27 WSET3_ItalyOverview

Question 1

What is the name of the Italian PDO system?

Answer 1

Denominazione d’origine protetta (DOP)

Question 2

What are the three different levels of PDO wines?

Answer 2

DOCG, DOC and IGT

Question 3

What does IGT stand for?

Answer 3

Indicazione geografica tipica

Question 4

What does DOCG stand for?

Answer 4

Demoninazione de origine controllata e garantita

Question 5

What does DOC stand for?

Answer 5

Demoninazione de origen controllata

Question 6

Which was the first PDO level designation level, defined in the 1960s?

Answer 6

DOC

Question 7

Approximately how many DOCs in Italy are there in 2011?

Answer 7

Over 300

Question 8

What is the Italian equivalent of Vins de Pays (VdP)?

Answer 8

IGT

Question 9

In which year was the IGT level introduced?

Answer 9

1992

Question 10

What does the labelling term Classico refer to, Name three examples.

Answer 10

Wine made from the original and historical, better and inevitably hilly part of the appellation. Examples include Valpollicella, Soave and Chianti.

Question 11

What does the labelling term Riserva refer to in Italy?

Answer 11

Much abused term, but indicates longer ageing and higher alcohol.

Question 12

Define the passito process

Answer 12

1. Early harvest of acidic grapes, 2. Natural drying for 2 weeks to 6 months

Question 13

What is a fruttaio?

Answer 13

The room where passito grapes are dried?

Question 14

Provide three examples of white passito.

Answer 14

Recioto di Soave DOCG, Passito di Pantelleria DOC, Tuscany’s Vin Santo DOC

Question 15

Provide an example of a dry, red passito.

Answer 15

Amarone di Valpolicella DOCG

Question 16

What is an example of a sweet, red passito?

Answer 16

Recioto della Valpollicella DOCG

Question 17

What is the main cause for climate differences through Italy?

Answer 17

Altitude rather than latitude.

Question 18

Which are the three most important mountain ranges in Italy?

Answer 18

Appennines, Alps and Dolomites

Question 19

What land mass separates the Alps from the Apennines?

Answer 19

The fertile triangle of the Po

Question 20

Which two Italian locations have the highest vineyards within continental Europe?

Answer 20

Alto-Adige and on Mount Etna (more than 1km above sea level)

Question 21

Which two grapes seldom ripen before October and have significant vintage variation?

Answer 21

Nebbiolo and Aglianico

Question 22

What is the biggest natural threat facing Italian grape growers?

Answer 22

Hail

Question 23

Name three types of soil found in Italy

Answer 23

Marine, volcanic, alluvial

Question 24

Name four classic marine areas which have a clay over limestone mix?

Answer 24

Valpolicella, Barolo, Barbaresco and Chianti

Question 25

Which marine soil suited varietals favour clay?

Answer 25

Barbera

Question 26

Which marine soil suited varietals favour limestone?

Answer 26

Nebbiolo, Cortese, Verdicchio (and also the aromatic whites of Trentino)

Question 27

Provide four DOCGs which are situated on volcanic sites?

Answer 27

Soave, Colli Euganei, Lacryma Christi and Etna

Question 28

Despite being the least prevalent soil type, name four alluvial sites in Italy?

Answer 28

Bardolino, Piave DOC, Aquilela, Isonzo

Question 29

Which underground river overflowed during the first world war and halted the Austrian advance?

Answer 29

Piave

Question 30

What is a pergola?

Answer 30

A viticultural practice of high trellising

Question 31

As 'the jurassic park of viticulture', how many total varieties of vitis vinifera can be found in Italy?

Answer 31

More than 1000

Question 32

How many vinifera varietals are of commercial significance?

Answer 32

No more than 40

Question 33

Which three regions have historically used the pergola?

Answer 33

Veneto, Trentino and Alto-Adige

Question 34

Where in Italy can you still find bush training?

Answer 34

Southern Puglia and Sicily

Question 35

What is the Italian term for bush training?

Answer 35

Albarello ('little tree')

Question 36

What are the two most important styles of vine training in Italy?

Answer 36

1. Two wire vertical shoot positioning trellising and 2. single cordon.

Question 37

What is the Italian term for single cordon vine training?

Answer 37

Cordone Speronato

Question 38

What is botte?

Answer 38

A large cask crafted from Slavonian oak, still used in Piemonte, Tuscany and Campania for traditional DOCG wines.

Question 39

Name The sea on the east side of Italy

Answer 39

Adriatic

Question 40

Name The sea on the west side of Italy

Answer 40

Tyrrhenean