Terroir, Viticulture - Central and Souther Italy Flashcards
What is the training system primarily used in Eloro DOC?
Alberello
Falerno del Massico DOC in Campania located on the foothills of the extinct volcana, Roccamonfina.
What soil type is represented in the vineyards?
Composed of a layer of volcanic top-soil atop a limestone sub-soil.
What are typical soil types of Agliniaco del Taburno DOCG(!)?
Calcareous clays nd sandstones with a layer of volcanic material.
True or False
Abruzzo is the most mountainous region in central and southern Italy.
True
True or False
A part of Puglia during the colder months often gets snow to cold air currents moving in from the east?
True
the Murge plateau gets snow.
What type of climate influences Serrapetrona winegrowing district?
Continental - located at the foothills of the Apennines, 30 mi/50 km from the sea
List grape characteristics (4) result from Alberello training system.
- Low yields
- Grapes high in sugar and extract
- High alcohol wines
- Concentrated flavors
These characteristics were required for the production of Masala and the bulk wine for which Sicilia was known.
True or False
Campania has the highest population density in all of Italy.
True
What geological landscape divide Marche into two climatic halves?
Monte Conero promontory
- Area north - more exposure to cool northeastern winds
- Area south of Monte Conero, more Mediterranean and characterized by warm breezy summers and mild winters
What are two main training systems used in Toscano today?
- Archetto (a variation of Guyot)
- Cordone Speronato (cordon spur)
What are two important tributaries of the Tevere (Tiber) river?
- Chiascio River
- Paglia River
What is the highest sub-range of the Apennine mountainn groups in Marche?
Monti Sibillini (in the southwestern corner - 6,500 ft/2,000 m)
What strong wind moderates summer heat and reduces humidity in Sardenga?
Maestrale (Mistral)
What type of soil characterizes Montepulciano, more prevalent at higher altitudes.
Compared to Montalcino or Chianti Classico, are the soils in Montepulicano considerably more or less homegeneous?
The sandy soils
More homegeneous
True or False
Sicilia’s grape harvest can take place as early as July and as late as November.
True
Due to the variation in climate, altitude and temperature, for white varieties in the western portion of the island are harvested as early as July and for red grapes in Etrna, as late as November.
Alberello and Tendone training systems were gradually replaced in Sicilia by what modern training systems(2)?
Vertical wire trained systems
- Guyot
- Cordone Speronato
What is strong winds that blow through the island of Pantelleria 300 days per year called?
The hot Sirocco
Why did many old Alberello vineyards planted to Primitivo and Negro Amaro have been lost in the late 1980s and 1990s?
The EU vine pull schemes introduced to limit the production of bulk wines affected the vineyards of Puglia during that time.
What rivers (3) almost completely delimit the winegrowing zone of Montalcino?
- Asso River
- Orcia River
- ombrone River
What is the Monti Martani?
A low-altitude range of mountains and hills within the sub-Appennines in Umbria.
What was the tradtional training methods in Marche and what is most prevalent training systems today?
- Doppio Capovolto (a variant of Guyot)
- Tendone
- Guyot or Cordone Speronato
What type of wines were suited for Tendone vine training system?
Higher yielding overhead training system was largely adopted during the 20th century for the production of bulk wine and table grapes.
What section of Vesuvio’s slopes is positioned for the vineyards of Vesuvio DOC?
The low to mid section of the slopes from 160-1,300 ft /50 - 400m.
Among the Archipelago Toscana (Tuscan Archipelago), out of the seven islands, which is the largest?
Isola d’Elba
What is the benefit of using Alberello training system in Etna DOC?
Alberello is extremely practical at higher altitudes as low training system promotes better ripening.
True or False
Umbria is the only landlocked region in the central and southern part of the country.
True
Which section of Sicilia is concentrated with most of the vineyards?
The western part of the island
What are two active volcanos in volcanic archipelago known as the Aeolian Islands?
- Stromboli
- Vulcano
What are the percentage of the following in Basilicata:
- Mountains
- Hills
- Plains
- Mountains: 47%
- Hills: 45%
- Plains: 8%
Topographically Chianti Classico is a hilly area with a base elevation of 650 ft/200 m to average peak elevation of 1500 ft/450 m.
Which part of Chianti Classico hills have higher elevation?
The hills of eastern Chianti Classico are higher in elevation.
The HIllsd in the western side are lower and gentler.
Campania boasts some of Italy’s latest harvests for dry wines.
When are white grapes Fiano and Greco usually harvested (month)?
For Aglianico, which month ithe grapes can be picked as late?
- Fiano/Greco: October
- Aglianico : November
What conditions are suited for Alberello training system?
Hot sunny and dry conditions
Which two regions the Monti della Laga lie on the border with Abruzzo?
Lazio
Marche
Which of the following soil types is found in Orvieto and the Bolsena caldera in Umbria:
- Tufo/Tuff
- Tuffeau
- Tufa
Tufo (tuff)
Name two active volcanos in Italy among the most active and feared on the European continent.
- Vesuvio in Campania
- Etrna in Sicily
Where does African Sirocco affect?
Western and southern areas of Sicilia are affected by the warm, African Sirocco wind which from the southeast.
True or False
Irrigation is NOT permitted in Puglia.
False
Due to low rainfall levels, dry hot summers and the inability of most of Puglia’s soils to retain moisture, irrigation is necessary.
Drought-tolerant vine rootstocks are also essential.
What percentage compriese hills and mountains in Campania?
More than 80%
True or False
The Sicilian Apennines are considered to be an extension of the mainland’s Southern Appennines.
True
True or False
Irrigation is allowed in Puglia due to well drained nature of the soil.
True
What training system is mostly used in Calabria?
Alberello
This winegrowing region in Umbria is one of the very few places in Italy to have the morning fogs in combination with teh mild sunny and breezy afternoons of September and October to allow noble rot to develop.
Name the winegrowing area.
Orvieto
What sets Carmignano area apart from nearyby Chianti zones?
- Hills are lower elevation - 650 ft/200 m
- Soils are mostly alberese, clay, shale and sandstone
True or False
Basilicata faces both the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Sea.
True
Which wine region has one true plain, the coastal plain of Metapontino near the Ionian Sea?
Basilicata
What is the largest lake in central and southern Italy, Italy’s fourth largest overall, situated entirely within Umbria near the Toscana border?
Lake Tasimeno
What is the top soil composed of Vesuvio DOC - Lacrima del Vesuvio DOC(!)?
The top soil is composed of deep layers of volcanic ash and pulverized lava.
What are the percentages of the following in Molise:
- Mountains
- Hills
- Plains
- Mountains: 55%
- Hills: 45%
- Plains: negligible
What are the percentages of the followings in Calabria:
- Mountains
- Hills
- Plains
- Mountains: 42%
- Hills: 49%
- Plains: 9%
What three islands are situated not too far offsore from Campania?
- Capri
- Volcanic island - ischia
- Volicanic island - Procida
The City of Matera’s “old time” is home to ancient cave dwellings?
What are then called?
What is the primary soil type of Matera area?
“Sassi di Matera” (Stones of Matera), recognized UNESCO World Heritage site.
The soil here is clay.
What is the primary soil type of the Offida winegrowing area?
Clay except for the coastal strip which is mostly comprised of san and gravel.
What are two rivers traversed in Irpinia region in Campania?
- Calore River
- Sabaro River
Why are old vines growing commonplace in around Etna, Aeolian Islands and Pantelleria?
Because phylloxera cannot survive in the loose and sandy volcanic soils.
What the percentage of the followings in Sardegna:
- Mountains
- Hills
- Plains
- Mountains: 14%
- Hills: 68%
- Plains: 18%
What ocean separates Sardegna from Italy to the east and what separates Sardegna from the French island of Corsica to the north?
- Tyrrhenian Sea
- Bocche di Bonifacio (Strait of Bonifacio)
What is climate of Sicilia?
The Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters.
What is man-man made reservoir near the Laizio border in the southwestern corner of Umbria?
Lake Corbara
Where in Umbria found the soil type Tufo (Tuff), volcanic soils, balsalt and pyroclatic flow deposits?
Umbria’s southwestern corner around Orvieto and the Bolsena caldera.
True or False
The soils of Castelli di Jesi winegrowing area is mainly composed of calccareous clay.
True
Which river is the largest and longest in Toscana?
The Arno (passes several major cities and empties into the Ligurian Sea).
How can the terriotory of Montalcino be descirbed as?
A corrugaged upland
A series of irregular hills, slopes and ridges rise to form roughtly four irregular slopes that depart from the borders of the square and converge towards the central part of the appellation in proximity of the town.
While the soils of Orvieto are varied, what tis the primary soil types lie south of the city?
Tufo and basalt
What soil types are represented in the winegrowing area o Aspirino di Aversa DOC in Campania
Mostly flat and fertile with a tufo sub soil covered by depp layers of volacanic material.
What makes the southern part of Umbria to boast the highest average annunal temperature?
Moderating maritime influence from wam Mediterranean breezes from the Tyrrhenian Sea, funneled through lower mountains and hills in the western half of Umbria.
True or False
Sicilia is one of Italy’s five autonomous regions.
True
What helps ripen the grape of Etna DOC?
Volcanic soils are quite dark in color and allow them to absorb and radiate heat back to the vines.
What are three most significant rivers in Sicilia?
- Salso River (also called Imera Meridionale)
- Simeto River
- Belice River
What are seven important rivers in Marche which that descent from the Central Apennines to channel oceaninc air currents to the region’s interiors?
- Foglia
- Metauro
- Misa
- Esino
- Potenza
- Chienti
- Tronto
Sardegna can be geologically divided into the eastern and western sides.
Note the differences in topography and soil type.
- Eastern side: more mountainous with well worn granite
- Western side: more hills with limestone formation
What are five notable mountains in Sardegna?
- Gennargentu Massif (east central)
- Monti Ala (northeast)
- Monte Limbara (northeast)
- Iglesiente (low range, to southwestern corner)
- Sulcis (low range, to southwestern corner)
What is Umbria’s main valley that vertically bisects the northern half of the region stopping north of Perugia?
Val Tiberina (Tiber Valley)
The winegrowing area of Matelica is situated in a valley between the Central Apennines in the west and a sub range to the west.
Name the valley.
Camertina Valley
Certain areas of Sardegna such as Gallura, Mandrolisai and portions of Sulcis still employ a traditional training system. What is it?
Alberello