Southern Italy Flashcards
Campania
Where is the Falerno del Massico DOC? What soil type is it famous for?
Northern Coastal Campania. Volcanic Tuff on the slopes of Mount Massico
Campania
What are the common grape varieties for Falerno del Massico DOC?
Aglianico and Primitivo for red wines and Falanghina for white wines. may also include max. 40% Piedirosso for red wines.
Campania
In Naples, what percentage of wines are DOC? What grape varieties are commonly used?
only 10% of wines produced are Campania DOC. Common grape varieties include Aglianico and Piedirosso for red wines, and Greco, Fiano, and Falanghina for white wines.
Campania
What does Piedirosso mean?
Red Feet
Campania
What is the common grape variety for Taurasi DOCG? What additional DOCG is known for this same variety in the province?
Aglianico, Aglianico del Taburna DOCG is also located in the province of Avellino, not to be confused with the DOCG’s in Basilicata known for producing red wines with the same variety.
Campania
What is the minimum aging requirement for Taurasi DOCG?
minimum 3 years aging with one year in wood. If labeled riserva, minimum aging requires 4 years with 18 months in wood.
Campania
What are some of the top producers in Taurasi DOCG?
Mastroberardino, Terredora and Feudi di San Gregorio
Campania
What are the characteristics of Algianico?
Dark ruby color with moderate-plus concentration.
Aromas & flavors of ripe/roasted black fruit, fig, dried cherry with possible VA.
Floral notes of purple flowers, violets. Large neutral casks is common practice with modern producers possibly incorporating new French Oak.
Wines structure is fry, full body, high tannin, elevated acidity, elevated alcohol
Campania
What are the top white wine DOCG’s in Campania?
Greco di Tufo DOCG and Fiano del Avellino DOCG
Campania
What is the requirements and characteristics for Fiano del Avellino DOCG?
Minimum 85% Fiano, which is produced in a full-bodied, assertive, and resiny style.
Campania
What is the requirements and characteristics for Greco di Tufo DOCG?
Minimum 85% Greco, is lighter but with more intense aromatics than Fiano and grown at higher altitude in the north.
Campania
What are the common blending grape for both Greco di Tufo and Fiano del Avellino DOCGs?
Coda del Volpe
Campania
What DOC’s are recognized for producing white wines with the grape variety Falanghina? and what are the minimum requirements for blending in each?
Falanghina del Sannio DOC - 85%
Campi Flegrei DOC - 50%
Costa d’Amalfi DOC - 40% combined with Biancolella
Campania
What variety(s) and wine styles are produced in the Vesuvius DOC?
White wines from Coda del Volpe (foxtail), Verdeca, Falanghina and Caprettone (big goat).
Red, rosato, sparkling and fortified wines are also produced and can be labeled as Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio if it achieves a minimum 12% alcohol.
Campania
What is the indigenous red-grape of Ischia DOC?
Tintore di Tramonti
Apulia (Puglia)
Historically, what was the purpose of winegrowing in Apulia?
high-yielding grapes used as base wines for vermouth, bulk-blending and distillates.
Apulia (Puglia)
Describe the characteristics of Apulia (Puglia)
The least mountainous region in Italy - flat plains, low hills and fertile soils.
Apulia (Puglia)
What percentage of Apulia wines are bottled as DOC/DOCG wines today?
7%
Apulia (Puglia)
How many DOCs and DOCGs are in Apulia?
24+ DOCs and 4 DOCGs (all awarded in 2011)
Apulia (Puglia)
What are the requirements of Castel del Monte Rosso Riserva DOCG?
requires a minimum of 65% of the aromatic and tannic red grape Nero (Uva) di Troia
Apulia (Puglia)
What are the requirements of Castel del Monte Nero di Troia Riserva DOCG?
requires at least 90% of the aromatic and tannic red grape Nero (Uva) di Troia
Apulia (Puglia)
What is produced in Castel del Monte Bombino Nero DOCG?
Rose wines from Bombino Nero
Apulia (Puglia)
What is produced in Castel del Monte DOC
Made from a range of grapes; including dry whites and sparkling from Bombino Bianco.
Apulia (Puglia)
What is the most cultivated grape in the region?
Negroamaro
Apulia (Puglia)
What are the prominent DOCs in the region for Negroamaro?
Salice Salentino DOC and Brindisi DOC
What grape(s) may be blended with Negroamaro and why?
small amounts of Malvasia Nera or other red grapes, primarily to help stabilize color
Apulia (Puglia)
Where is Primitivo di Manduria DOC, and what do they produce?
West of Salice Salentino DOC on the Ionian coast, varietal (85% min) primitivo.
Apulia (Puglia)
What style of wines are produced in Primitivo di Manduria Dolce Naturale DOCG?
Sweet style red wines, with a minimum of 50g r/s and may be subject to the appassimento process.
Apulia (Puglia)
What is the lesser known red variety in Puglia with elegant structure and medium body.
Susumaniello
Apulia (Puglia)
What type and where are white wines produced in Puglia?
Verdeca, grown primarily in the Valle d’Itria. Fiano Minutolo, not related to Fiano in Campania.
Basilicata
What is the primary DOC in Basilicata?
Aglianico Del Vulture DOC
Basilicata
How many DOCs are in Basilicata?
4
Basilicata
What is the only DOCG in Basilicata?
Aglianica Del Vulture Superiore DOCG
Basilicata
What is the difference and similarities between Aglianico del Vulture DOC and Superiore DOCG?
Both are 100% Aglianico, while DOC requires 12.5% abv vs. 13.5% for Superiore; Superiore also requires minimum time in barrel and bottle, as well as held back before release.
Basilicata
What are the requirements for Aglianico del Vulture DOCG?
100% Aglianico, 12 months in barrel, 12 months in bottle, not to be released before November 1 of the third year following the harvest
When is harvest for Aglianico in Aglianico del Vulture DOC/DOCGs?
Late October or Early November. Aglianico is slow to ripen on the slopes of Mount Vulture, developing complexities.
Basilicata
What styles of wines can be produced in Aglianco del Vulture DOC/DOCG?
The wines may be dry (acsiutto) or off-dry (abboccato) and still or spumante. Although dry, still wines are the DOCs most serious wines.
Calabria
What is the primary red grape of Calabria?
Gaglioppo
Calabria
What is the primary DOC for Gaglioppo, what additional style is produced?
Ciro DOC, also produces rosatos (rose)
Calabria
What is the primary white variety of Calabria, and whats the main DOC it is produced?
Greco, Melissa DOC
Calabria
What style of wines are produced in Greco di Bianco DOC?
sweet wines, which are often partially dried prior to fermentaion.
Sicily (Sicilia)
What is the most famous DOC in Sicily?
Marsala DOC
Sicily (Sicilia)
What is the focus of viticulture in Sicily during the latter half of the 20th century?
The focus was on high volume production of low-quality bulk wines and grape concentrate used for blending in Italy and France.
Siciliy (Sicilia)
What climate factors make Sicily well-suited to quality winemaking?
Arid Mediterranean heat is countered by altitude, allowing large diurnal temperature swings that even out the ripening process.
Sicily (Sicilia)
What role do IGT Terre Siciliane wines play in Sicily’s modern wine success?
They contribute to the success with wines produced from international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.
Sicily (Sicilia)
Name some indigenous white grape varieties commonly found in Sicily.
Catarratto, Inzolia, Grecanico, Carricante, Grillo, Zibibbo (Muscat of Alexandria), and Malvasia
Sicily (Sicilia)
Name some indigenous red grape varieties commonly found in Sicily.
Nero d’Avola (Calabrese), Frappato, Perricone, Nerello Mascalese, and Nerello Cappuccio
Sicily (Sicilia)
What is the most heavily planted grape in Sicily and the seventh most cultivated grape in Italy?
Catarratto, found primarily in the vineyards of western Sicily
Sicily (Sicilia)
What are the main uses of Catarratto in Sicilian winemaking?
It is used in Marsala blends, Alcamo Bianco DOC table wines, and produces juice often destined for grape concentrate or distillation
Sicily (Sicilia)
Which grapes are better alternatives to Catarratto for Marsala and table wines?
Inzolia and Grillo
Sicily (Sicilia)
What are the dominant grape varieties in the Etna DOC rosso and bianco wines?
Nerello Mascalese for rosso and Carricante for bianco
Sicily (Sicilia)
What makes the Etna DOC region unique for viticulture?
Vines on Mount Etna’s slopes benefit from well-drained volcanic soils, but growing grapes there is risky due to the active volcano
Sicily (Sicilia)
What grape dominates the blends of Faro DOC wines?
Nerello Mascalese, especially in the wines of Palari on Sicily’s extreme northeastern coast
Sicily (Sicilia)
Which red grape is the most planted on the island and recently received the DOCG Cerasuolo di Vittoria?
Nero d’Avola
Sicily (Sicilia)
How is Nero d’Avola often described in terms of flavor, and how is it blended in Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG wines?
Nero d’Avola is often likened to Syrah in flavor and is blended with Frappato in a 70-50% to 30-50% ratio, resulting in vibrant, cherry-red wines
Sicily (Sicilia)
What dessert grapes are prominently used in Sicily for dessert wines?
Zibibbo, Moscato Bianco, and Malvasia
Sicily (Sicilia)
What are Moscato di Noto and Moscato di Siracusa DOCs known for?
They are rare dessert wines based on Moscato Bianco, located in southeastern Sicily with 88 hectares and 37 hectares respectively
Sicily (Sicilia)
What styles of wine are produced under the Malvasia delle Lipari DOC?
Sweet, passito, and fortified styles, although dry wines released as Salina IGT are increasingly dominant
Sicily (Sicilia)
Where is the Malvasia delle Lipari DOC located?
Off the northern coast of Sicily
Sicily (Sicilia)
What styles of wine are produced from Zibibbo on the island of Pantelleria?
Sweet Moscato di Pantelleria DOC and the superior Passito di Pantelleria
Sicily (Sicilia)
Where is the volcanic island of Pantelleria located?
Near the African coast
Sicily (Sicilia)
What has increasingly dominated production in the Malvasia delle Lipari DOC?
Dry wines, released as Salina IGT
Sardinia (Sardegna)
Which red grape varieties are dominant in Sardinia, and what are their Spanish equivalents?
Cannonau (Garnacha, or Grenache) and Carignano (Cariñena, or Carignan)
Sardinia (Sardegna)
What is Sardinia’s dominant white grape, and where is it likely from?
Vermentino, likely of Spanish origin
Sardinia (Sardegna)
How did Spanish grape varieties likely come to Sardinia?
They were introduced during the Spanish Kingdom of Aragon’s rule over Sardinia, which lasted for nearly 400 years until the early 1700s
Sardinia (Sardegna)
What is Sardinia’s only DOCG zone, and what are its notable characteristics?
Vermentino di Gallura, located in the high-elevation, rocky, granitic soils of the northern end of Sardinia, known for producing aromatic and rich Vermentino wines.
Sardinia (Sardegna)
What are the alcohol requirements for Vermentino di Gallura DOCG wines labeled as “superiore”?
They must have a minimum of 13% alcohol, compared to the base 12% required for the DOCG
Sardinia (Sardegna)
Which grape is more common in southern Sardinia, and what is the best version of it?
Nuragus, which produces tart, appley wines; the best versions are Nuragus di Cagliari DOC
Sardinia (Sardegna)
What are the three subzones of the Cannonau di Sardegna DOC?
Oliena, Jerzu, and Capo Ferrato
