Southern Italy Flashcards
Where is Campania located and what is the climate?
South of Lazio and warm Mediterranean
Where are most of the vineyards or Campania planted?
Slopes between 200m-600m altitude.
What are the 4 grape varieties that Campania is known for?
White - Falanghina, Greco, Fiano
Black - Aglianico
What are the 3 main soil types of Campania?
Limestone and clay in the hills
Volcanic and sandy soils
Alluvial sediments
Name the 3 DOCG with clay and limestone soils in Campania
Fiano di Avellino DOCG - Fiano
Greco di Tufo DOCG - Greco
Taurasi DOCG - Aglianico
Name the 2 DOC that have sandy and volcanic soils in Campania.
Campi Flegrei DOC - Falanghina
Vesuvio DOC - white variety: Coda di Volpe
What is the most grown white grape in Campania?
Falanghina
What is the ripening and disease resistance for Falanghina?
Mid-to-late ripening
Good disease resistance but grapes can begin to shrivel at the end of the season
What are the characteristics for wine made with Falanghina?
Med intensity apple and white peach & herbaceous notes
Medium (+) acidity
Most commonly unoaked
What are Grecos grape growing characteristics?
Prone to grey rot and both mildews.
Low vigour and productivity
Heat and drought resistant.
What are the characteristics
Of wine made with Greco?
Deep lemon colour
High alcohol with oily texture
Floral, stone fruit, and smoky notes.
Most are unoaked and the best can age in bottle.
What are the grape growing characteristics of Fiano?
Sensitive to both mildews but thick skins so can resist botrytis even though it is late ripening.
Characteristics of wine made from Fiano.
Med(-) to med intensity floral peach and hazelnut aromas and flavours.
Med(+) body
Med(+) acidity and waxy texture.
Grape growing characteristics of Aglianico?
Early budding late ripening
Long season to ripen tannin.
What are the wine characteristics of Aglianico?
Med(+) to pronounced intensity rose, red plum, blackberry
High acidity
High tannin
What is the most important denomination for Greco?
Greco di Tufo DOCG
What is the most important denomination for Fiano?
Fiano di Avellino DOCG
What is the most important denomination for Aglianico?
Taurasi DOCG
What are the wine making requirements for Taurasi DOCG?
Min 85% Aglianico
3 years ageing (min 1 year in wood)
4 years (18 months in wood) for Riserva
Long maceration times (20 days or more)
French oak barriques or large oak casks for ageing.
What are the characteristics of wine made with Piedirosso? (4)
- Pale ruby
- Med(+) acidity
- Medium tannin
- Red plum and red cherry
Which two DOCs is Piedirosso mainly grown in?
Campi Flegrei DOC & Vesuvio DOC
What are the characteristics of Piedirosso grape? (3)
- Has adapted to heat and drought.
- Open bunches with thick skinned berries (resists botrytis)
- Harvested late but still produces wines wines of only 12-13% alcohol.
What is Piedirosso used for?
Partly for early-drinking, varietal wines & and partly to soften Aglianico based wines where is adds perfume and freshness.
What is Basilicatas most important denomination and where is it located?
Aglianico del Vulture DOC
East of Monte Vulture, an inactive volcano
What are the characteristics of wine made with Piedirosso? (4)
- Pale ruby
- Med(+) acidity
- Medium tannin
- Red plum and red cherry
Which two DOCs is Piedirosso mainly grown in?
Campi Flegrei DOC & Vesuvio DOC
What are the characteristics of Piedirosso grape? (3)
- Has adapted to heat and drought.
- Open bunches with thick skinned berries (resists botrytis)
- Harvested late but still produces wines wines of only 12-13% alcohol.
What is Piedirosso used for?
Partly for early-drinking, varietal wines & and partly to soften Aglianico based wines where is adds perfume and freshness.
What is Basilicatas most important denomination and where is it located?
Aglianico del Vulture DOC
East of Monte Vulture, an inactive volcano
Where is Basilicata located?
Between Campania & Puglia
Requirements for Alianico del Vulture DOC wine? (3)
- 100% Aglianico
- 70hl/ha
- 1 year of ageing
What are the soil types in Aglianico del Vulture DOC?
Clay and limestone with volcanic soils (stony, lava, ash layers)
What is the climate of Basilicata?
Warm Mediterranean with cooling influences from altitudes.
Flavour, acidity, body, tannin and alcohol of Aglianico del Vulture DOC wines?
Red plum & blackberry
High acidity
Full bodied
High tannin & alcohol
Requirements for Aglianico del Vulture Superiore DOCG.
52hl/ha
Min 3 years ageing, one in oak.
Riserva = 5 years ageing, 2 in oak.
What are the struggles with growing and picking Primitivo?
Early budding and therefore prone to spring frosts.
Susceptible to drought and poor flowering and fruit set in rainy and humid years.
The bunches contain ripe and under ripe berries. Strict sorting is needed.
Grapes can dry in the vine so care is needed to avoid overly Jammy flavours and dried fruit character.
What are the two main DOC’s for Primitivo?
Primitivo di Mandurah DOC- 85% Primitivo
Gioia del Colle DOC - 50-60% Primitivo.
