Wset - Northern Italy

Question 1

What climate is there in the Northern Italy?
and what’s the topogeographic like?

Answer 1

The vineyards are located on the hillsides in the foothills of the Alps and on the plains of the river.
Overall, the area has a moderate cate with dry, short summers.
the moderating influences are provided by Lake Garda.
The Alps give protection from rain, but the further south you get towards the sea, the more rainfall theres gonna be.

Question 2

What’s the complex trellising system that used to be common in the northern italy called?
How does it work and which grapes where this used for?

Answer 2

The complex trellising system called pergola was common.
In this system the vine canopy is trained high with the fruit hanging down below a horizontal canopy of leaves.
This protects the grapes from sunburn as well as allowing air to circulate, minimising the risk of rot.
Pergolas are still used when high acidity and low suger levels are required and also when wines are to me made from dried grapes, which need to be free from damage and disease.

Question 3

Which is the most northerly wine region in Italy?
What climate can you find there?

Answer 3

Alto Adige - the region has a moderate climate, with short, dry summers and low rainfall during the growing season.

Question 4

Which are the most important grape varieties in Alto Adige?

Answer 4

Pinot Grigio nr1
Gewurztraminer
Chardonnay
Pinor Blanc

Schiava

Question 5

What character does Pinot Grigio usually have from Alto Adige?

Answer 5

It tends to be made in a dry style, with light to medium body, high acidity and citrus and green fruit flavours

Question 6

Where can you find most of the vineyards in Alto Adige?

Answer 6

The vineyards are planted on terraces on the south-east- and south-west-facing valley sides of the River Adige

Question 7

What character does Schiava usually have from Alto Adige?

Answer 7

it produced light fruity wines with low to medium tannins and flavours of raspberries and plums

Question 8

Which wine region is right south of Alto Adige?

Answer 8

Trentino

Question 9

Which climate can you find in Trentino?

Answer 9

Trentino has dry summers and low rainfall during growing season, but overall the vineyards experience a slightly warmer climate than Alto Adige.

Question 10

Why does Trentino experience a warmer climate than Alto Adige?

Answer 10

This is due to Trentino’s more southerly latitude, the greater numer of vineyards at lower altitudes, and the mountains to the west side of the valley that protect the region from the cooling influences of Lake Garda.

Question 11

Which are the main grape varieties grown in Trentino?

Answer 11

Chardonnay
Pinot Grigio

Merlot
Teroldego

Question 12

Where can you find most of the vineyards in Trentino?

Answer 12

Vines are planted on the valley floor as well as the slopes on both sides of the valley

Question 13

Which style and chat character does the white wines from grape grown on the valley floor and the one from higher altitudes usually have in Trentino?

Answer 13

From the valley floor: tends to be medium-bodied with medium acidity and ripe stone fruit flavours.
The ones from higher altitudes is similar to the whites from Alto adige.

Question 14

Where in Trentino can you find Merlot and the Italian variety Teroldego grow?
and what charcter does Teroldego usually have?

Answer 14

They are grown mainly on the mid-slopes and valley floor.
Teroldego produces wines with deep colour, medium to high tannins, high acidity and a medium to full body with aromas of black fruit.
the wines are normally matured in oak, and the best examples have the ability to age.

Question 15

Which climate can you find in Friuli-Venezia Giulia?

Answer 15

In the north, by the foothills of the alps, the climate is moderate and continental, cooled by cold air from the mountains.
in the south, on the flat plains near the Adriatic Sea, the climate is warm maritime.

Question 16

Which grape varieties are the most planted in Friuli-Venezia Giulia?

Answer 16

Merlot
Pinot Grigio
native white: Friulano

Question 17

What’s the characteristics for a Pinot Grigio from Friuli-Venezia Giulia?

Answer 17

Here they produce some of the richest Pinot Grigio in Italy, the medium- to full-bodied wines displaying juicy peach and tropical fruit flavours.

Question 18

What’s the characteristics for a Merlot from Friuli-Venezia Giulia?

Answer 18

Merlot is the most planted black variety, making medium-bodied wines with medium acidity and tannins and ripe red fruit flavours, often with a hint of spice from oak.

Question 19

What’s the characteristics for a Friulano from Friuli-Venezia Giulia?

Answer 19

medium to high acidity, medium body and aromas of pear, red apples and herbs.

Question 20

Wines from Friuli-Venezia Giulia are labelled a little bit differently depending on where they’re from. What’s the different labelle’s used?

Answer 20

Wines from the plain: Friuli Grave DOC - tend to be white, simple and fruity
Wines from the region Collio DOC and Colli Orientali DOC, located in the hills, premium, more concentrated white wines, also noted from its reds.

Question 21

From which lake to which city does Veneto extend between?

Answer 21

From the southern end of Lake Garda in the west to Venice in the east and ranges from the foothills of the Alps in the north to the flat planis in the south.

Question 22

Which climate can you find in Veneto?
and which nature factors affect it?

Answer 22

The climate is warm with moderate rainfall.
Cooling influences come from altitude, exposing the vineyards int he foothill to a large diurnal temperature range
Breezes from Lake Garda cool the vineyards in the west of the region.
The flat plain is affected by moist air and fog from rivers

Question 23

Which grape varieties are grown in the flat fertile plain in Veneto? and what style of wine can you find there?

Answer 23

The flat fertile plain is a source of fruit for inexpensive, high volume brands growing international grape varieties such as Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Merlot, and Italian grapes like Corvina, Garganega and Trebbiano.
They are labelled Veneto IGT

Question 24

In 2017 a new denomination was introduced, that covers Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Trentino, which?

Answer 24

Pinot Grigio della Venezia DOC.
It has become widely used by producers of Pinot Grigio that previously used one of the local IGTs

Question 25

Where can you find Soave, and which are the two distinct parts when it comes to topography?

Answer 25

Soave is east of Verona.
The two distinct parts are; foothills to the north and a flat plain in the south

Question 26

Which soils and climate can you find in Soave? and how do they work together to affect the grape?

Answer 26

the soils on the foothills are made up of limestone and clay with some volcanic rocks. These soils are naturally cool, and this together with influence of altitude, slows down ripening, leading to grapes with full flavours ripeness yet high acidity

the vines on the plain are planted on sandy, alluvial soils that aid ripening so the grapes are fruitier with medium acidity.

Question 27

Which is the main variety in Soave?
and which characteristics does it have?

Answer 27

Garganega
medium to high acidity levels, a medium body, and display aromas of pears, red apple, stone fruit and sometimes white pepper. no flavours of new oak.

the best examples can age; developing aromas of almonds and honey.

Question 28

Wines made using grapes from the entire region can be labelled …..
and wines made using grapes solely from the original classified area can be labelled …

Answer 28

Soave DOC
Soave Classico DOC

Question 29

Where is Valpolicella located and which topography can you find here?

Answer 29

North-west of Verona, and has a similar topography to Soave.

Question 30

Which soils can you find in Valpolicella, and how does it affect the ripening of the grapes?

Answer 30

The foothills in the north have limestone, clay and volcanic soils, which slows down ripening so the grapes have more acidity.
The soils in the flatter south of the region are gravel and sand, which is warmer, so the grapes are fruitier with less acidity.

Question 31

Which is the main grape variety in Valpolicella?
and which characteristics does it have?

Answer 31

Covina.
moderate colour, low to medium tannins and high acidity.

Question 32

Which more grape varieties are used in Valpolicella in order to increase the colour and tannins of the wines?

Answer 32

Amarone - Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara, Oseleta
Recioto della Valpolicella - Corvinone, Corvina, Molinara, Oseleta

Question 33

What’s the typical characteristics of a Valpolicella DOC and a Valpolicella Classico DOC?

Answer 33

the wines are simple and fruity, with light tannins, and display red cherry flavours; they are rarely oaked and are made to drink immediately

Question 34

What is the passito method? and why is it used?

Answer 34

The passito method is widely ised in the Veneto to increase structure and flavour concentration (and colour in the case of red wines).
Grapes are picked early when they are still high in acidity and dried indoors, concentrating the sugers and flavours. The fermentation does not get underway until the winter months.

Question 35

There are two types of passito wine in Valpolicella, which two?

Answer 35

Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG
Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG

Question 36

What’s the characteristics for a Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG?

Answer 36

dry or off-dry style
full-bodied, with high alcohol, medium to high tannins and intensely concentrated red berry and spice flavours.