Southern Italy Flashcards
What regions are in Southern Italy?
(1) Campagnia, (2) Basilicata, (3) Puglia, (4) Sicily.
What is the climate and grape growing of Southern Italy?
The climate of Southern Italy is hot and dry inland, becoming humid near the coast. Many vineyards are on slopes within the Apennines and altitude brings temperature down. Sea breezes cool the vineyards in the flat lands. Agriculture is the primary economic activity. Vines were bush trained low to the ground to fight heat, getting cooling from the soils with leaf cover in the canopy. Today cordon training and trellising are used.
Where in Southern Italy is Campagnia?
Campagnia is located in the northern part of the Southern Italy.
What is the typography of Campagnia?
Campagnia has a varied landscape with mountains, valleys, and coastal plains for black and white varieties. Fiano and Greco produce the best wines of the region.
What are the white wine styles of Fiano and Greco and what is the labelling?
(1) Fiano (white) produces wines that are medium acidity, medium to full body with aromas of stone fruit, melons, and mango. Best examples can age in bottle and develop aromas of wax and honey. (2) Greco has more acidity and is leaner in body with green fruit, stone fruit and passion fruit flavors. Some of these wines see oak for aging and lees aging may happen for texture and a round mouthfeel. The best can age in bottle and develop aromas of honey and mushrooms. The areas are Fiano di Avellino DOCG and Greco di Tufo DOCG.
What are the black wine styles of Campagnia?
Aglianico is the most prestigious black grape with deep color and high acidity and tannin and black fruit. It is matured in oak and can develop earthy notes in bottle. The best is Taurasi DOCG.
Where is Basilicata located in Southern Italy?
Basilicata is located to the south of Campagnia on the west side of the peninsula.
What is the varietal Basilicata is known for and what is the labelling?
Aglianico is the principal grape and it makes Aglianico del Vulture DOC which is the best wine of the region.
Where is Puglia located in Southern Italy?
Puglia is located on the east side of the peninsula.
What are the grapes primarily made into wine in Puglia?
(1) Negromaro and (2) Primitivo (Zinfandel) and in high yields they produce simple, fruity wines for early drinking are known as Puglia IGT. With low yielding fruit wines that are full bodied with medium tannins and medium acidity, high alcohol and baked red and black fruit are produced. Many of the best are lablelled Salice Salentino DOC. These wines are full bodied with medium tannins and acidity, and very ripe berry fruit.
Where in Southern Italy is Sicily located and what soils does it have?
Sicily is an island to the west of the peninsula and because of Mt. Etna has volcanic soils.
What is the labelling of Sicily in Southern Italy?
(1) IGT Terre di Sicilia/Terre Sicilane or if yields are lower and quality is produced (2) Sicilia DOC.
What are the grapes and styles of wine in Sicily?
(1) Nero d’ Avola which is medium acidity and tannin with aromas of black plums and cherries, often early drinking, but from the best producers are more complex. (2) Chardonnay and Syrah are also planted. (3) Etna DOC produces som eof the best wines with high acid, tannin and sour red cherries, cranberries, and raspberries with some dried herbs. With bottle aging tannins soften and mushroom notes can develop.
