Abruzzo 2

Question 1

Where does Abruzzo rank in wine production?

Answer 1

3rd most productive

32,000 ha

3,000,000 hl

60% Red / 40% White

DOC/G (40%) / IGT (10%)

Question 2

Who are Abruzzo’s most historic producers?

Answer 2

Valentini

Emidio Pepe

Masciarelli

Question 3

What are Abruzzo’s most planted black and white grapes?

Answer 3

Montepulciano - 56%

Trebbiano Toscano - 18%

Question 4

What is Abruzzo’s most famous rosato?

Answer 4

Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo and considered Italy’s best

Question 5

Who were the people to occupy Abruzzo before the Romans?

Answer 5

Aequi

Sannites

Piceni

Romans invaded in 3rd c BC - enhanced viticulture

Question 6

Who took over after the Romans?

Answer 6

Lombards after the fall of the Roman Empire and became part of Duchy of Spoleto

Was independent between 9-12th c AD

Annexed by the Normans and incorporated into the Kingdom of Sicily, morphed into Kindom of Italy 19th c AD

Question 7

How did phylloxera impact Abruzzo?

Answer 7

Wiped out most indigenous species and Montepulciano & Trebbianos were widely replanted

Question 8

Where is Abruzzo located?

Answer 8

East - Central Italy along the Adriatic

Question 9

How is Abruzzo divided topographically?

Answer 9

3 bands

Coast - gentle strip plains <1% (130m)

Middle - medium-altitude hills - 35%

West - large mountains - 65%

Question 10

What are the mountains in Abruzzo?

Answer 10

Central Apennines

Massif of Gran Sasso in nother (3,000m)

Monti della Laga

Massif of Maiella - southern part

Many amphiltheater like mountain basis

Mountains rise steeply

Question 11

What is the longest river in Abruzzo?

Answer 11

Aterno-Pecara River (the longest)

Question 12

What are the rivers in Abruzzo?

Answer 12

Aterno-Pecara River (the longest)

Sangro River

Tordino River

Vomano River

Tronto River

Question 13

What is the climate of Abruzzo?

Answer 13

Coast - Mediterranean

Middle Hills - Less Med influence

Mountains - similar to hills but at altitude Alpine cold winters, cool summers

Inland basins get warm summers

Vulnerable to cold Northereast winds

November is the rainiest month (snow in winter)

Question 14

Where is one of the coldest places in Italy?

Answer 14

L’Aquila, Abruzzo

Question 15

What soils can be found in Abruzzo?

Answer 15

Coast Hills - Sedimentary soils & marine origin

Middle Hills - marl and sandstone with high clay content

Question 16

What are the 3 grapes that dominate Abruzzo?

Answer 16

Montepulciano (56%)

Trebbiano Toscano (18%)

Trebbiano Abruzzese (9%)

Account for 80%

Question 17

What is the black / white percentage of grapes?

Answer 17

>60% Black

<40% white

Question 18

How important are international varieties in Abruzzo?

Answer 18

Only 5%

Question 19

What are noteworthy white grapes in Abruzzo?

Answer 19

Pecorino

Cococciola

Passerina

Montonico

Question 20

What are bulk blending wines called

Answer 20

Vino da Taglio

Question 21

Montepulciano

Answer 21

Native to Abruzzo

Deep Ruby Color, Full Body, High ABV, High Ripe Tannin

Overt Red Cherry, Plum Fruit

Late ripening and requires long growing season to fully ripen

Thick skin with resistance to Botrytis and Powdery Mildew

Can make well structured Rosatos thanks to High anthocyanin and pink juice Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo

Question 22

Trebbiano Toscano

(Ugni Blanc)

Answer 22

Most widely planted white in Abruzzo, Toscana, Umbria, Puglia

Highly productive, ancient white grape

Light, Crisp, Neutral wines

Once used in Chianti (no longer)

Is prominent in Vin Santo

Question 23

Trebbiano Abruzze

Answer 23

Potentially a native grape

Unrelated and distinct from other Trebbianos

Thought to be identical to Bombino Bianco and often planted together but TA is better quality

Listed in National Registry of Grapes 1990

White Flowers, Citrus, Stone Fruit, Nutty

Lively Acid

Need time in bottle to express character

Question 24

Pecorino

in Abruzzo

Answer 24

Native to Marche

Usually produced under Abruzzo DOC and one IGT

Question 25

Colline Teramane Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOCG

Answer 25

Was previously a sub-zone of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC but elevated in 2003 Lies on border with Marche and extends from Adriatic to foothills of Monti della Laga & Gran Sasso Massif **min 90% Montepulciano up to 10% Sangiovese** **Aged 1 year - Riserva 3 years with 1 year in wood** **Deep Color, Full Body, Powerful, Concentrated and High ABV**

Question 26

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC

Answer 26

**Abruzzo's 1st DOC (1968) & most productive** **Virtually all of Abruzzo's winegrowing area - mostly on coastal and middle hills (Marche to Molise) some on high altitude** **Min 85% Montepulciano, 12% ABV** **Riserva: 12.5% ABV, 2 years wood 9 months min oak** **Powerful, Full Body, Tannic, Structured with age potential**

Question 27

What are Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC Subzones?

Answer 27

**Casauri o Terre di Casauria** - SW of Chieti along Aterno-Pecara river **100% Montepulciano** **Terr dei Vestini -** Pescara up foothills of Gran Sasso Massif **90% Montepulciano** **Alto Trino -** high-altitude SE foothills of Gran Sasso Massif **95% Montepulciano** **Terre dei Peligni -** high-altitude in Peligna Valley near Sulmona **95% Montepulciano** **Teate** - Pescara and Chieti to Molise border **90% Montepulciano** ***All can produce riservas (higher ABV and longer ageing)***

Question 28

Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo DOC

Answer 28

Rosato - named for cherry color Was a subzone of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo until 2003 Covers all of Abruzzo's designated winegrowing area Savory, Complex, More Structured rosato Deep Cherry-Pink color, Tanic grip, Bracing acidity Best are age-worthy **min 85% Montepulciano** *Can do superiore*

Question 29

Trebbiano d'Abruzzo

Answer 29

Historic and most important white wine in Abruzzo. DOC covers all Abruzzo's designated winegrowing min 85% Trebbiano Abruzzese and/or Trebbiano Toscano and/or Bombino Bianco, min 11.5% ABV ***Superiore - 12% ABV, lower yields*** ***Riserve - 12.5% ABV with 18 months of ageing, lower yields*** Different grapes means different range of styles and character

Question 30

What is the difference between Trebbiano d'Abruzzo and Trebbiano Abruzzese

Answer 30

DOC versus grape

Question 31

Abruzzo DOC

Answer 31

Entire wine region of Abruzzo (2010) Allows the production of varietals from minor grapes with character **Pecorino (make distinctive)** **Passerina** **Cocociola** **Montonico Bianca** Other styles: *spumante, bianco, rosso, superiore, passito*

Question 32

What producer is know for Trebbiano d'Abruzzo DOC?

Answer 32

**Valentini**

Question 33

Where are the majority of vineyards planted in Abruzzo?

Answer 33

Coastal and Middle Band

Question 34

What DOCs in Abruzzo cover the entire winegrowing regions?

Answer 34

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Trebbiano d'Abruzzo Cerasuolo dAbruzzo

Question 35

What do most of Abruzzo's soils contain?

Answer 35

**Clay**