Southern Italy

Question 1

What is the climate of Southern Italy?

Answer 1

Hot and dry inland, humid at the Coast, moderating influences are sea breezes and altitude.

Question 2

How are vines traditionally trained in Southern Italy?

Answer 2

The traditional method is bush-training with leaf cover to protect the grapes from sunburn; some cordon training is now used to allow for mechanization, especially in Puglia.

Question 3

What wines and appellations is Campania best known for?

Answer 3

Fiano di Avallino DOCG, Greco di Tufo DOCG and Taurasi DOCG

Fiano is medium body, medium acid, ripe stone and tropical; can be aged on lees and in oak.

Greco is leaner, more acidity, green apple and melon.

Aglianico, the grape of Taurasi, high acid, tannin, black fruit, earth.

Question 4

Besides Campania, where is Aglianico commonly grown?

Answer 4

In the mountainous region of Basilicata, especially Aglianico del Vulture DOC

Question 5

What type of wine does Puglia mostly produce?

Answer 5

Simple, high-volume Primitivo and Negroamara, sold as Puglia IGT

Higher quality Negroamara is sold as Salice Salentino DOC, med acid and tannin, high alcohol, baked red and black fruit

Question 6

List the key grapes, IGTs and DOC of Sicily

Answer 6

Nero D’Avola, Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio

IGT Terre di Sicilia

Sicilia DOC, Etna DOC