Vocabulary Flashcards
Abboccato
A medium-dry wine
Alberello
A vine that is allowed to grow as a free-standing low bush; also called head or bush training. It is often used in windy areas.
Amabile
A medium-sweet wine
Annata
Vintage
Appassimento
The process of drying grapes before vinification
Baroleggia
A term used in Piemonte to describe an aged Barbera that has taken on characteristics traditionally associated with Barolo
Bâtonnage
The process of stirring the lees back into the resting wine
Bianco
White wine
Biotype
A vine, although genetically identical to another one, shows a certain level of diversity (morphologic, physiological, and behavioral) that is the result of centuries of adaptation to different environmental conditions
Bora
A cold winter wind from eastern Europe
Bordeaux Mixture
A copper-sulfate mix applied to veinyards to prevent funal attack
Botti
Large, neutral old Slavonian oak or chestnut casks
Bricco
A term used in parts of Piemonte to indicate a superior site on the higher part of the hill
Byzantines
The Eastern Roman Empire
Cabernet
In most NE Italian regions, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc are bottles together and labeled as ‘Cabernet’
Calanchi
Bare and arid clay-based rock formations resulting from serious water corrosion
Caranto
A thin, calcareous-clay layer under a clay-based topsoil
Chiaretto
A term used to indicate a rosé made in specific DOC’s
Chiarifica
A process that lets chilled grape juice settle for a short time before fermentation
Classico
A wine produced from the original historical winegrowing area of a DOCG or DOC
Cold Soak
A pre-fermentation maceration of juice and skins for up to six days to extract fruit aromas without tannin
Cold Stabilized
Chilling wine so that tartrate crystals can be removed before bottling
Colli
Hills
Collio
Hillside
Conca de Bolzano
A geological basin at the foot of the Alps surrounding the city of Bolzano in Alto Adige/Südtirol
Consorzio
A voluntary association of producers, merchants, and cooperatives tasked with protecting and promoting the DOC(s) or DOCG(s) it represents
Cordone Speronato
A low vine training system characterized by a permanent cordon of old wood (or two) trained horizontally
Coulure
Poor fruit set caused by lack of carbohydrates usually brought on by cloudy and/or wet conditions during flowering
Cru
Superior site
Cruasé
A brand of sparkling rosés in the Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG that are made according to specific rules
Diciplinare
The official rules and guidelines for appellations mandated by Italian law
Dolce
A sweet wine
Dolomite
A mineral containing calcium and magnesium
Dosaggio Zero
Sparkling with made without dosage
Downy Mildew (Peronospora)
A North American fungal disease that attacks plants in warm and humid weather
Dunkel
Dark. Refers to very dark wines made with Lagrein in Alto Adige/Sudtirol
Fermo
A still wine
Flysch of Cormons
Soils comprising alternating layers of sandstone and calcareous marls
Frizzante
A semi-sparkling wine
Fruttai
Protected, well-ventilated lofts on the hillsides
Galls
Abnormal swelling or outgrowth of plant tissue
Geneva Double Curtain (GDC)
A high-training system
Geraniol
An important aromatic compound of the Moscato grape that contributes to Asti’s aromas
Glacial Moraine
A cumulation of rocks and sediment carried and deposited by a glacier
Grape Shatter
Condition usually caused by poor weather at flowering whereby grapes fail to develop properly AKA coulure
Graticci
Wooden racks used for air-drying grapes