WSET Introduction + Northern Italy Flashcards
italys name for a PDO
DOP - denominazione di origine protetta
What does DOC stand for on the bottle?
Denominazione di origine controllata = geographical boundaries, limitano of grape varieties and methods
what does DOCG stand for?
Denominazione di origine controllata e garantita - stricter than regulations than DOC and must be bottled within the area of the production
what is the Italian for PGI
IGP - indicazione geografica protetta
what does classico stand for?
wine made from the original classified land
what does reserve stans for?
higher alc and longer ageing
which regions does Northern Italy include?
Alto Adige, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, veneto, Piemonte
what is the overall climate?
moderate climate with dry short summers
what shelters the vineyards from the rain?
the alps
what has an moderating influence on the climate?
Lakes, for example lake Garda
what can ba an issue if its raining to much?
the humid can lead to fungal diseases
why is pergola a good way to train their vines?
-not so much exposion to the sun that can cause sunburn
-allowing air to circulate
-minimising the risk of rot
which is Italy’s most northerly region?
Alto Adige
what does the altitudes in alto Adige due to the final wine?
it gives aromatic white wines, elegant and light bodied reds.
what grapes are most important in alto Adige?
Pinot Grigio, chardonnay, gewurtaminer, pinot blanc
what red variety is alto adige dominated by?
schiava -> light fruity wines
what are the main differences between alto Adige och trentino?
slightly warmer in trentino, less altitude
what red varieties are mostly grown in Trentino?
merlot, teroldego
how is the climate on Friuli-venezia-giulia?
moderate and continental, cold by är from the mountains
how is the climate closer to the Adriatic Sea?
warm maritime
what varieties are most planted in Friuli-venezia-giulia? and vad character do they have?
Rich Pinot Grigio and Merlot
how are the wines from the plain in FVG labelled?
Friuli Grave DOC
where are Collio DOC and Colli oriental DOC located and what kind of wine are they making?
in the hills, premium and more concentrated wines
which is one of Italys largest most wine producing regions?
Veneto
which two important region can you find in veneto?
Valpolicella, soave
what affects the climate in veneto?
-cooling influences from the altitude
-stora temperatur växlingar (diurnal temperature range)
-breezes from lake Garda
why are sprays needed on the flat in veneto?
bc of the moisturize air and fog causing diseases
how does soave terrain look like?
hills in the north, flat in the south
what slows down the ripening in soave?
-the cooler limestone, clay soils with volcanic rocks
-altitude
what character does longer ripeness give to the final product? (soave)
full flavour ripeness but still high acidity it also makes it possible to mature in the bottle
what character does it give to the final product that are plated on the plain in sandy alluvial soils? (soave)
fruitier with medium acidity meant to be drank young
what grape is most planted in soave?
the Italian white grape garganega
what character does garganega have?
pear, red apple, stone fruit and sometimes white pepper
how is the topography in valpolicella?
same as in soave, hills in the north, flatter in the south
which is the main grape in valpolicella?
corvina
how are the wines labeled in valpolicella that comes from the whole religion?
Valpolicella DOC
how is the bottled labeled if the grapes comes from a specific area? (valpolicella)
Valpolicella classico DOC
explain the passito method
-picked early when they are still high in acidity
-dried indoors = concentrating the sugars and flavours
-fermentation stats in the winter
what does the passito method do to the grapes?
it increase the structure and flavour concentration (colour in case of red wines)
What two types of passito wine are made in valpolicella
Amarone della valpolicella, recioto della valpolicella
explain the ripasso method
-uses grape skins from fermenting amarone
-valpolicella wine that is finish is added to the vat with unpressed skins from amarone
what does the amarone skins do to the valpolicella ripasso wine?
it gives more colour, flavour and tannins
how is the climate in piemonte?
moderate and continental with long, cold winters and summers that can have summers with thunderstorms, hail and fog
which are the main black varieties? (piemonte)
nebbiolo, barbera, dolcetto
which are the main white varieties?
Cortese and muskat (muscat)
which are the most prestigious appellations in piemonte?
Barolo and Barbaresco DOCG
what character does Nebbiolo have?
high tannins, high acidity but little colour, sour cherries, herbs, dried flowers
what is the minimal ageing for a Barolo DOCG?
38 mouth, 18 mouth in wood
what does barolo wines benefit from?
further bottle ageing to soften the tannins and give it more complexity (truffles, tar (tjära, leather)
what is the difference between barolo and barbaresco?
the altitudes are lower and influence from the local rivers which makes the grape ripe earlier and makes the wine fruitier
what is the minimal ageing for barbaresco?
26 moths (9 moths in wood)
which is the most widely planted grape in Asti and alba?
barbera
what is the character of Barbera
medium to high tannins, high acidity, red cherries, plus and sometimes black pepper
what other grape is planeted in Asti and alba and what character does it have?
dolcetto, it ripends early which means it can be planted on the coolest sites. deep purple colour, black plums, red cherries and dried herbs
what is Asti also famous for?
thinner sprallig wines from Muscato
what white grape is planted in Gavi?
Cortese
what climate influences are there in gavi?
-altitude
-cooling sea breezes
what does gavi di gavi DOGC indicate on the bottle?
that the grapes comes from the city itself
