Damaschino
  • Grillo and Inzolia most preferred
  • oro and ambra styles
109
Q

Etna DOC

Red Grapes

A
  • Min 80% Nerello Mascalese, Max 20% Nerello Mantellato (Nerello Cappuccio)
  • Max 10% non-aromatic white grapes suitable for cultivation in Sicilia
110
Q

Etna DOC

White Grapes

A

Bianco:

  • Min 60% Carricante
  • Max 40% Catarratto Bianco Comune or Cataratto Bianco Lucido
  • Max 15% Trebbiano and/or Minnella Bianca and/or other non-aromatic white grapes suitable for cultivation in Sicilia

Bianco Superiore: Min 80% Carricante, Max 20% Trebbiano and/or Minnella Bianca and/or other …

111
Q

Faro DOC

Grapes

A

Rosso (Red Wine Only DOC)

  • 45-60% Nerello Mascalese
  • 15-30% Nerello Cappuccio
  • 5-10% Nocera
  • Max 15%, alone or combined, Calabrese (Nero d’Avola), Gaglioppo (Montonico Nero), Sangiovese
112
Q

Sicily

Most planted red grape

A

Nero d’Avola

113
Q

What does Cerasuolo mean?

A

cherry-red

114
Q

Sicily

5 DOCs for sweet wines

A
  • Moscato di Noto DOC
  • Moscato di Siracusa DOC
  • Malvasia delle Lipari DOC
  • Moscato di Pantelleria DOC
  • Marsala DOC
115
Q

Moscato di Noto and Moscato di Siracusa

Size in ha

A
  • Moscato di Noto 88 ha (LARGER)
  • Moscato di Siracusa 37 ha
116
Q

What is the DOC for sweet wines from the mini island located near the African coast?

A

Moscato di Pantelleria DOC

117
Q

What was the wine that possessed such character as to dupe the Greek god Apollo into assuming that he was drinking ambrosia—a beverage, reserved for gods, that confers immortality upon the imbiber?

A

Malvasia delle Lipari DOC

118
Q

DOC for sweet wines from the mini island located near the African coast

A

Pantelleria / Moscato di Pantelleria / Passito di Pantelleria DOC

119
Q

What is the name of the famous sweet wine from Sicily, often referred to as the ”wine of the sun”?

A

Marsala

120
Q

Which Sicilian wine is a fortified sweet wine similar to Marsala, but made primarily from the Muscat grape variety?

A

Moscato di Pantelleria

121
Q

Which Sicilian wine is made using the traditional appassimento method, where grapes are dried before fermentation?

A

Amarone della Sicilia

122
Q

What is the name of the ancient vine training system used in Southern Italy, where vines are grown as bushes without trellises?

A

Alberello

123
Q

What is the name of Benanti’s Metodo Classico wine?

What is the name of their top white wine?

What are their 2 top red wines?

A
  • Noblesse
  • Pietramarina
  • Serra della Contessa / Rovitello
124
Q

Why can’t Benanti’s Noblesse Metodo Classico wine be classified as Etna Spumante?

How long total does it spend on the lees?

A

Because Etna Spumante DOC requires at least 60% Nerello Mascalese to be included. Noblesse is 100% Carricante
The base wine matures on its lees until Spring, and then spends an additional 18 months on the lees after its second fermentation in bottle.

125
Q

How is Benanti’s Pietramarina classified?

What grapes are used?

Where do the grapes come from?

How is the wine aged?

A

Etna DOC Bianco Superiore
100% Carricante
Milo, on the Eastern slope of Etna.
24 months on its lees in stainless steel, followed by 1 year in bottle.

126
Q

Benanti’s “Rovitello” and “Serra della Contessa” are both made from ____.

Grapes for Serra della Contessa are harvested from:
Grapes for Rovitello are harvested from:

A

Mostly Nerello Mascalese, blended w/Nerello Cappuccio.
1. Monte Serra, the lowest elevation site on Etna’s East side, in the town of Viagrande.
2. Rovitello on the North side of Etna, town of Castiglione di Sicilia.

127
Q
A