27. Italy

Question 1

What are the three models for naming an Italian PDO wine?

Answer 1

locale, grape plus locale, historical

Question 2

What are the two designations for PDO in Italy?

Answer 2

DOC and DOCG

Question 3

What is the designations for PDI in Italy?

Answer 3

IGT

Question 4

Are IGT areas more common in North or South of Italy?

Answer 4

South, fewer notable DOC or DOCG areas.

Question 5

What aspect of IGT regulations is a factor in creating brands?

Answer 5

IGT rules permit grapes to be sourced from a larger area.

Question 6

What does the Italian term “classico” imply?

Answer 6

wine from the original designated area before dilution of the standards to viniculture, implies a source from the better hilly areas

Question 7

What does the Italian term “riserva” imply?

Answer 7

implies better quality from higher alcohol and longer ageing, but often wines of average quality

Question 8

What does the Italian term “passito” imply?

Answer 8

usually a sweet Italian wine made from partially dried grapes, usually high in alcohol

Question 9

Name a wine done in the passito Italian style that is dry.

Answer 9

Amarone della Valpolicella

Question 10

The passito Italian style wine includes what color grapes?

Answer 10

red and white

Question 11

Most of Italian viticulture is associated with hills or mountains, what are three exceptions?

Answer 11

Maremma (in Tuscany and Lazio), southern Silicy, southern Puglia

Question 12

Where are the highest vineyards in mainland Europe?

Answer 12

Alto Adige (Mount Etna has elevated vineyards, but is not classically included within the designation of continental Europe.)

Question 13

What is the biggest threat to Italian viticulture?

Answer 13

hail

Question 14

In what part of Italy is hail the biggest risk?

Answer 14

Piemonte and Veneto

Question 15

Name three Italian regions that border Basilicata?

Answer 15

Calabria, Campania, Puglia

Question 16

Name four Italian regions that border Molise?

Answer 16

Abruzzo, Lazio, Campania, Puglia

Question 17

Name six Italian regions that border Emilia-Romagna?

Answer 17

Veneto, Lombardy, Piemonte, Liguria, Tuscany, Marche

Question 18

Name an Italian region that borders Valle D’Aosta?

Answer 18

Piemonte

Question 19

Classico lables are most relevant for what three wines?

Answer 19

Chianti, Soave, Valpolicella [mnemonic: CVS]

Question 20

Name 4 Italian wine regions that do NOT border on the sea.

Answer 20

Valle D’Aosta, Trentino-Alto Adige, Umbria, Piemonte

Question 21

Name a wine done in the passito Italian style that is low in alcohol.

Answer 21

Recioto della Valpolicella

Question 22

Name 3 Italian regions that border Umbria?

Answer 22

Tuscany, Marche, Lazio

Question 23

Name the Italian region on the southern border of Piemonte.

Answer 23

Liguria

Question 24

Name 3 Italian white wines capable of ageing?

Answer 24

Soave Classico, Verdicchio, Fiano d’Avellino