Southern Italy Pt 2

Question 1

What is unique about the terrain of Puglia?

Answer 1

It is the least mountainous region in Italy, with low hills and broad plains

Question 2

What are the three major grapes of Puglia?

Answer 2

Uva di Troia, Negroamaro, Primitivo

Question 3

Castel del Monte has three DOCG zones devoted to dry wine. What are they, and what are their styles and encepagements?

Answer 3

Castel del Monte Rosso Riserva DOCG (Rosso Riserva, >65% Uva di Troia, max RS 10g/L)
Castel del Monte Nero di Troia Riserva DOCG (Rosso Riserva, >90% Uva di Troia, max RS 10g/L)
Castel del Monte Bombino Nera DOCG (Rosato, >90% Bombino Nera, max RS 10g/L)
Minimum alcohol for Rosso Riserva wines is 13%

Question 4

What DOC is contiguous with the Castel del Monte DOCG zones?

Answer 4

Castel del Monte DOC
Bianco/Frizzante/Spumante
Rosso/Novello
Rosato/Frizzante/Spumante
Varietal wines: Bombino, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Nero di Troia, Cabernet/Riserva, Aglianico/Riserva

Question 5

What are the aging requirements for the two Riserva DOCG’s of Puglia?

Answer 5

2 years, one in wood

Question 6

What is the most cultivated grape in Puglia? Where is it prominently found?

Answer 6

Negroamaro.
Salice Salentino DOC: Rosso/Rosato, Varietal (also bianco (chardonnay based), Aleatico/Riserva/Dolce/Licoroso)
Brindisi DOC: Varietal Rosso/Rosato (also varietal Susumaniello, Chardonnay, Fiano, Sauvignon)
Both DOCs are clustered together in the southern part of Puglia.

Question 7

What are the styles for Primitivo di Manduria Dolce Naturale DOCG?

Answer 7

Dolce Naturale, 100% Primitivo

Min RS 50g/L. Passito is permitted.

Question 8

What DOC is contiguous with Primitivo di Manduria Dolce Naturale DOCG, and what styles are authorized?

Answer 8

Primitivo di Manduria
Rosso/Riserva
85% Primitivo, plus
2 years with 9mos in wood for Riserva

Question 9

What two DOC’s cover the bulk of Puglia?

Answer 9

Tavoliere delle Puglie o Tavoliere (north of Bari)

Terra d’Otranto/ Negroamaro di Terra d’Otranto (south of bari)

Question 10

Primitivo is a clone of what?

Answer 10

Zinfandel (now Tribidrag?)

Question 11

Trebbiano Toscano is the same as what?

Answer 11

Ugni Blanc

Question 12

Trebbiano di Soave is the same as what?

Answer 12

Verdicchio Bianco

Question 13

What the major soil type in Puglia?

Answer 13

Terra Rossa (ferrous clay and sand) topsoil over limestone.

Question 14

What is Vigneti del Sud, and who runs it?

Answer 14

Vigneti del Sud is the Puglian property of the Antinori estate, made under the brand name Tormaresca.

Question 15

What happens to most Puglian white wine?

Answer 15

It’s either consumed locally, or made into vermouth.

Question 16

What typically causes stuck fermentation in the south?

Answer 16

High temperatures.

Question 17

What is the sole DOCG of Basilicata?

Answer 17

Aglianico del Vulture Superiore DOCG

Question 18

What is the aging regimen for Aglianico del Vulture Superiore DOCG? Is there a riserva denominazione?

Answer 18

Superiore: Three years total: one in wood, and one in bottle
Riserva: Five years total: two in wood, two in bottle

Question 19

What Italian DOCG is 100% aglianico?

Answer 19

Aglianico del Vulture Superiore DOCG

Question 20

Minimum alcohol for Aglianico del Vulture DOCG?

Answer 20

13.50%

Question 21

Excellent vintages in Aglianico del Vulture

Answer 21

1982, 1985, 1988
1990, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997-2001
2004

Question 22

What styles are permitted for Aglianico del Vulture DOC?

Answer 22

Rosso
Rosso Spumante (Metodo Classico)

Question 23

What is the max RS for Aglianico del Vulture?

Answer 23

10g/L

Question 24

What is the elevation of Aglianico del Vulture?

Answer 24

200-700M

Question 25

What are the climatic conditions of the Vulture zone?

Answer 25

Steeply graded vineyards at high altitudes (600-1260m+) = good drainage and large diurnal shifts, which tempers the intense sunlight of the south.

Question 26

What Basilicata winery is owned by GIV, and what is their top wine?

Answer 26

Terra Degli Svevi. They produce an AdV called Re Manfredi.

Question 27

What are the 3 other DOCs of Basilicata?

Answer 27

Matera: East, Bianco/Spumante/Passito (Malvasia Bianca, plus), Rosato/Spumante (Primitivo, plus), Rosso (Sangiovese, plus), Moro/Riserva (Cab Sauv, Primitivo, Merlot, plus), Varietal Primitivo/Passito (90%)
Grottino di Roccanova: Bianco (Malvasia Bianca, plus), Rosato/Rosso/Riserva (60-85% Sangiovese, plus Cab Sauv, Malvasia Nera, Montepulciano)
Terre dell’Alta Val d’Agri: Rosato/Rosso/Riserva (Merlot, Cab Sauv, plus)
Riservas in Matera and Grottino age 36mos

Question 28

What is the chief red grape of Calabria?

Answer 28

Gaglioppo

Question 29

What towns qualify for Cirò Classico?

Answer 29

Cirò, Cirò Marina

Question 30

What is the major soil type around Cirò?

Answer 30

Calcareous clay, sand, and marl

Question 31

What style wines are produced in Greco di Bianco DOC?

Answer 31

Bianco Passito, 95% Greco Bianco

Question 32

The Greco grape has spread to what other regions under what names?

Answer 32

Umbria (Grechetto)

Sicily (Grecanico)

Question 33

What is the largest DOC in Calabria? What are its subzones?

Answer 33

Terre di Consenza DOC
All styles - Bianco/Varietal/Spumante/VT/Passito, Rosato/Spumante, Rosso/Novello/Riserva/Varietal/VT/Passito' 
Colline del Crati
Condoleo
Donnici
Esaro
Pollino
San Vito di Luzzi
Verbicaro

Question 34

What is unusual about the spumante in Terre di Cosenza?

Answer 34

It is required to be Metodo Classico

Question 35

What is alberello?

Answer 35

A vine-training method: bush vines. Seen mostly in southern italy and the islands.

Question 36

What is tufa?

Answer 36

More properly called “tuff,” it’s a light, porous rock made of compacted volcanic ash.

Question 37

Grapes and Style of Cirò DOC.

Answer 37

Bianco/Rosato/Rosso/Superiore/Superiore Riserva/Classico/Classico Superiore/Classico Superiore Riserva
Bianco:
min. 80% Greco Bianco
Rosato/Rosso:
min. 80% Gaglioppo,