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Introductory Sommelier Exam (CMS) > Northern Italy > Flashcards

Northern Italy Flashcards

Learn the regions of Northern Italy: their topography, climate, grapes, appellations, and wines.

1
Q

What are the 8 regions of northern Italy?

A
  1. Liguria
  2. Piedmont
  3. Valle d’Aosta
  4. Lombardy
  5. Trentino-Alto Adige
  6. Veneto
  7. Friuli-Venezia Giulia
  8. Emilia-Romagna
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2
Q

Where in Italy is the region of Piedmont, and what 2 countries border it?

A
  • Northwestern Italy
  • France, Switzerland
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3
Q

What does the word Piedmont translate to in English?

A

Foot of the mountain

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4
Q

The mountain range that lies to the north of Piedmont is the _____, and the mountain range that lies to the south and east is the _____.

A

North: Alps

South and East: Apennines

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5
Q

What is the climate of Piedmont?

A

Continental

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6
Q

What effect do the Alps have on Piedmont?

A

Rain shadow

The Alps protect Piedmont from cold northerly winds.

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7
Q

Select the correct answer.

What is the landscape of Piedmont?:

a) mountains and rolling hills
b) mostly flat with some bunny slopes

A

Mountains and rolling hills

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8
Q

What are the soils of Piedmont?

A
  • Limestone
  • Sandstone
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9
Q

What are the white grapes of Piedmont?

A
  1. Moscato
  2. Cortese
  3. Arneis
  4. Timorasso (an older varietal making a comeback)
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10
Q

What are the red grapes of Piedmont?

A
  1. Nebbiolo
  2. Barbera
  3. Dolcetto
  4. Brachetto
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11
Q

What are the 2 most important DOCGs of Piedmont?

A
  1. Barolo DOCG
  2. Barbaresco DOCG
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12
Q

The wines of Barolo DOCG and Barbaresco DOCG are only allowed to be ____, ____, ____ wines.

A

Dry, still, red wines.

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13
Q

Besides Barolo and Barbaresco, what 4 other DOCGs are of importance in Piedmont?

A
  1. Moscato d’Asti/Asti DOCG
  2. Barbera d’Asti DOCG
  3. Gavi DOCG
  4. Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG
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14
Q

What is the only grape allowed in Barolo DOCG and Barbaresco DOCG?

A

Nebbiolo

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15
Q

The best Nebbiolo vineyards in Barolo and Barbaresco are planted where?

A

South-facing hillsides to maximize sun exposure to ripen Nebbiolo.

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16
Q

Select the correct answer.

All Barolo and Barbaresco must be aged in:

a) only stainless steel for a short time
b) only oak for longer aging

A

Only oak for longer aging

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17
Q

What are the aging requirements for Barolo DOCG?

A
  • 38 months total aging
  • at least 18 of those 38 months must be in oak, whether it’s new barriques or large, neutral barrels
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18
Q

What are the aging requirements of Barbaresco DOCG?

A
  • 26 months total aging
  • at least 9 of those 26 months must be in oak, whether it’s new barriques or large, neutral barrels
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19
Q

Which DOCG ages their wines longer: Barolo or Barbaresco?

A

Barolo

Barolo requires at least 38 months of aging prior to release while Barbaresco requires 26 months.

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20
Q

What is the grape in Moscato d’Asti DOCG and Asti DOCG?

A

Moscato

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21
Q

What are the similarities and differences between Moscato d’Asti and Asti?

A

Similarity:

  • same grape, Moscato

Differences

  • Moscato d’Asti = sweeter than Asti, frizzante
  • Asti = off-dry, spumante, can also be made metodo classico
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22
Q

What is the grape in Barbera d’Asti DOCG?

What style of wine is Barbera d’Asti?

A
  • Barbera
  • Dry, still, red wine
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23
Q

What is the grape in Gavi DOCG?

What style of wine is Gavi?

A
  • Cortese
  • Dry, still, white wines
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24
Q

What is the grape in Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG?

What style of wine is Brachetto d’Acqui?

A
  • Brachetto
  • Sweet, sparkling pale red wines
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25
Q

Where is the region of Lombardy located?

A

East/Northeast of Milan

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26
Q

What 3 lakes in Lombardy do you need to know?

A
  1. Lago di Como (near Valtellina)
  2. Lago d’Iseo (near Franciacorta)
  3. Lago di Garda (shared with Veneto)
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27
Q

What is the climate of Lombardy?

A

Cool continental

28
Q

What is the general landscape of the winegrowing regions of Lombardy?

A

Mountainous with rolling foothills

29
Q

What are the white grapes of Lombardy?

A
  • Chardonnay
  • Pinot Bianco
30
Q

What are the red grapes of Lombardy?

A
  • Pinot Nero
  • Nebbiolo
31
Q

Valtellina Superiore is literally on the southern side of the Alps from Switzerland.

What kind of climate and terrain does Valtellina have?

A
  • Alpine climate
  • High altitude, mountainous (see photo)
32
Q

What are the 2 most important DOCGs of Lombardy?

A
  1. Franciacorta DOCG
  2. Valtellina Superiore DOCG
33
Q

What is the only style of wine made in Franciacorta DOCG?

A

Sparkling wines only, made metodo classico (or Traditional Method, same as in Champagne)

34
Q

What are the grapes allowed to be used in Franciacorta DOCG?

A
  • Chardonnay
  • Pinot Bianco
  • Pinot Nero
35
Q

What is the grape allowed in Valtellina Superiore DOCG and what is the style?

A

Nebbiolo vinified dry (in oak, new and/or used)

36
Q

Where is Trentino-Alto Adige located?

A

North/northeast Italy, bordering Austria and Switzerland.

37
Q

What is the general style of wine that comes out of Trentino-Alto Adige?:

  • clean and linear
  • stinky and obtuse
A

Clean and linear

38
Q

What is the climate of Trentino-Alto Adige?

A

Continental, with very cold (Alpine) winters and warm summers.

39
Q

With the Alps separating Trentino-Alto Adige from its neighboring countries, what kind of terrain would you expect in Trentino-Alto Adige?

A

Mountainous with rolling foothills

40
Q

What are the 4 main white grapes of Trentino-Alto Adige?

A
  1. Pinot Grigio
  2. Pinot Bianco
  3. Chardonnay
  4. Sauvignon Blanc
41
Q

What are the 3 main red grapes of Trentino-Alto Adige?

A
  1. Merlot
  2. Lagrein
  3. Schiava
42
Q

What are the 2 main DOCs of Trentino-Alto Adige?

A
  1. Trentino DOC
  2. Alto Adige DOC (aka Südtiroler DOC)
43
Q

Where is Veneto located in Italy?

A

Northeastern corner (it’s the region where Venice is)

44
Q

On what sea is Veneto located?

A

Adriatic Sea

45
Q

What is the climate of Veneto?

A

Continental, though it becomes more warm maritime closer to the coast

46
Q

What major/larger Veneto DOCs and DOCG do you need to know for this exam?

A
  • Soave DOC
  • Prosecco DOC
  • Valpolicella DOC
  • Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG
47
Q

In Soave DOC, name the:

  • grape
  • style of wine
  • superior sub-zone that’s a DOCG
A
  • Garganega (pronounced gar-GAH-nuh-guh)
  • Dry, still, white wines
  • Soave Superiore DOCG
48
Q

In Prosecco DOC, name the:

  • grape
  • style of wine
  • superior sub-zone that’s a DOCG
A
  • Glera
  • Sparkling wine made Tank Method (Charmat)
  • Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG
49
Q

In Valpolicella DOC, name the:

  • grapes
  • style of wine
  • superior sub-zone that’s a DOC
A
  • Corvina + Rondinella
  • Dry, still, red wines
  • Valpolicella Classico DOC
50
Q

What are the grapes in Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG?

A
  • Corvina (primary)
  • Rondinella
51
Q

What particular process is used in the vinification of Amarone della Valpolicella?

A

Appassimento process

52
Q

What is the appassimento process?

A

Drying out the grapes after harvest for several weeks, allowing the grapes to develop concentrated, dried-fruit characteristics and aromas of oxidation

53
Q

To what level of sweetness is Amarone della Valpolicella vinified?

A

Dry to off-dry

54
Q

What is the typical abv for Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG?

A

14 - 16% abv

55
Q

Generally speaking, how would you describe Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG?

A
  • Full bodied
  • High alcohol
  • Usually off-dry (though some are dry)
  • Flavors of concentrated, dried fruits
56
Q

Where is Friuli-Venezia Giulia located? What country does it abut?

A

Way northeastern Italy abutting Slovenia

57
Q

What is the climate of Friuli-Venezia Giulia?

A

Continental

58
Q

What are the top white grapes planted in Friuli-Venezia Giulia?

A
  1. Pinot Grigio
  2. Sauvignon (they drop the “Blanc” here)
  3. Friulano

The majority do not see new oak and are meant to be drunk young + fresh.

59
Q

In Friuli-Venezia Giulia:

  • wines are bottled with the name of the grape on the label, like in Alsace
  • grapes are not allowed to appear on the label
A

The name of the grape appears on the label, like in Alsace.

60
Q

What is the most planted red grape in Friuli-Venezia Giulia?

A

Merlot

Most do not have a lot of new oak and are meant to be drunk young + fresh.

61
Q

Where is Emilia-Romagna located in Italy?

A

North-central Italy extending eastward towards the Adriatic (it does have a coastline on the Adriatic).

62
Q

What is the climate of Emilia-Romagna?

A

Continental

63
Q

What is the landscape/terrain of Emilia-Romagna?

A

A lot of flat, fertile plains

Emilia-Romagna is better known for agriculture than it is for its wine.

64
Q

What is Emilia-Romagna’s most famous DOC?

A

Lambrusco DOC

65
Q

In Lambrusco DOC:

  • grape
  • style
  • sweetness levels
A
  • Lambrusco grape
  • sparkling red made Tank Method (Charmat), can be either frizzante or spumante
  • Dry (Secco) or off-dry (Amabile)

Introductory Sommelier Exam (CMS) (40 decks)

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