Southern/Islands - (Campania, Puglia, Calabria, Basilicata, Sicily, Sardinia)

Question 1

Climate/Location

Answer 1

Hot and dry inland and more humid towards the coast because of the Mediteranean Sea

Flat and rolling terrains, some high elevations with the Apennine Mountains, Mount Etna, and Mount Vulture

Question 2

Grapes

Answer 2

Aglianico, Sangiovese, Primativo, Negroamaro, Nero d’Avola, Frappato, Greco, Vermentino, Cataratto

Question 3

Terroir

Answer 3

Diverse soils ranging from volcanic to limestone

Question 5

Primitivo Grape (Zinfandel)

Answer 5

Grows almost exclusively in Puglia

Boldly fruity with baked berry flavors balanced by a dusty, leathery minerality

Baked Blueberry, Fig, leather, blackberry, clay pot

Question 6

Negroamaro Grape

Answer 6

Translates to “black bitter” but it is fruity and not too tannic.

Puglia region is known for lush wines

Plum sauce, baked raspberry, allspice, herbs, cinnamon

Question 7

Cannonau Grape

Answer 7

Technically it’s Grenache

Wines are rustic with leather, tobacco, and toasted herb notes that give way to roasted fruit and allspice flavors.

The spice and fruit remind you it’s Grenache, but everything else is distinctly Italian

Question 8

Aglianico Grape

Answer 8

Age Worthy red that thrives in volcanic soils

Not for the faint of heart. Wines are intense, meaty, tannic, and sometimes take a decade or two to come around.

White pepper, black cherry, smoke, game, spiced plum

Question 9

Nero d’Avola Grape

Answer 9

Sicily’s champion wine.

Compared in richness and style to Cabernet Sauvignon but with more red fruit notes.

The grape is drought resistant and can be dry-farmed

Black cherry, black plum, licorice, tobacco, chili pepper

Question 10

Nerello Mascalese

Answer 10

Very similar to Pinot Noir and is kind of an up and coming grape.

Grows best on the volcanic soils of Mount Etna in Sicily

Dried cherry, orange zest, dried thyme, allspice, crushed gravel