Southern Italy

Question 1

What is the Climate like in Southern Italy?

Answer 1

Hot and dry but humid near the coast

Question 2

Where are many vineyards found? Why?

Answer 2

On the slopes of the Appenine Mountains due to heat relief at altitude

Question 3

Which region in Southern Italy covers a flat plain and thus dependant on sea breezes more than altitude to moderate temperatures?

Answer 3

Puglia

Question 4

Which region in Southern Italy plays host to the most DOCG’s in the area?

Answer 4

Campania

Question 5

Which two grapes produce arguably the best white wines in Campania? What are their respective DOCGs?

Answer 5

Greco - Greco di Tufo DOCG

Fiano - Fiano di Avellino DOCG

Question 6

Greco di Tufo tends and Fiano di Avellino present notes of stone fruit. Which different tropical fruit aromas are seen in each?

Answer 6

Greco - Passionfruit

Fiano - Melon, Mango

Question 7

Green apple is to Greco, what Fiano is to?

Answer 7

Citrus

Question 8

Between Greco and Fiano, which is leaner in body and more acidic? (both can be medium in both categories)

Answer 8

Greco

Question 9

What is the red wine DOCG in Campagnia? What is the grape here?

Answer 9

Taurasi DOCG

Aglianico

Question 10

Taurusi has maxed out stats (deep, high, high, high, full) with flavours of what cluster? What might it be matured in and what notes emerge with bottle age?

Answer 10

Black fruit
Matured in oak
Earth, forest floor

Question 11

Fiano develops aromas of … and … with age?

Answer 11

Wax and honey

Question 12

Greco develops aromas of … and … with age?

Answer 12

Mushroom and honey

Question 13

What is the DOC of Basilicata? What is the cooling influence here?

Answer 13

Aglianico del Vulture DOC

Very high altitude

Question 14

What will wines from Puglia be labelled as?

Answer 14

Puglia IGT

Question 15

What two grapes are relevant in Puglia? They are similar in that they tend to be what? (body, tannin, acid, alcohol)

Answer 15

Negroamaro
Primitivo
Full bodied
Medium tannin
Medium acid
High alcohol

Question 16

Although structurally alike, what distinctive aromas might you find in Negroamaro and Primitivo?

Answer 16

Negroamaro - Baked red and black fruit

Primitivo - Very ripe berry fruit

Question 17

What is the DOC region known for producing best quality Negroamaro?

Answer 17

Salice Salantino DOC

Question 18

What might IGT wines from Sicily be labelled as?

Answer 18

IGT Terre di Sicilia

IGT Terre Siciliane

Question 19

If yields are lowered in Sicily, wines that might otherwise be labelled IGT Terre di Sicilia/Terre Siciliane can be labelled…?

Answer 19

Sicilia DOC

Question 20

What is the dominant black grape of Sicily? Which two international varieties are planted, which has been particularly successful?

Answer 20

Nero d’Avola
Chardonnay and Syrah
Syrah particularly successful

Question 21

What notes develop in bottle in Etna DOC wines?

Answer 21

Mushroom

Question 22

What are tannin, acid are seen in Etna DOC reds?

Answer 22

High and High

Question 23

White Etna wines tend to be medium bodied, high acid, display citrus fruit, often with a …, … character?

Answer 23

Stony steely