WSET D3 - Introduction to Italy Flashcards
Name 2 major families that play an important role in wine production both in history and today.
Antinori.
Frescobaldi
When did the modern period of Italian wine begin ?
19th century. eg, Chianti became a wine predominantly based on Sangiovese only at end of that century. International varieties began to be planted in north-east in early 20th century after phylloxera.
What 2 events had set the scene for the contemporary period?
The unification of Italy in 1861 and the economic boom after the Second World War.
What was the emphasis in the decades after Second World War?
High yields and volume production.
What was the most important innovations?
Use of stainless steel tanks and temperature controlfor whites in Friuli in 1960s and success of red Bordeaux blends in Tuscany (Super Tuscans), from1970s, raising ambition of all winemaking in Italy.
What’s the wine development like in the last 2 decades in Italy?
Renewed emphasis on quality wines from Italy’s abundance of local varieties, alongside great commercial successes of Pinot Grigio and Prosecco.
What’s the climate like in Italy wine region in general?
35–47°N, with Apennines running down most of country providing wide range sites, best consider climate under individual regions. Many influenced by sea surrounds on 3 sides but some inland areas have continental climate (eg, Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto).
In general, many warm, Mediterranean climate, very suitable for viticulture.
What’s the vineyard management like in Italy.
Since 2nd World War, nearly complete change from traditional growing to modern, specialised with trellises. Pergola common in high volume areas in north, mixed planting common in Tuscany (vines in same field with olive trees, vegetables and grain) bush vines common in south. Pergola training and bush vines still in use in some places. eg, shade provided by pergola can be helpful in some circumstances and bush vines highly adapted to hot dry climates in south where producers willing to do much work by hand.
Top Grape varieties.
Sangiovese
Pinot Grigio
Trebbiano
Glera
Montepulciano
Catarratto
Merlot
Chardonnay
Primitivo
Babera
What’s Winemaking like in Italy.
Influences in white winemaking from Germany (stainless steel, temperature control) and red winemaking from France (maturation in small new French barrels). Traditionally, reds matured in large casks (e.g. 1,000–5,000 L) often from Slavonian oak and used for many years, enabling slow controlled oxidation but not adding new oak flavours. 1980s and 1990s, increasingly used new barriques with Bordeaux varieties and some Italian varieties such as Nebbiolo and Sangiovese. Last 2 decades seen reversal in favour of old oak, larger vessels or alternatives such as concrete. While new French oak continues used for high quality Bordeaux blends and some local varieties (e.g. top quality Barbera), most wines from Italian varieties (e.g. Nebbiolo and Sangiovese) no longer have pronounced new oak flavour.
Wine law and regulations.
DOC system, similar to French AOC, effect from 1967 vintage. The alternative was vino da tavola, eg, everyday wines, occasionally outstanding wines did not qualify DOC, including:
* Wines made in areas not at time covered by DOC, eg, Super Tuscan Sassicaia grown on coast at Bolgheri, not traditional area for high quality wine. Bolgheri DOC later introduced in 1994 to accommodate Super Tuscans.
* Wines did not conform to DOC rules. eg, Le Pergole Torte from Montevertine estate. The estate is within Chianti Classico region but made with 100% Sangiovese at time DOC required to be blend including white grapes.
DOCG with stricter rules (eg, lower yield) included in legislation that introduced DOC. In practice in 1980. In general more prestigious regions become DOCGs.
Legally defined labelling term for DOC&DOCG:
* Classico – exclusively from grapes within defined historical area of DOC or DOCG.
* Superiore – higher min. alcohol, typically additional 0.5% abv.
* Riserva – certain ageing period, at least 2 years for reds, 1 year for whites. Some DOC/DOCG specify this ageing or part must be in oak.
IGT : 1992, corresponding to Vin de Pays, now PGI. Wnes from a defined but larger geographical area, with wider choice variety and styles, typically higher yields than DOC or DOCG. eg, IGT Toscana. includes range of styles – white, red, rosé, dry, abboccato (demi-sec), frizzante (lightly sparkling), novello (to be drunk soon after harvest), sweet wines from dried grapes (passito) or late harvested (vendemmia tardiva). Grapes can grown in any place in Tuscany with any registered variety.
Italian system incorporated into EU-wide introduction of PDO and PGI in 2008. This allows producers use new categories (DOP and IGP in Italian) or traditional DOC/DOCG categories for PDO. DOC and DOCG wines fall within PDO. IGT can be labelled IGT or IGP. Vino, replaces vino da tavola.
Wine business.
Vineyard holdings small with many taking fruit to co-operatives, merchants or large companies. Largest companies include Caviro, Cantine Riunite, Gruppo Italiano Vini, Santa Margherita and Zonin. Wine consumption per capita in long-term decline. Consumption of spirits especially beer grown. As domestic consumption dropped, producers increasingly looked to export markets. Italy is below France and Spain by export value.
Most important export markets: USA, Germany, UK, Canada and Switzerland.
