NE Italy Copied & Amended Flashcards
The Wine business of Valpolicella has changed over the last decade, explain how.
Wine Business:
o Large shift to production of Amarone/Ripasso and to a lesser extent Recioto:
o Recioto remains a niche market;
o Amarone has grown 6 fold;
o Ripasso grown four fold by 2016
o Production of Valpolicella dropped by 40 %
o Growers receive 3 times the price for Amarone grapes compared to Valpolicella
o 65% of Amarone exported: Germany, US, Switzerland, UK
Trentino grapes varieties?
- Mainly whites - 75%:
- Unoaked fresh Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Muller Thurgau
- Reds: 25%:
- Teroldego, Merlot, Marzemino
Trentino DOC - the rules and varietals?
-
Trentino DOC
- Bianco: (80% Chardonnay and/or Pinot Bianco)
- Rosso: Single varietal/ Blends: Cab Sav; Cab Franc; Carmenere; Merlot.
- Single Varietal: 85% of variety
- 2 variety blends: Whites: 50-70%, one of of Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Sav Blanc plus remainder of named varieties
- Rose: called Rosato or Kretzer
Ramandolo DOCG?
Famous for making sweet wines from air dried grapes - from the Verduzzo varietal
Friulano?
Friulano:
- Disease resistant; Imp as it’s a region of high rainfall
- Medium to High Alcohol; Medium (+) Acidity;
- Medium (-) Intensity ; Floral, Apple
- In SS or lightly Oaked; Capacity to age
- Good to Very Good; Mid- priced to Premium
Valpolicella - where is it and explain the topography and soils
VALPOLICELLA:
- North of Verona
- Foothills in the North have Limestone, Clay, Volcanic , cooler soils
- Cooler soils slow down ripening, more Acidity ,ripen slowly, greater concentration
- Flatter South, Soils are Gravel & Sand, warmer
- Grapes fruitier, less Acidity, lower concentration
Valpolicella Classico DOC - describe the growing region and wines
Valpolicella Classico DOC: (●)
o Grapes must come from the Hilly, defined Classico zone, with volcanic soils
o Monti Lessini foothills, Classico DOC produces better quality wines
o Accounts for 40% of production
o Have greater concentration
o Good to Very quality
o In expensive to Mid priced
The massive Pinot Grigio delle Venezie DOC covers which regions?
what is the max yield per Ha. allowed?
- Grapes must be grown in 3 regions of Veneto, Fruili-Venezia Giulia, Southern Trentino province of Trentino
- 126 hL/Ha.
Teroldego - describe the varietal
o Deep colour, Full body, Low to Medium Tannins, Black cherry, Some can age
o Most planted red grape
o Common Black variety
o Suffer from drying stems, less susceptible to mildews
o Best from Teroldego Rotaliano DOC: Sandy & Gravelly soils
The two climates of Friuli-Venezia Giulia - describe them.
- Two climates:
- Cool continental with cold winters and hot summers in the northern hillsides up against the Alps
- Warm maritime on the flat plain next to the Adriatic sea
- both have high rainfall - 1200mm
Alto-Adige is 98% DOC production - what are the DOCs of note and what are their rules?
-
In Alto Adige DOC, wines can be:
- Bianco: - 75% Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio - 2 varieties must be present not exceeding 70% of blend. No corresponding Rosso category
- Single Variety: min 85% of named variety
- Dual variety: Chardonnay/Pinot Bianco; Cabernet/Lagrein; both varieties must be more than 15%
Size of Veneto vineyards?
o 73,000ha – 2nd largest area under vine (after Puglia)
Climate of the Alto-Adige region
Alto Adige:
o Mild Alpine Continental climate
o Protected from cold winds by mountains to the North
o Altitude: 300-700m
o Warm currents in valleys; 300 days of sunshine;
o Large day/night temps: good growing conditions; retaining Acidity
o Sufficient rainfall throughout the year; Low in Winter
What are the moderating factors for the Veneto climate
The Alps in the North, the Adriatic sea and Lake Garda all moderate the climate howevers summers are hot.
Winemaking for inexpensive Valpolicella - describe it
Inexpensive Valpolicella:
- Fresh, Fruity wines for early consumption
- Ferment in controlled temps, 20-25°C ( retains primary aromas)
- 5-7 days maceration typically ( light Tannins),
- Aged in SS or large neutral Oak barrels for 6-8 mths
What has happened with the production of Valpolicella wines over the last few decades?
- Large shift to production of Amarone/Ripasso and to a lesser extent Recioto:
- Recioto remains a niche market,
- Amarone has grown 6 fold since 1990s,
- Ripasso grown four fold in decade by 2016
- Production of Valpolicella dropped by 40% over decade to 2016
- Growers receive 3 times the price for Amarone grapes compared to Valpolicella
Describe the white winemaking of Alto-Adige
White
- Emphasis on preserving fruit aromas & flavours
- Must fermented at low/moderate temps(12-15°C), selected yeasts, aged in SS
- Mid priced wines:
- may be kept on fine lees (4-6 mths) to fill out Body
- Premium wines
- for 1 yr on fine lees
Some top Whites & Reds (Lagrein, PN) aged in French barriques
One of the first regions to adopt modern winemaking techniques
Winemaking for Garganega
WINEMAKING:
o Short cold maceration then pressed off
o Cool ferment: 16-18°C
o Few months ageing on Lees before bottling,
o Some ferment/mature in barrels
o Some wines made by Appassimento method
Key appellations for Friuli-Venezia-Giulia region?
Collio DOC
Collio Orientali del Friuli DOC
Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit DOCG:Ramandolo DOCG:
Friuli Grave DOC - 6,500ha
Friuli DOC
Valpolicella DOC - describe the rules and wines made
Valpolicella DOC: (●)
- Max 84 hl/ha = Low concentration
- Short maceration
- Low to Medium Tannins, Medium to Medium (+) Acidity with medium alcohol
- Purple tints in youth, Red Cherry, Rose, No Oak
- Good to some very Good, In expensive to Mid priced
The flat fertile plain of Veneto is the source of what wines?
- The flat fertile plain is the source for inexpensive high-volume brands (such as Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie DOC):
- Pinot Grigio, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Merlot (International varieties)
- Corvina, Garganega, Trebbiano (Local varieties)
