Southern Italy Flashcards
What sits at higher elevation; Etna DOC, Bolgheri DOC, Castel del Monte Bombino Nero DOCG?
Etna DOC (2460 ft)
Where is Slavonian Oak from?
Croatia
Riserva Taurasi DOCG is required to age for a minimum of _____ months in wood prior to release.
18
Name the white wine only DOCG’s of Campania (2)
Fiano di Avelino and Greco di Tufo
What (2) seas surround Apulia?
Ionian and Adriatic
What is the required ABV of Aglianico del Vulture Superiore?
13.5%
What style of barrels may be used for Marsala aging?
Oak or Cherry
Name 3 Contrada of Passopisciaro. Bonus: Name the grapes for their ‘Franchetti’ bottling
- Guardiola, Rampante, Chiappamacine, Porcaria, Sciaranuova.
- “Franchetti” grapes: Petite Verdot and Cesanese d’Affile”
The lone DOCG of Sicily is _______ and is made up of what grapes?
- Cerasuolo di Vittoria
- 50-70% Nero d’Avola (Calabrese)
- 30-50% Frappato
What is the minimum ABV for Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio?
12%
What style of wines are produced under the Falanghina del Sannio DOC?
Dry and Sweet Passito styles
Taurasi DOCG aging requirements?
- Normale: 3 yrs (1 yr oak)
- Riserva: 4 years (1.5 yrs oak)
Aglianico del Vulture Superiore DOCG aging requirement?
- 100% Aglianico
- Superiore: 3 years (1 yr oak / 1 yr bottle)
- Riserva: 5 years (2 yrs oak / 2 yrs bottle)”
Aglianico del Vulture Superiore DOCG min. abv?
13.5% abv (same as Priorat!)
Etna Rosso Riserva DOC aging reqs?
Min. 4 yrs aging (1 yr oak)
Name the DOCGs of Molise
There are none
What is Falernian?
Most prominent wine of ancient Rome; sourced from Monte Massico in Campania
What styles are permitted under Greco di Tufo DOCG? What is the minimum required percentage of Greco?
- Still White and Traditional Method Sparkling White
- minimum 85% Greco
What is the complimentary grape of Greco di Tufo DOCG?
Coda di Volpe (max 15%)
Where does one find Nuragas?
Sardinia
2 winemaking regions of Lacryma Christi
- Vesuvio DOC, Campania
- Malaga DO in Andalucía, Spain:
- Lágrima: A traditional style of Málaga Vino de Licor produced without any mechanical pressing
- Lacrima Christi: Lacrima wines aged a min. 2 years in oak
(4) DOCGs of Campania
(From N to S)
- Aglianico del Taburno: min 85% aglianico
- Fiano di Avellino: min 85% fiano
- Greco di Tufo: min 85% greco (aminean)
- Taurusi: min 85% aglianico
This river cuts Taurusi DOCG in two
Calore
Indigenous grapes in Apulia/Puglia (3)
Negroamaro, Primitivo, Nero di Troia
Main red grape in Calabria
Gaglioppo
Sole DOCG in Basilicata; grape for DOC and DOCG
*both 100% Aglianico
Aglianico del Vulture DOC
Aglianico del Vulture Superiore DOCG
Aging and alcohol requirement for Taurasi DOCG
- Taurasi:
min 12% alc
min 3 years, 1 yr in oak - Taurasi Riserva:
min 12.5% alc
min 4 years, 18m in oak
*Feudi di San Gregorio, Caggiano, Mastroberardino (top bottling Radici)
River in Greco di Tufo DOCG
Sabato
Largest island in the Mediterranean and 2nd in most volume output (1st is Veneto)
Sicily
Synonym of Nero d’Avola in Sicily
Calabrese
Joint venture between Gaja and Graci in Sicily
Idda
Joint venture between Salvo Foti and Rhys vyds in Sant Cruz Mountains, CA
Aeris
Pietra Marina
famous wine from the Benanti family in Sicily, 100% Carricante
Climate in Sicily
- hot, dry summers, sometimes fanned by the Sirocco from Africa
- Etna has an alpine climate
Terroir in Sicily
highly diverse soils from volcanic on Etna to sandy in Marsala and chalk in Noto
Synonym for Graciano and Mazuelo (Carignan) in Sardinia
- Graciano: Bovale Sardo
- Mazuelo (Carignan): Bovale Grande
Sardinia synonym for Grenache
Cannonau (20% of island’s production)
Torbato grape in Sardinia
Tourbat, or Malvoisie in Roussillon
Sardinia’s sole DOCG
Vermentino di Gallura DOCG
Joint venture between Sassicaia and Santadi in Sardinia, and grape
- Barrua
- old vine Carignan
______ is the synonym for Muscat of Alexandria in Calabria and Sicily; also called ______ in South Africa
- Zibibbo
- Hanepoot: South Africa
What is Sirocco?
Strong, hot, humid wind gusts blowing north from the Sahara affecting Sicily/Southern Italy
True or false: less than 10% of Campania’s wine is at the DOC level or higher
True
What is the only commune of the Etna DOC that can produce Bianco Superiore?
Milo commune (eastern slope)
What DOC allows Lacryma Cristi as a label designation?
Vesuvio DOC (in Campania DOCG)
What is a wine labelled “Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio” aka Tears of Christ?
- From Campania DOCG
- It is any permitted wine from the Vesuvio DOC that simply exceeds 12% alc
Where else in the world can you find wine also called “tears of Christ”?
Malaga DO in Andalusia - fortified wines made from free-run juice with 2yrs of age
What body of water separates Sicily from the mainland? What is the nearest appellation on the mainland?
Strait of Messina, Calabria DOCG
Zibbibo is a synonym for what grape?
Muscat of Alexandria - Moscato di Pantelleria
What is the appellation for the wine Ben Rye? Who produces it?
- Passito di Pantelleria DOC
- Donnafugata
Which style of Marsala must include a minimum 1% of mosto cotto?
Ambra
What is concia?
The process of adding mosto cotto to Marsala
What are the authorized styles of the Marsala DOC? Define the styles.
- Oro (gold): white grapes, no mosto cotto
- Ambra (amber): white grapes, min 1% cotto
- Rubino (red): red grapes, no mosto cotto
What can you add to Marsala to adjust sweetness and color?
- Mosto Cotto: cooked reduced must
- Sifone: mistelle (unfermented must & alcohol)
True or False: you can make Traditional Method sparkling wines out of Aglianico in the Aglianico del Vulture DOC
True!
What does the Italian term “asciutto” mean on a wine label?
Asciutto = secco: approx < 7 g/l residual sugar for still wines, 17–32 g/l for sparkling wines
Which styles of Marsala require the most amount of time in oak?
- Vergine Riserva
- Solera Riserva
- Vergine and Solera Stravecchio
(all min 10 yrs in oak or cherry wood)
What DOCGs are in Sardinia?
Only Vermentino di Gallura DOCG
“Barrua” is a joint venture winery between Antinori and Santadi based in what DOC?
Carignano del Sulcis in Sardinia - located in the southwest portion of the the island mainly utilizing ungrafted Carignan bush vines (Royale Grande)
Dessert wine made in Vernaccia di Oristano DOC is closest in style to what?
Sherry—pressed grapes are oxidatively matured in barrels for three or four years under flor. The wine is then fortified and/or sweetened depending on producer
Jampenne and Castelfranci are notable single vineyards in which DOCG?
Taurasi DOCG
The Taurasi DOCG zone is entirely within the area for what other DOCG?
Fiano di Avellino DOCG
What is the current vintage release for Mastroberardino Taurasi Radici Riserva?
2012
Main red grape in Lacryma Christi Rosso DOC?
Min 50% Piedirosso
Which Puglia DOCG is exclusively Rose wine?
Castel del Monte Bombino Nero DOCG
What is the maximum residual sugar in Castel del Monte Bombino Nero DOCG?
10g/L (all three Castel del Monte DOCGs are max 10g/L RS)
What is the most cultivated grape in Apulia/Puglia?
Negroamaro
Sicily’s most planted grape?
Cataratto
Sicily’s most planted red grape?
Nero d’Avola
Most planted white grape in Italy?
Trebbiano Bianco
Taurasi DOCG zone is entirely within this other DOCG
Fiano di Avellino DOCG
Min grape requirements for red and rosato wines for Etna Rosso DOC?
- Min 80% Nerello Mascalese
- Max 20% Nerello Mantellato (Nerello Cappuccio)
- Max 10% non-aromatic white grapes suitable for cultivation in Sicilia
Classic vine training in Etna? Synonyms in other wine regions?
Gobelet system: common in southern rhone and southern Italy
• the vine, often unsupported, resembles a goblet, with each year’s fruiting canes extending from the spur-pruned, shortened arms atop the trunk.
⁃ albarello: name in Italy
⁃ vaso: name in Spain
⁃ bush: in Australia
