Trentino-Alto Adige, Friuli, Veneto, and rest of Northern Italy Flashcards
What two rivers converge at the Alto Adige capitol city of Bolzano creating the y-shaped valley where the region’s famed vines are grown?
Adige (Etsch) and the Isarco (Eisach)
What mountain range protects the Alto Adige from cool northern winds?
Alps
What is the most planted red grape of Alto Adige?
Schiava
What proportion of production in the Alto Adige is controlled by Cooperatives?
2/3
What shift in regards to vine training method has resulted in elevated quality in Alto Adige?
The move away from Pergola to lower-yielding Guyot. However many of the old local varieties that survive are trained to Pergola.
What are the 3 DOCs of the Alto Adige (Bolzano/Bozen)?
Lago di Caldero DOC (Schiava)
Valdadige DOC
Alto Adige DOC
What are the 7 subregions of Alto Adige DOC?
Colli di Bolzano Meranese Santa Maddalena Terlano Valle Isarco Valle Venosta Lago di Caldero
What is the other name for Alto Adige DOC?
Südtirol DOC
What is the other name for Lago di Caldero DOC?
Kalterersee DOC
What is the minimum percentage of Schiava required for Lago di Caldero DOC?
min 85%
What are 3 cooperatives making quality wine in Alto Adige?
Cantine Terlano
San Michele Appiano
Cantina Tramin
What is the Alto Adige name for single vineyard?
Leiten
What is the minimum/maximum amount of Corvina for Amarone?
min 45% / max 95%
What are the grape requirements for Amarone?
45-95% Corvina
5-50% Rondinella
up to 50% Corvinone in place of Corvina
up to 15% of any red variety authorized in the province of Verona
What is Corvinone?
Red grape native to Veneto and once thought to be a mutation of Corvina. Both are distinctively different grapes and used for the production of Amarone, Bardolina, Recioto, Ripasso, and Valpolicella.
Amarone was first created as a result of a recioto scapata, or an escaped Recioto. What does this mean?
The original intention when this wine was first produced was to make a sweet wine. A barrel accidentally continued to ferment completely to dryness and thus the style was born.
Recioto della Amarone and Amarone are similar in style but what distinction makes them different?
Amarone must be fermented to dryness with a maximum RS of no more than 12g/L and min of 14% alcohol.
What is the max RS for Amarone?
Maximum 9g/L at 14% abv and up to 12g/L at 16% abv as stipulations permit leeway for alcohol levels at increments above 14% abv to balance the level of alcohol
What are the stipulations regarding the max RS level in Amarone in regards to abv?
Max 9g/L RS at 14% and up to a max of 12g/L as a result of the following
For every 0.10% increase in alcohol above 14% abv and below 16% abv, an additional 0.10g/L is permitted
For every 0.10% increase in alcohol above 16% abv an additional 0.15g/L is permitted
What is the maximum percentage of produce a producer is allowed to convert into Amarone production?
Max 65%; the remainder must be used for Valpolicella DOC and Valpolicella Ripasso DOC
What are the 5 subzones of the Classico area for Amarone Production from North to South?
Marano Fumane Negrar Sant'Ambrogio San Pietro in Cariano
What are the aging requirements for Amarone?
Normale:
min 2 years from January 1 of the year following harvest
Riserva:
min 4 years from January 1 of the year following harvest
For how long must grape be dried for the production of Amarone? What is the minimum natural potential abv following the drying process?
Grapes must be dried until at least December 1 of the harvest year and must be dried to achieve 14% natural potential alcohol
What happens on a molecular level during the drying process to contribute to richness in the final product of Amarone?
Acids metabolize and tannins polymerize contributing to the richness that Amarone is known for.
Traditionally why were the best grapes grown for Amarone production high on the hillsides?
Because they would be above the fog line which warded off the development of botrytis that is so common below it.
What is the traditional aging vessel for Amarone?
Botti is the traditional vessel though barrique seems to be more of a norm.
What are 5 top producers of Amarone?
Bertani Quintarelli Dal Forno Tommaso Bussola Roccolo Grassi
Aquileia DOC produces whites and reds from what two grapes respectively?
Whites from min 50% Friulano
Reds from min 50% Refosco
Colli Bolzano or Bozner Leiten wines are wines made from a min of what grape?
Min 85% Schiava/Vernatch
What is the DOC of Fausto Maculan?
Breganze DOC in the Veneto
What is the principal red grape of Carso (Carso-Kras) DOC?
Min 70% Terrano
What is the name of Collio DOC in Slovenia?
Goriška Brda
What is the full name of the Collio DOC?
Collio Goriziano DOC
What percentage of wine produced in the Collio DOC is white?
Around 85%
What are the principal red grapes of Collio DOC and what French region’s reds are these said to resemble in expression?
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc.
Said to resemble the light bodied, textured and sometimes vegetal expressions of the Loire Valley’s reds.
What is the famous soil type found in Collio DOC and Colli Orientali del Friuli DOC?
Flysch of Cormons clay/marl and sandstone
There are 12 white varietals that can be produced varietally in Collio DOC. What are they?
Chardonnay Friulano Malvazia Muller-Thurgau Picolit Pinot Bianco Pinot Grigio Ribolla Riesling Riesling Italico Sauvignon Gewurztraminer
What 4 red varietals may be produced varietally in the Collio DOC?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Franc
Merlot
Pinot Nero
Wines labeled Collio Cabernet in Collio DOC may be a blend of any proportion of what three grapes?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Franc
Carmenère
What are the aging requirements for both Collio Bianco and Collio Rosso Riserva respectively?
Collio Bianco Riserva:
Min 20 months from November 1 of Harvest Year
Collio Rosso Riserva:
Min 30 months from November 1 of the Harvest Year including min 6 months in wood
What are three top producers of Collio DOC wines?
Borgo del Tiglio Venica and Venica Villa Russiz Livio Felluga Mario Schiopetto
Which river creates the border between the Colli Orientali del Friuli DOC and Collio DOC?
Judrio River
What are the top 3 white grapes planted in both Collio DOC and Colli Orientali del Friuli DOC by volume?
Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc
Pinot Grigio
What are the 5 subzones Friuli Colli Orientali DOC?
Cialla Ribolla Gialla di Rosazzo Pignolo di Rosazzo Schioppettino di Prepotto Refosco di Faedis
What are the grape requirements for Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit DOCG vs those for the Cialla subzone of thi DOCG?
Cialla is 100% Picolit
Standard DOCG is min 85% Picolit plus max 15% other Friulian white grapes except Gewurztraminer
What are the aging requirements for Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit DOCG Cialla normale vs riserva?
Normale: May not be sold until Sep 1 of the 2nd year following harvest (2 years)
Riserva: May not be sold until Nov 1 of the 4th year following harvest (4 years)
WHat are the permitted white and red grapes respectively for Friuli Colli Orientali DOC Cialla?
White: Any proportion of Verduzzo, Ribolla Gialla, and Picolit
Red: Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso and/or Schioppettino
What are the two dessert wine DOCGS of Friuli?
Ramandolo DOCG: 100% Verduzzo
Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit DOCG
What are the grape requirements for the Rosazzo subzone of Friuli Colli Orientali DOC vs Rosazzo DOCG?
Rosazzo subzone can be produced from Ribolla Gialla (Ribolla Gialla di Rosazzo) for white or Pignolo (Pignolo di Rosazzo) for red DOC
Rosazzo DOCG wine is produced exclusively as white wine and from the following grapes: Friulano/Tocai Bianco (min 50%), Sauvignon Blanc (20-30%), Pinot Bianco and/or Chardonnay (20-30%), and max 10% Ribolla
How is Prosecco Col Fondo produced and what is it said to emulate?
Col Fondo is produced by a secondary fermentation in bottle similar to Champagne. Unlike Champagne, the bottle is not disgorged and lees are present in the bottle giving it a cloudy appearance and sometimes funky on the nose.
Another departure in style of Col Fondo from Prosecco is that it is most often Frizzante in style, or slightly fizzy rather than full on sparkling or Spumante style.
If a Prosecco is Col Fondo in style what will be present on the label? Why is Col Fondo not typically listed on bottles?
“Rifermentazione in bottiglia”
Col Fondo is too similar to the trademark “Colfondo” by two wineries in the Veneto and thus not permitted on labels according to the Consorzio, though this is loosely regulated.
What is the name of a cantina sociale in Trentino-Alto Adige?
Kellereigenossenschaft
What is the largest catina sociale in Trentino-Alto Adige?
Cavit
What large cantina sociale in Emilia Romagna is responsible for the bulk of Lambrusco production?
Riunite
Which DOC is considered the white equivalent of red Bardolino? What are the principal grapes used in this blend?
Cortese/Bianca Fernanda
Friulano/Trebbianello
Trebbiano
Garganega
What is the color, style, and sweetness level produced in Rossese di Dolceacqua DOCG?
Dry, still, red produced from min 95% Rossese (Tibouren)
What is the synonym for Dolcetto in Liguria?
Ormeasco
Why did the production of passito style wines become so prominent in ancient times?
Because wine made from dried grapes was sweeter, stronger, and therefore more stable and thus could be conserved when shipped for trade outside the area of production.
What is Torcolato and where is it produced?
Sweet, white passito wine produced from Vespaiolo grapes in the Breganze DOC; min RS level is 35g/L
For how long is Torcolato Riserva aged?
2 years
What is the Friulian synonym for Blaufrankisch?
Franconia
What is Friulano also known as?
Sauvignonasse; also previously known as Tocai Friulano
What three distinct cultures or people make up the confluence of culture in Friuli?
German, Italian, and Slavic
Who is responsible for introducing temperature-control to fermentation in Friuli giving Italy’s first fresh, fruity, internationally styled white wines? When was this?
Mario Schiopetto; the 1960s
What are the 5 top indigenous white grapes of Italy?
Friulano Ribolla Malvasia di Istria Verduzzo Picolit
What are the 4 top indigenous red grapes of Friuli?
Refosco
Schioppettino
Pignolo
Tazzelenghe
What are 4 grapes transplanted to Friuli from Austria?
Riesling Italico (Welschriesling)
Franconia (Blaufränkisch)
Traminer
Muller-Thurgau
What are the 4 rivers of Collio DOC?
Tagliamento
Natisone
Judrio
Isonzo
Which appellation requires a higher minimum of Garganega, Soave/Soave Superiore or Gambellara?
Gambellara: min 80%
Soave/Soave Superiore: min 70%
What’s the Vin Santo appellation of the Veneto and what is the principal grape?
Gambellara DOC; bottled as Vin Santo Classico di Gambellara
Garganega is the principal grape
La Biancara estate is located within the appellation boundaries of what DOC?
Gambellara DOC
What does Classico indicate in the Gambellara DOC?
Classico in Gembellara indicates lower yields and higher min abv rather than provenance of a historic subzone
What has stricter yield restrictions Soave DOC or Soave Superiore DOCG and what are the differences?
Soave Superiore DOCG is more restrict with max yields of 10 tons/ha vs 15tons/ha. (14 tons/ha for Colli Scaligeri and Classico)
The Colli Scaligeri is associated with which appellation? What can be said about this area?
Soave DOC; these are considered superior vineyards on the hillsides outside the Classico zone and represent quality beyond straight Soave DOC
Beyond Soave and Gambellara, what are three other DOC appellations that feature Garganega as a principal grape in Veneto?
Bianco di Custoza DOC
Colli Berici DOC
Colli Euganei DOC
In what year was Prosecco as a grape renamed Glera and why?
2009; to give the wine name Prosecco protected designation.
What was the cause of a massive reduction of yields in Prosecco in 1995?
Flavescence dorée outbreak.
What DOC in Friuli is responsible for over 50% of the region’s total output?
Grave del Friuli DOC
What is the name given to unfiltered, bottle-fermented, frizzante Prosecco?
Col Fondo
Breganze Torcolato is made with which grape?
Vespaiolo
What is Kretzer and where is it produced?
Kretzer is a saignée rosé specialty produced from a single varietal and found in the Teroldego Rotaliano and Trentino DOCs in Trentino and the Valdadige and Alto Adige DOCs in Alto Adige.
