Veneto Flashcards
What % of Veneto’s production is DOC quality?
25%
- expansion of DOC zones like Soave and Valpolicella into markedly inferior areas fuels criticism and lends credence to lesser wines
What are the grape requirements for red Valpolicella DOC?
- 45-95% Corvina w/ Rondinella
- non-aromatic grapes of region: max total 15% Molinara, Negrara, Oseleta
Valpolicella labeled superior is an indication of what?
- higher min alcohol, min 1 yr aging
- shows rounder character
Name two notabable valleys in eastern Valpolicella DOC. Give an example of a modernist producer from this area.
- Valpantena, Illasi
- home to modernist Romano Dal Forno
What is the difference between Recioto della Valpolicella and Amarone?
-
Recioto della Valpolicella
- grapes typically dried an additional month
- resulting wine is semi-sweet to sweet
-
Amarone
- fermented to dryness or near-dryness
- additional 2 years aging prior to release
What does the appassimento process contribute to the wine?
- complex dried fruit tones
- additional alcoholic warmth
- round, glycolic mouthfeel
Give two examples of Amarone producers utilizing new barriques to add spice and density.
- Dal Forno
- Allegrini
Give an example of a traditonal Amarone producer.
Gieuseppe Quintarelli
- aging wine in large, neutral Slavonian botti
How long must an Amarone be aged in order for it to be labeled riserva?
4 years
When were Recioto della Valpolicella and Amarone della Valpolicella finally approved for DOCG status?
early 2010
- may be labeled Classico or Valpantena, if originate in respective area
What is ripasso?
A wine “re-passed” over and re-fermented with unpressed skins of grapes previously fermented for Amarone or Recioto wine.
T/F: Recioto della Valpolicella may be spumante.
True
When was Valpolicella Ripasso finally granted its own DOC?
2010
What is the min. alcohol requirement for Valpolicella Ripasso?
12.5%
What is the min. alcohol requirement for Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore?
13%
What are the dominant grapes in Bardolino DOC?
- Corvina
- Rondinella
Where is Bardolino DOC located?
western Veneto
- btwn Valpo Class and east shores Lake Garda
How do wines from Bardolino DOC differ from Valpolicella?
slightly lighter, more neutral
What is the name for a Bardolino rose?
Bardolino Chiaretto
What are the requirements for Bardolino Superiore DOCG?
- 1 year aging
- add 1% alcohol
What are the grapes of Soave DOC?
- 70 Garganega
- plus Trebbiano di Soave, Chardonnay
What DOC zone is known as “Europe’s largest vineyard”?
Soave
- cautionary ex. vinous expansions and allowances; enormously extended from hilly Classico zone, lost original meaning and distinciton
Name the DOCGs in Soave.
- Recioto di Soave DOCG
- Soave Superiore DOCG
What are the aging requirements for Soave Superiore?; Soave Superiore riserva?
- Soave Superiore
- 1 yr, 3 mon bottle
- Soave Superiore riserva
- 2 yrs
What is the atm of press requirement for Prosecco frizzante?
1.0-2.5 atm of pressure
- Prosecco frizzante
When did Recioto di Gambellara achieve DOCG status?
2008
- Recioto de Gambellara DOCG
Describe the wines of Gambellara DOC.
- Immediate East of Soave, Gambellara DOC wines are similar in style
- Garganega (semi-aromatic, cherry blossoms) w/ max 20% comb. Trebbiano di Soave and lackluster Trebbiano di Toscana
Name a producer of Breganze Torcolato DOC wines.
Fausto Maculan
- crafts singular Torcolato DOC wines, just north of Gambellara in cental western Veneto
What is the prinicpal and most important white wine zone in Veneto?
Soave DOC
T/F: Soave Superiore is typically vinified in stainless steel.
True
T/F: Soave Superiore DOCG wines may be spumante.
False
- Soave DOC and Recioto di Soave DOCG may be spumante, but Soave Superiore DOCG may not
What are some requirements and common production methods for Recioto di Soave?
Recioto di Soave
- grapes dried 4 to 6 mon
- same delimited area Soave Superiore
- barrel fermentation common
- botrytis cinera encouraged
What is the exclusive grape for Breganze Torcolato DOC?
Vespaiolo - local, acidic
- number of varietal dry wines produced as Breganze DOC from local and international varieties
How many hectoliters of inexpensive sparkling wines are produced annually in Veneto?
over 1 million hl
- peachy Prosecco grape, unadulterated by leesy, yeasty aromas as it undergoes transformation into frizzante or spumante via the Charmat method
What is the min atm of pressure for Prosecco spumante?
3.5 atm of pressure - Prosecco spumante
Briefly describe Prosecco wines.
- Usually undergo secondary fermentation in large stainles steel autoclaves, which keep the wine under pressure.
- At their worst, they are bland sparklers masked by a healthy additon of sugar; at their best the wines are semi-sweet or nearly dry, energetic, and fresh - the perfect Venetian aperitivo, as well as a component of the classic Bellini cocktail.
Name the two DOCG zones for Prosecco from the 2009 vintage onward.
- Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG
-
Asolo Prosecco DOCG
- more obscure, formerly known as Prosecco Montello e Colli Asolani
What is Asolo Prosecco formerly known as?
Prosecco Montello e Colli Asolani
T/F: Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG and Asolo Prosecco DOCG are permitted to produce still wine.
True
- But, the focus is on the frizzante and the spumante superiore styles
- Fully sparkling superiore wines from both appellations may be produced from brut to demi-sec in sweetness; in practice the wines are principally extra dry or brut
T/F: The semi-sparkling styles of Prosecco sometimes undergo secondary fermentation in the bottle.
True
- style indicated on the label
What is the most noteworthy cru of Valdobbiadene?
Cartizze
- mere 106 of Valdobbiadene DOCG’s total 4,300 ha
- wines labeled ‘Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze’
- fully sparkling in style, generally “dry”, 17-35 g/l rs
What is Prosecco’s historical name?
Glera
- if the wine is not at DOC level, the name Prosecco may no longer be used on labels
For Prosecco to be released as vintage, what % must be from the stated year’s harvest?
85%
What is the min % of Prosecco required for DOCG’s Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco and the more obscure Asolo Prosecco?
85%
What region produces more wine than any other region in Italy?
Veneto
- much falls at lower level, ocean of neutral cheap Pinot Grigio and bottom tier sparkling wines
What is vigna?
single vineyard
What is the appassimento process?
- grapes dried over 3 months in special lofts (fruttai) before fermentation, concentrating sugar and extract
- used in production of Recioto della Valpolicella and Amarone wines
What are fruttai?
special lofts used to dry grapes
What is the main varietal of Euganei Fior d’Arancio DOCG?; what are the permitted styles?
Moscato Giallo
- Tranquillo (secco or dolce)
- Spumante
- Passito
