Veneto: Central/Eastern Appellations Flashcards
Name the major wine districts of Central Veneto.
- Gambellara
- Monti Lessini
- Breganze
- Colli Berici
- Colli Euganei
- Bagnoli
Where is Gambellara located?
The Gambellara zone of production abuts Soave’s eastern border and can be seen as a virtual eastward continuation of the Soave district. However, Gambellara lies completely within he province of Vicenza. It surrounds the town of Gambellara and a few other nearby villages.
What style of wine is produced in Gambellara?
White-only, Garganega-based DOC wines.
Gambellara can be considered a twin sister district of Soave.
What is the climate in Gambellara?
Mild, semi-continental; very similar to the conditions found in Soave.
What are the soil types in Gambellara?
Volcanic basalt soils dominate Gambellara; the same as those found in the eastern part of Soave.
Where in Gambellara are vineyards planted?
The winegrowing area comprises mostly hills (corresponding to the historic classico zone).
How does Gambellara compare to Soave?
- The total production of Gambellara is considerably smaller.
- Wines are more consistent because the soil is homogenous (all volconic basalt).
- Fewer producers.
Name the 2 appellations in Gambellara.
- Gambellara DOC
- Recioto di Gambellara DOCG
What varietals are used to produce Gambellara DOC wines?
Dry white wine made from:
* min. 80% Garganega
* optional blending partners: Trebbiano di Soave, Chardonnay, & Pinot Bianco
What are the characteristics of Gambellara DOC wines?
Gambellara wines consistently show Garganega’s typical profile; bright acidity with floral aromas and strong notes of citrus and almond.
Some of these wines represent the purest expression of the Garganega grape.
What styles of wine does Gambellara DOC produce?
- superiore
- classico
- spumante
- passito
Respective production standards must be met.
Which wine district produces the only Vin Santo crafted within Veneto?
Gambellara DOC.
The very rare Gambellara Classico Vin Santo is a sweet and rich passito with very long aging potential.
It is only made in the best years from grapes that have undergone extensive appassimento and are pressed during the Roman Catholic Holy Week which falls sometime in March and/or April.
What is Recioto di Gambellara?
A sweet passito wine made from 100% Garganega grown only in the classico area.
How are Recioto di Gambellara wines traditionally made?
Grape clusters undergo appassimento by hanging to dry on the vertical twines of the picai. During this process, the grapes are often affected by noble rot.
What is picai?
The picai is the traditional method of air-drying grapes in Gambellara.
The clusters are carefully tied with thin twine and hung from roof rafters or other vertical support structures.
Though laborious, this system produces a greater and more efficient degree of evaporation due to the role of gravity and the increased ventilation around the grapes
What style of wine can Recioto di Gambellara be produced in other than as a still wine?
Spumante version can be made.
However, it cannot carry the classico designation.
Where is Monti Lessini located?
This zone of production lies between the very eastern foothills of the Monti Lessini range and the city of Vicenza. The small western tip of this appellation lies within the province of Verona.
What varietal is the Monti Lessini district known for?
Durella, an indigenous white grape notoriously high in acid. It is used to craft steely, mineral wines that are usually sparkling.
In the past, much of the wine was exported to Germany to be used as the base wine for German sparkling wine (Sekt).
How is the district of Monti Lessini topographically shaped?
By a series of ridges and valleys running northwest to southeast.
What are the soil types in Monti Lessini?
Predominantly volcanic.
Where in Monti Lessini are vineyards planted?
Exclusively on hillsides in order to benefit from cooler temperatures and wider diurnal temperature swings.
Name the 2 DOCs within the Monti Lessini district.
- Lessini Durello (or Durello Lessini) DOC
- Monti Lessini DOC
What style of wine is produced by Lessini Durello DOC?
An expressive sparkling white wine with a min. of 85% Durella.
There are 2 versions:
1. spumante: made via the tank-method
2. spumante riserva: made by the traditional method
* min. 36 months sur-lie aging
What style of wine is produced by Monti Lessini DOC?
A range of wines fall under this DOC:
* single-varietal Durella (labeled Monti Lessini Durello DOC)
* Chardonnay-based blend
* varietal Pinot Nero
* passito version of Durello
What wine is Monti Lessini’s claim to fame?
Sparkling wines made from Durella (Lessini Durello DOC).
Which appellation in Veneto has gained considerable recognition for its wines thanks to the efforts and achievements of its leading producer, Maculan?
Berganze DOC
Previously, this appellation long remained in the shadow of the fame of its neighboring appellations.
Where is Breganze located?
Breganze lies in the foothills of the elevated Asiago plateau between the Brenta River and city of Vicenza in Veneto.
The town of Breganze is situated right in the center of the appellation.
How is the vineyard area of Berganze divided?
Between the northern hills and the southern plain.
What are the soil types in Berganze DOC?
Northern hills: volcanic basalt soils
Southern plains: gravel
What is the climate in Berganze?
Mild, semi-continental
What topographical feature contributes to the climate of Berganze?
The area is well-protected from the cold northern winds by the Asiago plateau.
What style of wines are produced in Berganze DOC?
A wide range of single-varietal wines ranging from native to international grapes.
Blends include:
* a bianco based on Tai
* a rosso based on Merlot and a Cabernet blend (based on Cabernet Franc/Sauvignon & Carmenere)
Conditions are ideal for the production of well-structured reds. Berganze is well-known for the production of high-quality Bordeaux blends and varietals.
Passito wine
What varietals are grown in Berganze DOC?
Native:
1. Tai (Friulano)
2. Vespaiola
3. Marzemino
International:
1. Cabernet Sauvignon
2. Merlot
3. Pinot Nero
4. Chardonnay
5. Sauvignon Blanc
6. Pinot Grigio
7. Pinot Bianco
Berganze reds can be released as riserva. What is the aging requirement?
min. 2 years aging.
What is Torcolato?
A renowned sweet passito wine made from 100% Vespaiola.
How is Torcolato produced?
The appassimento is done either by:
* placing the grapes in a single layer on mats or
* hanging strings of grape clusters from the roof rafters.
During this process the grapes are affected by noble rot.
What are the requirements of Torcolato wines?
The grapes must be pressed within the month of February following harvest and the wine cannot be released before December 31 following the vintage.
Torcolato riserva must be aged for a min. 2 years.
What is the meaning behind the Torcolato name?
The name Torcolato derives from ‘torcolare’, a word in the local dialect that refers to the technique whereby grape clusters are bound together by twisting two pieces of twine. These strings of grapes are then suspended from the rafters to dry, in the same manner as in the picai method.
What are the characteristics of Torcolato wines?
Opulent and very complex with aromas of orange blossom, honey and tropical fruit. A pronounced acidity balances the wine’s richness and sweetness.
What are the characteristics of the dry Vespaiolo produced out of Berganze DOC?
An interesting light-bodied wine that offers an attractive lemon-almond character and is hallmarked by high acidity.
It is also produced in a spumante version.
Where is Colli Berici DOC located?
This appellation covers a group of hills by the same name that rise within the heart of Veneto. It lies just south of Vicenza between the Soave district and Padova. These hills emerge unusually isolated in the middle of Vicenza’s alluvial plain.
What are the soil types in Colli Berici DOC?
The hills are mainly composed of limestone of marine origin, the result of the slow deposition of layers of mud, sand and shells at the bottom of an ancient sea. The DOC is surround by an alluvial plain.
What styles of wines are produced in Colli Berici DOC?
Single-varietals and bianco/rosso blends from international and native grapes such as:
* Merlot
* Cabernet Sauvignon
* Carmenere
* Garganega
* Marzemino
What is considered to be the most interesting wine produced within the Colli Berici DOC?
The varietal Tai Rosso (Cannonau), a red grape considered to be traditional to this area and is attracting more and more interest among local producers.
Which sub-zone in Colli Berici produces the best expression of the Tai Rosso grape?
Barbarano (Colli Berici Barbarano DOC), a small area in the center of the Colli Berici DOC aroundthe town of Barbarano.
The wines must be 100% Tai Rosso.
What are the characteristics of Colli Berici Barbarano DOC wines?
They display a ripe, raspberry jam character with a hint of spice.
Where is Colli Euganei located?
This appellation lies in the center of Veneto southwest of Padova and southeast of the Colli Berici DOC. The entire DOC lies within the province of Padova.
Just like th Colli Berici, this series of hills rises as an isolated range in Veneto’s central plain.
How old is viticulture in Colli Euganei?
The charming and hilly area of Colli Euganei has an ancient viticultural tradition pre-dating the Romans.
The indigenous peoples were always ahead of their time.
When did Colli Euganei introduce Cabernet and Merlot into their vineyards?
Back in the 19th century. Producers in Colli Euganei were among the fist in Veneto to introduce these international varieties.
What are the soil types in Colli Euganei?
The volcanic origin of this area is clearly noticeable in the conical shape of its hills.
The soils are decomposed volcanic rock (basalt, tuff and rhyolite), as well as limestone and marl.
They are well-drained and rich in minerals.
What topographical features influence the climate of Colli Euganei?
The hills are close enough to the sea to receive mild influence from the Adriatic, so climatic conditions are mild.
Elevations provide a significant diurnal temperature swing.
Where are vineyards located in Colli Euganei?
All vineyards are located on hillsides.
Name the 2 appellations of Colli Euganei.
- Colli Euganei DOC
- Colli Euganei Fior d’Arancio (or Fior d’Arncio Colli Euganei) DOCG
Both cover exactly the same geographical area, but Colli Euganei Fior d’Arancio DOCG employs a single grape variety (Moscato Giallo).
What styles of wine are produced in Colli Euganei DOC?
A wide range of wines with a diversity of styles.
* native & international varieties are grown
* Bordeaux blends can be quite good
What is Serprino?
The local name for the Glera grape in Colli Euganei which is used to produce spumante and frizzante wines that are labeld as Serprino
The locals believe this grape originated here.
What is the variety, local to Colli Euganei, that is not grown anywhere else?
Pinella
What style of wine does Pinella produce under Colli Euganei DOC?
Soft frizzante wines.
What styles of wine are produced under Colli Euganei Fior d’Arancio DOCG?
Wines from the rare Moscato Giallo in a range of styles:
* from dry to sweet
* intense and concentrated passito (most common)
* spumante
What are the characteristics of Colli Euganei Fior d’Arancio DOCG wines
It has pronounced aromas of flowers and citrus.
What is the Vini Vulcanici?
The Volcanic Wines Association, which was founded in 2012. It pulled together Italy’s most important ‘volcanic’ DOCs with the intention of promoting them and their unique terroirs.
The DOC members are:
* Soave
* Gambellara
* Colli Euganei
* Lessini Durello
* Etna
* Campi Flegrei
* Orvieto
* Montefiascone
* Vesuvio
* Vulture
* Bianco di Pitigliano
Where is Bagnoli located?
The wine district lies on the gravelly alluvial plains created by the Adige and Brenta rivers. It is located just to the south of Padova between Colli Euganei and the Lagoon of Venice in the region of Veneto.
How long has wine production been a tradition in Bagnoli?
The area surrounding the village of Bagnoli di Sopra has a long tradition of wine production. The wines of Bagnoli were first mentioned in documents that referred to the viticultural importance of this small district in 954AD.
What is the climate in Bagnoli?
Continental; typical of the Padana Plain.
What topographical feature influences the climate in Bagnoli?
The proximity to the Adriatic Sea moderates the climate here.
What are the soil types in Bagnoli?
Gravelly alluvial plains
Name the 2 appellations in Bagnoli.
- Bagnoli Friularo (or Friularo di Bagnoli) DOCG
- Bagnoli (or Bagnoli di Sopra) DOC
Both cover exactly the same geographical areas.