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
5-30% 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, Bardolino, 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.
Which appellation translates to the “valley of many cellars”?
Valpolicella
Which three appellations does the Valpolicella Classico region also cover?
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG
Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG
Valpolicella Ripasso DOC
Where is the Valpantena sub zone in relation to the Classico sub zone for Valpolicella?
East of the Classico zone
What river separates the Bardolino zone from the Valpolicella Classico zone?
Adige River
Where are the best vineyards for Valoplicella located, the hillsides or the plains? What’s the soil like there?
Hillsides; calcareous
What is the volume of ripasso that can be produced compared to the amarone that has been made from the unpressed grapes used for the production of the ripasso?
The volume of ripasso created may be double that of the amount of Amarone that was racked off the skins.
What is the max amount of volume of the total of Amarone that may be added to ripasso to improve its quality?
Up to 15% of the total volume
Where does the name recioto come from?
Comes from the Italian word “orecchio” which means ear. This is due to the fact that recioto used to only be made from the ripest grapes on the upper lobes of a grape cluster or its “ears”.
Why is botrytis avoided for the production of recioto and Amarone?
Because it can lead to premature oxidation in the wines produced from these grapes.
What are the grape requirements for Recioto di Soave DOCG?
Min 70% Garganega plus max 30% Trebbiano di Soave
Which requires a higher min % of Garganega; Recioto di Soave DOCG or Recioto di Gambellara DOCG?
Gambelara; requieres min 100% Garganega
What appellation is home to the Monteforte d’Alpone sub zone? What is the soil type there?
Classico subregion of Soave DOC, Soave Superiore DOCG, and Recioto di Soave DOCG
Volcanic soils
What is the min abv and max RS for Soave Superiore DOCG?
Min 12% for normale, 12.5% for riserva
Max 6g/L
What are the aging requirements for Soave Superiore DOCG?
Normale: May not be released until April 1 of the year following harvest.
Riserva: may not be released until November 1 of the year following harvest
How do the wines of the Soave DOC differ in the western end of the appellation compared to the east?
The west has more limestone and warmer conditions giving fuller and more forward wines.
The east near Monteforte d’Alpone gives wines that are steelier and more mineral due to the hillsides and the volcanic soil.
What three international grapes are permitted for the production of Soave?
Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc
What are three top producers of Soave?
Pieropan
Pra
Gini
What is Italy’s largest DOC?
Prosecco DOC
What is the name of the superior cru located on the hills of San Pietro di Barbozza, Santo Stefano, and Saccol?
Cartizze
What is a ‘rive’ as it applies to Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG?
Designation of origin that relates to the hamlet or commune of production
What are three requirements for ‘rive’ for Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG?
fruit must be hand harvested
must come from one of the qualifying hamlets or communes
max yield of 13 tons/ha
min 11.5% abv
What does “Sui lieveti” indicate on a bottle of Prosecco? What appellation does this apply to?
That the wine has been fermented in the bottle in which it is sold and contains the lees. Replacement term for Col Fondo
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG
What are the two DOCG for Prosecco? Which requires the lowest yields?
Asolo Prosecco DOCG (lowest yields)
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG
What is average annual rainfall total in Brunello? Chianti Classico DOCG?
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG: 28 inches
Chianti Classico DOCG: 900 inches
What is the driest DOCG in Italy?
Brunello DOCG
Which grape means “little raven”?
Corvina
What grape is also known as Nebbiolo di Gattinara and Spanna di Ghemme?
Croatina
Where does Schiava get its name?
Shiava means “slave” and refers to the vines that were enslaved on trellises in Rome rather than supported by trees which most vines were at the time.
What are the three clones of Schiava? Which is the most perfumed?
Schiava Grossa
Schiava Gentile (most perfumed)
Schiava Grigia
What is Trollinger?
German synonym for Schiava
What is Vernatsch?
Synonym for Schiava in Alto Adige
What is maritata or alberata as it applies to viticulture in Piedmont?
vine training method where vines are trained high on live trees or other living supports so that vines may be protected from fungal disease pressure in the form of humidity.
How many DOCGs are in Piedmont? How many DOCs?
19 DOCGs
41 DOCs
What is the synonym for Nebbiolo in Lombardia?
Chiavennasca
What is the most common clone of Nebbiolo in Piedmont?
Nebbiolo Lampia
What physiological changes to the vine does the Nebbiolo Michet clone afford that differ from Lampia vines?
Causes the vine to fork and produces smaller berries, lower yields, and higher concentration of aromas and flavors
Louis Oudart and General Paolo Francesco Staglieno are said to have been the first to do what in Barolo?
Ferment the wine to dryness. Previously they wine would stop fermenting in the cold temps of the fall creating a sweet wine.
What fermentation techniques were commonly practiced by traditionalists in Barolo?
Fermentation in open top chestnut and acacia wood vats, stem inclusion, long macerations, foot trodding, and no temperature control for fermentations.
What is an Albeisa?
Traditional bottle unique to the Barolo area. Created by Renato Ratti, the bottle is used by members of the Albeisa Association, a non-profit organization that champions sustainable practices in the winery to reduce carbon footprint on the environment. The bottle is actually 22% lighter than a standard bottle.
What are the three main communes of production for Barbaresco DOCG? What is the 4th most important commune?
Neive
Treiso
Barbaresco
San Rocco Seno d’Elvio (4th most important commune)
In which commune of Barolo are the highest altitude vineyards?
La Morra
What is the most common vine training method for both Barolo and Barbaresco?
Guyot
Why are Nebbiolo vines typically trained longer to include more buds than average?
Because the buds often closest to the plant are often sterile
When did Barbaresco introduce the MGA system? Barolo?
2007 in Barbaresco
2010 in Barolo
What is the minimum vine age for Vigna Barolo or Barbaresco?
Min 7 years old
Falletto is a monopole of what producer? In what commune is this vineyard located?
Bruno Giacosa; Serralunga d’Alba
True or False there is a minimum altitude for Barolo vineyards? Barbaresco vineyards?
True for Barolo (min 170m)
False for Barbaresco
What are the colors, styles, and sweetness levels of the Terre Alfieri DOCG?
Dry, still white and dry, still red from min 85% Arneis and Nebbiolo respectively.
What are “Le Rocche” as they apply to viticulture in Roero DOCG?
Steep, sandy cliffs formed from erosion by the Tanaro River.
How does the soil in Roero DOCG compare to that in Barolo DOCG?
Sandier with less calcium carbonate
True or False? Vines in Roero DOCG are harvested earlier than in Barolo.
Earlier
What is the min % of Nebbiolo for Roero DOCG? Arneis?
Min 95% Nebbiolo
Min 95% Arneis
What are the aging requirements for Roero DOCG Rosso?
Normale: 20 months total with 6 months in barrel
Riserva: 32 months total with 6 months in barrel
What are the wood aging requirements for the following DOCG?
Barolo
Barbaresco
Gattinara
Ghemme
Roero
Barolo: 18 months (38 months)
Barolo Riserva: 18 months (62 months)
Barbaresco: 9 months (26 months total)
Barbaresco Riserva: 9 months (50 months total)
Gattinara: 24 months (35 total)
Gattinara Riserva: 36 months (47 total)
Ghemme: 18 months (34 total)
Gheme Riserva: 24 months (46 total)
Roero: 6 months (20 total)
Roero Riserva: 6 months (32 total)
What are the aging requirements for Gattinara DOCG Normale and Riserva?
Normale: 35 months total including 24 months in wood
Riserva: 47 months total including 36 in wood
What are the only two DOCGs in Piedmont that are permitted for both red and white wine production?
Roero DOCG
Terre Alfieri DOCG
What is the minimum percentage of Nebbiolo and Arneis permitted for Terre Alfieri DOCG?
Min 85% for both
Tinella and Colli Astiani are sub zones of what DOCG?
Barbera d’Asti DOCG
