SOUTHERN ITALY (Campania, Basilicata, Puglia, Sicily)

Question 1

Climate?

Answer 1

Hot and dry inland
Humid near coast

Question 2

Where do sea breezes cool?

Answer 2

Vineyards located on the flatter terrain of the Puglian peninsula

Question 3

Training method?

Answer 3

Traditionally bush trained, low to ground
Now, cordon and trellising
*Allows for mechanization of Puglia’s flat plain

Question 4

Where is home to more DOCGS than any of the other regions in the South?

Answer 4

Campania

Question 5

What grapes in Campania produced best whites?

Answer 5

Greco and Fiano

Question 6

Where does the best Greco and Fiano come from?

Answer 6

Fiano di Avellino DOCG
Greco di Tufo DOCG

Question 7

Fiano characteristics?

Answer 7

Med acid
Med-full body
Aromas of stone fruit and melon, mango
Often made to be drunk young
Better examples are matured in oak and can be aged in bottle, developing aromas of wax and honey

Question 8

Greco characteristics?

Answer 8

More acid
Leaner
Green apple, stone fruit, passion fruit flavors
Most fermented in stainless
Some use old oak and less stirring to enhance the texture of their wines
Best can age in bottle to develop honey and mushroom

Question 9

Most prestigious black grape of South?

Answer 9

Aglianico

Question 10

Characteristics of Aglianico?

Answer 10

Deep color
High acid/tannin
Flavors of black fruit
Matured in oak/can age in bottle where it develops earthy forest floor notes

Question 11

Where is Aglianico at its best?

Answer 11

Taurasi DOCG

Question 12

Very mountainous region?

Answer 12

Basilicata

Question 13

Best wine in the region of Basilicata?

Answer 13

Aglianico del Vulture DOC

Question 14

What is Puglia dominated by?

Answer 14

Black grapes (Negroamaro and Primitivo)

Question 15

When wine is grown at high yields in Puglia it is sold as?

Answer 15

Puglia IGT

Question 16

When yields are controlled what does Negroamaro produce?

Answer 16

High quality
Full body
Med tannins/acid
High alcohol
Baked red and black fruit

Question 17

Where does the best Negroamaro come from?

Answer 17

Salice Salentino DOC

Question 18

2 main categories for grapes in Sicily?

(Dominant black grape in these wines)?

Answer 18

IGT Terre di Sicilia/Terre Siciliane
Or if yields are slightly lowered
Sicilia DOC

Nero d’Avola

Question 19

Characteristics of Nero d’Avola?

Answer 19

Med-full body
Med acid/tannins
Aromas of plum, black cherry
Often fruity/early drinking style
Best producers it can be more complex

Question 20

What are local white grape varieties in Sicily sold as?

Answer 20

Varietal or blended wines
and usually unoaked, displaying citrus/stone fruit flavors

Question 21

International varieties in Sicily?

Answer 21

Chardonnay and Syrah

Question 22

Some of the best wines from Sicily come from where?

Answer 22

Etna DOC
(Low yielding vines at high altitudes)

Question 23

Reds from Etna DOC?

Answer 23

Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio

When blended create fragrant wines with high acid/tannins, aromas of sour red cherry, cranberry, raspberry, dried herbs

Bottle age- High tannins soften, mushroom aromas can develop

Question 24

High quality whites in Etna DOC?

Answer 24

Med body
High acid
Citrus fruit
Stony steely character
Bottle age= Honey and wax