Valle d'Aosta - online Flashcards

1
Q

What is the smallest and least populated Italian wine producing region?

A

Valle d’Aosta

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Where are some of the highest slopes in the EU?

A

Valle d’Aosta (up to 1200m)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

How long did the French control Valle d’Aosta?

A

During the Dark Ages

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What languages are spoken in Valle d’Aosta

A

French and Italian

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Why are Valle d’Aosta wines relatively unknown?

A

Little export market

Used in tourism locally

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

When did vine growing begin in Valle d’Aosta?

A

400BC

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What city did the Romans 1st found in Valle d’Aosta?

A

Augusta Praetoria 25BC

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What did the Facists introduce in Valle d’Aosta?

A

Forced Italianization Program

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What official status does Valle d’Aosta hold?

A

Special Autonomous Status

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What borders Valle d’Aosta?

A

Switzerland to the north
France to the west
Piemonte to the South / SE

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the topology in Valle d’Aosta?

A

Completely mountainous

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the major mountain peak?

A

Monte Bianco

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the principal river?

A

Dora Baltea from Mt Blanc down the Aosta Valley

All towns are located

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

How is Valle d’Aosta divided?

A

3 portions
Upper Valley
Central Valley
Lower Valley

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Where is the coldest and driest area?

A

Upper Valley

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the main towns in the Upper Valley?

A

Morgex & La Salle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What city are in the Central Valley?

A
Aosta 500-700m N bank of river
Chambave
Nus
Arvier
Avmavilles
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Where is the main wine growing area in Valle d’Aosta?

A

Central Valley

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Where is the warmest and wettest place in Valle d’Aosta?

A

Lower Valley

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Where are vines planted in the Lower Valley?

A

Both sides of the Dora Baltea river 300-400m

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are the majority of plantings in the Lower Valley?

A

red varieties

Notably Nebbiolo

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What are the main towns in Lower Valley

A

Donnas
Montjovet
Arnad

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Where are the majority of vines planted in Valle d’Aosta?

A

Narrow bad
Aosta Valley
North side (south facing)
on Dora Baltea

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

How do they grow vines?

A

Steep slopes requires terrace

Lack of land on valley floor

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What is unique about the vineyards here

A

Not contiguous
Growers climb horizontally and vertically to get to vines
Heroic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Valle d’Aosta soils

A

Slopes: Moderate - low water retention
Limestone or Schist
Valley Floor - alluvial with much gravel

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Where are vines planted

A

5% on Valley Floor
35% on Moderate Slopes
60% on Steep Slopes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Valle d’Aosta general climate

A

Continental with alpine influence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

West Valle d’Aosta climate

A
Severe due to altitude
Alps block clouds and humidity
Rain shadow
2,200 hours of sun
Lowest precipitation in Alps
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Central and SE Valle d’Aosta climate

A

Milder - lower altitude

Rain increases going east

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Seasonal

A

Spring - cool, sun, wet
Summer - dry, warm, high diurnal (helps ripen)
Autumn - Early, cold, wet (September)
Winter - long, harsh, cold, much snow

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

What do grape growers do in Valle d’Aosta during the autumn?

A

Pull leaves to allow more sunlight

33
Q

What area has the steepest slopes?

A

Upper Valley

34
Q

How many totally unique varieties of grapes are in Valle d’Aosta?

A

more than 10

35
Q

What type dominates Valle d’Aosta?

A

red 80%
Petite Rouge & Nebbiolo
Hardy and cold resistant

36
Q

Generally where would Nebbiolo be planted?

A

Well exposed sites

Sheltered from the wind

37
Q

What are the dominate white varieties?

A
Prié Blanc
Petite Arvine
Moscato Bianco
Pinot Gris
Chardonnay
38
Q

What is Priè Blanc also known?

A

Blanc de Morgex

39
Q

What is Valle d’Aosta’s only native grape and most planted?

A

Priè Blanc
Monte Bianco foothills
Upper Valley

40
Q

What is special about Priè Blanc?

A

Most grapes cannot survive the altitude
No phylloxera
Ungrafted vines

41
Q

Where did Petite Arvine come from?

A

Valais, Switzerland

42
Q

What is special about Petite Arvine?

A

Suitable for late-harvest
Can age well
Considered traditional

43
Q

What are the native reds in Valle d’Aosta?

A

Petit Rouge (native)
Fumin (native)
Nebbiolo (traditional)

44
Q

Describe Petit Rouge

A
Oldest, most widely planted variety
Main component in Central Valley
Torrette
Enfer d'Arvier
Chambave
45
Q

What is Petit Rouge known as locally?

A

Picciourouzo

46
Q

How is Furmin used?

A
HQ red
Mainly grown Central Valley
Blending partner
Adds color & body
Long-lived
Small barrel fermentation
more single varieties are being made
47
Q

How is Nebbiolo known in Valle d’Aosta?

A

Picotendro

48
Q

Where is Nebbiolo traditional

A

Lower Valley

Subzones of Donnas & Arnad-Montjovet

49
Q

Traditional training system?

A

Pergola to max sunlight

50
Q

Wine characteristics of Valle d’Aosta

A

All Valle d’Aosta share similar character
Light, Fresh Fruit
High Acidity

51
Q

Wine characteristics of Valle d’Aosta red wines

A
Fruity
Spicy
Light-M Body
Moderate-Firm Tannins
Bright Acidity
5 months maturation for reds
52
Q

What is a unique rule for all reds in VdA?

A

DOC requires min 5 months maturation in bottle or any vessel

53
Q

Wine characteristics of Valle d’Aosta white wines?

A

Juicy, Floral, Fruity
High Acid, M ABV
Marked Mineral Character
No age requirements

54
Q

Wine characteristics of Valle d’Aosta of sweet wines?

A

2 styles
Passito
Vendemmia Tardive

55
Q

How are passito wines labeled in Valle d’Aosta

A

Fletri

56
Q

Are sparkling wines common in Valle d’Aosta?

A

Traditional method

Low production volume

57
Q

How are sparkling wines called in Valle d’Aosta?

A

Mousseux
or
Spumante

58
Q

Picciourouzo

A

Petit Rouge

59
Q

Most widely planted grape?

A

Picciourouzo / Petit Rouge

60
Q

Grape Native to Switzerland

A

Petite Arvine

61
Q

Grape that requires no grafting

A

Priè Blanc

62
Q

What are the labeling options

A
  1. Generic - VdA DOC Rosso
  2. Varietal - VdA Fumin DOC
  3. Subzone - VdA Donnas DOC
63
Q

Average vineyard size?

A

less the 1 ha

64
Q

How many DOCs in VdA? Subzones?

A

One

Five subzones

65
Q

Name subzones in Upper Valley

A

Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle
Dry white wines only from Priè Blanc
Ungrafted
Some of highest vineyards in EU

66
Q

Name the largest subzone in the Central Valley

A

Torrette (Aosta)
Reds from Petit Rouge
Largest Subzone
Majority of production for DOC

67
Q

Name subzones in Central Valley

A

Torrette (Aosta)

Chambave

68
Q

Describe Chambave subzone

A

3 designations
Petit Rouge
Dry Moscato Bianco (Moscato Chambave or Muscat)
Passito Moscato Bianco (Moscato Chambave or Muscat Fletri)

69
Q

Describe Donnas

A

“Mountain brother of Barolo”
Most Prestigious
Longest age requirements 24 months / 10m oak

70
Q

What is the main Lower Valley subzone

A

Donnas

71
Q

What subzone has the longest ageing requirements?

A

Donnas

Nebbiolo for 24 m / 10m in oak

72
Q

Principal component of Torrette wines?

A

Petit Rouge

73
Q

Which statement is false about VdA

a. White wines have no age requirements
b. Grows mostly whites
c. Reds require 5 months ageing
d. Wines tend to be light and acidic

A

b. VdA is 80% red wines

74
Q

What are pergolas designed to do in VdA?

A

Capture maximum sunlight

75
Q

What statement is false?

a. Donnas was VdA’s 1st DOC
b. VdA currently has 1 DOC
c. VdA has 7 DOCs
d. No IGT wine is made

A

c. Only 1 DOC

76
Q

What white is made in Chambave

A

Moscato Bianco

77
Q

What was the 1st DOC in VdA before consolidation

A

Donnas

78
Q

How many IGT are in VdA

A

None