C29 - Southern Italy (reviewed)

Question 1

What constitutes Southern Italy?

Answer 1

South of Lazio to the southern tip of the country, including the peninsula of Puglia and the island of Sicily

Question 2

Describe the climate of Southern Italy

Answer 2

• Hot and dry inland becoming humid near the coast
• Altitude provides relief from some of the heat for those vineyards based in the Apennines
• Sea breezes cool the vineyards on the flatter terrain of the Puglian peninsula

Question 3

What is the principal economic activity in Southern Italy?

Answer 3

Agriculture

Question 4

To which areas of Southern Italy is grape-growing particularly important?

Answer 4

Puglia and Sicilia, where significant volumes of wine are made

Question 5

What are the training methods in the south of Italy?

Answer 5

• Traditional: Vines were bush-trained low to the ground, with leaf cover protecting the grapes from sunburn
• More common now: Cordon training and trellising - allow for mechanisation on Puglia’s flat plain

Question 6

…is home to more DOCGs than any other region in the south of Italy

Answer 6

Campania

Question 7

What is the landscape like in Campania?

Answer 7

A varied landscape with mountains, valleys and coastal plains meaning that a wide range of black and white varieties can be grown here

Question 8

Which varieties arguably produce the best whites in Campania?

Answer 8

• Fiano - Fiano d’Avellino DOCG and
• Greco - Greco di Tufo DOCG

Question 9

Describe wines made from Fiano

Answer 9

• Medium acidity
• Medium to full body
• Aromas of stone fruit, melons and mangos
• Usually early drinking
• Better example matured in oak and can be aged in bottle, developing notes of wax and honey

Question 10

Describe wines from Greco

Answer 10

• Leaner in body than Fiano
• More acidity than Fiano
• Green apple, stone fruit and passionfruit flavours
• The best examples age in bottle to develop aromas of honey and mushrooms

Question 11

Describe winemaking for wines from Greco grapes

Answer 11

• Most producers ferment their wines in stainless steel
• Some use old oak and techniques such as lees-stirring to enhance texture

Question 12

What is the most prestigious black grape of Campania?

Answer 12

Aglianico:

• Deep colour
• High acidity
• High tannins
• Flavours of black fruit
• Matured in oak and can age in bottle to develop earthy, forest floor notes

Question 13

Where is Aglianico best in Campania?

Answer 13

Taurasi DOCG

Question 14

Where is Basilicata?

Answer 14

Just below Campania

Question 15

Describe Basilicata

Answer 15

• An extremely mountainous region where vineyards can reach 900 metres, especially on the high plain that surrounds the extinct volcano of Monte Vulture
• Main grape: Aglianico
• Best DOCG: Aglianico del Vulture DOCG

Question 16

Describe Puglia

Answer 16

• A vast agricultural area where large volumes of grapes are grown
• Hot climate
• Dominated by black grapes because of Puglia’s hot climate - Negroamaro and Primitivo
• when grown at high altitudes, they produce simple, fruity wines for early drinking Puglia IGT
• When yields are controlled, Negroamaro can produce high quality wines

Question 17

Describe higher quality wines from Negroamaro

Answer 17

• Medium acidity
• Medium tannins
• High alcohol
• Full-bodied
• Baked red and black fruit flavours

Question 18

Where do many of the best examples of Negroamaro in Puglia come from?

Answer 18

Salice Salentino DOC

Question 19

Describe the best examples of Primitivo

Answer 19

• Medium acidity
• Medium tannins
• High alcohol
• Full-bodied
• Pronounced flavours of very ripe berry fruit

Question 20

In what respect is Sicily like Puglia?

Answer 20

It grows vast quantities of grapes

Question 21

Into which appellation do most of Sicily’s grapes get made?

Answer 21

IGT Terre di Sicilia/Terre Siciliane

Question 22

Into which appellation do most of Sicily’s grapes get made if yields are lowered slightly?

Answer 22

Sicilia DOC

Question 23

What is the dominant black grape in Sicily’s most produced wines?

Answer 23

Nero d’Avola

Question 24

Describe wines of Nero d’Avola

Answer 24

• Medium acidity
• Medium tannins
• Medium to full-bodied wines
• Aromas of plums and black cherries
• Usually made into a fruity, early-drinking style
• From best producers they are more concentrated and complex

Question 25

Describe how local white varieties are usually sold in Sicilia

Answer 25

• As varietal or blended wines
• Unoaked Displaying citrus and stone fruit flavours

Question 26

What other varieties are planted in Sicilia? Which is particularly successful?

Answer 26

Chardonnay and Syrah

Question 27

From which appellation do some of the best wines of Sicily come?

Answer 27

Etna DOC

Question 28

How are Etna DOC wine grapes grown?

Answer 28

From old, low-yielding vines at high altitude

Question 29

What are the reds of Etna DOC made from? Describe the wine

Answer 29

• Made from: Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio
• They are blended together
• Fragrant wines
• High acidity
• High tannin
• Aromas of sour red cherries, cranberries and raspberries, sometimes with dried herbs

Question 30

Describe Etna DOC wines with bottle age

Answer 30

• High tannins soften
• Mushroom-like aromas can develop

Question 31

Describe the high quality white wines of Etna DOC

Answer 31

• High acidity
• Medium body
• Citrus fruit, often with a stony/steely character
• Develop aromas of honey and wax with bottle age