Alto Adige/Südtirol** Flashcards
(123 cards)
1
Q
How Alto Adige’s history shaped its modern wine industry
A
2
Q
The influence of Germany and Austria on Alto Adige’s wine industry
A
3
Q
The factors that influence Alto Adige’s climate
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4
Q
How Alto Adige’s growing area is sub-divided and what makes the divisions different from each other (soils,
climate, grape varieties, etc.)
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5
Q
Alto Adige’s geology and topographical structure
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6
Q
The influence of rivers, lakes, valleys and mountains on viticultural practices
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7
Q
The most widely planted grape varieties of Alto Adige and their synonyms
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8
Q
The preferred soil types and best appellations for Alto Adige’s “need to know” grape varieties
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9
Q
The grape varieties utilized for Alto Adige’s “need to know” appellations
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10
Q
Key viticultural details (origin, vineyard practices, etc.) about the “need to know” grapes
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11
Q
Which wines allow blending partners and which must be 100% varietal
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12
Q
The characteristic wine styles (still, sparkling, dessert, rosato, etc.) of the “need to know” appellations
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13
Q
The significance of possible label terms such as: Superiore
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14
Q
What is the significance of label term Classico?
A
can refer to original area of St. Maddalena sub-zone of Alto Aidge DOC for Schiava and to Lake Caldera
15
Q
What is the significance of label term Kretzer?
A
rosato of Lagrein in Alto Adige
16
Q
What is the significance of label term Scuro?
A
Dunkel, dark Lagrein in Alto Adige
17
Q
What is the significance of label term Scelto?
A
‘select’ - ABV of >= 11.5%, Superiore >= 11%, Scelto Classico Superiore >= 12%
18
Q
The legally permissible blending formulas of the “need to know” appellations
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19
Q
The sub-zones of “need to know” appellations
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20
Q
Where the “need to know” appellations are situated within Alto Adige’s winegrowing area
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21
Q
Any label term specific to an appellation or sub-zone and its definition
A
22
Q
Which Italian region is a “country within a country?”
A
Alto Adige
23
Q
The Tyrolean roots of Alto Adige date back to when?
A
12th century
24
Q
What are the official languages in Alto Adige? In practice, the principal language?
A
Italian and German; principal is German in both speech and print
25
Who were the first to grow grapes in Alto Adige?
Rhaeti tribe (Alpine people of Etruscan origin)
26
What modern aspect of viniculture had the Rhaeti mastered before the Romans arrived?
use of wooden vessels
27
What was the transformative change from Dark Ages to Middle Ages for Alto Adige?
joint rule by Bishops in the 11th century CE
28
When was Alto Adige incorporated into County of Tyrol?
12th and 13th centuries CE
29
When was Alto Adige acquired by the House of Hapsberg?
14th century
30
When was Alto Adige ceded to the Kingdom of Italy?
1919, after WWI
31
What is Italy's northernmost wine growing area?
Valle Isarco sub-zone in Alto Adige DOC
32
What are the borders of Alto Adige?
Austria, Switzerland, Lombardia, Trentino, Veneto
33
What is capital of Alto Adige?
Bolzano
34
What is topographic breakdown of Alto Adige?
mountainous
35
How much of Alto Adige is cultivable?
15%
36
The Dolomites are locate on which border of Alto Adige?
eastern [different from the Alps on northern border]
37
Where are the wine growing areas of Alto Adige?
3 valleys: Venosta, Adige, Isarco [Venosta and Isarco are arms of the Y]
38
What is the main crop of the valley floors in Alto Adige?
apples [compare to rice in Piemonte]
39
What is the main crop of the hillsides in Alto Adige?
grapes
40
What are the soils of the hillsides in Alto Adige?
poor, weathered and eroded gravel sands
41
What are the 5 main types of soils in Alto Adige?
volcanic porphyry, clay and sand; weathered schist, gneiss and slate; limestone and dolomite; sandy marl; sandy soils
42
What grape in Alto Adige is paired with warm, alluvial, gravelly-sandy soils?
Lagrein and Schiava
43
What grape in Alto Adige is paired with soils rich in lime?
Gewurztraminer, southern Bassa Atesina
44
What grape in Alto Adige is paired with gravelly terraced slope?
Sauvignon (Blanc) [gravelly > Graves in France, but not gravelly sandy > Sauvignon]
45
What grape in Alto Adige is paired with weathered rocky soils, composed of mica and quartz?
Sylvaner [weathered schist, gneiss and slate in Y valleys]
46
What is the climate in Alto Adige?
continental [not Alpine!]
47
What are the mitigating factors of the climate of Alto Adige?
1) Lake Garda and its Ora del Garda wind; 2) altitude; 3) mountain ranges on northern border protect from cold northerly winds
48
What is the climate in Bolzano?
in Alto Adige: one of the hottest places in Italy in the summer, heat trap, suitable for cultivation of red wines
49
What is the climate of Isarco valley?
in Alto Adige: cooler, ideal for white grapes
50
What is the climate of Venosta valley?
in Alto Adige: cooler, ideal for white grapes; driest area
51
What is the gradient of rainfall in Alto Adige?
higher further south (away from rain shadow)
52
Where is the driest place in Alto Adige?
Val Venosta
53
What is predominant soil type in Bolzano?
volcanic porphyry
54
What is predominant soil type in Bassa Atesina?
limestone and dolomite
55
What is predominant soil type in Venosta Valley?
sandy, infertile soils
56
What is predominant soil type in Isarco Valley?
weathered schist, gneiss and slate
57
Where are the Dolomites located?
3 provinces: Bolzano and Trento provinces are entirely mountainous, but only 10% of the mountains are Dolomites. In contrast, two thirds of Belluno province the Veneto are covered by Dolomites.
58
What is the red/white ratio of planted grapes in Alto Adige?
>60% white, but historically was red until shift occurred in 19th century with international grapes
59
What are the predominant white grapes in Alto Adige?
Pinot Grigio, Gewurtztraminer, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Bianco account for 70% of white grape production [international]
60
What are the predominant red grapes in Alto Adige?
Schiava and Lagrein account for 60% of of red grape production
61
What is the predominant planted grape in Alto Adige?
Schiava [red grape in a predominantly white grape region!]
62
What is the genetic background of Schiava?
not a single variety, but a group of unrelated varieties
63
What are the main varieties under the Schiava umbrella?
Grossa, Gentile and Grigia
64
What is the most planted variety under the Schiava umbrella?
Grossa, but often a field blend in vineyard
65
What is the genetic background of Lagrein?
offspring of Teroldego
66
What are the viticultural characteristics of Lagrein?
prone to poor flowering, irregular yields, late-ripening
67
What is the significance of anthocyanin in Alto Adige?
high levels found in Lagrein in Alto Adige
68
Where does Pinot Nero thrive in Alto Adige?
Bassa Atesina district, east side of Adige River [West/geWurtz; East/Pinot nEro]
69
What are the top 3 planted grapes in Alto Adige?
Schiava and Pinot Grigio, Gewurtztraminer
70
Where is the traditional home of Gewurtztraminer in Alto Adige?
west side of Bassa Atesina around towns of Termeno and Cortaccia (just north of Cortina) [West/geWurtz; East/Pinot nEro]
71
What is the role of Traminer in Alto Adige?
no longer grown in its origin form, but only as the aromatic color mutation Gewurtztraminer
72
What are the members of the Savignin grape family?
there is no family to speak of, just one DNA variety with color and aromatic mutations [same applies to Pinot]
73
When was Traminer first mentioned in Alto Adige?
first mentioned in 1242, but most likely refers to other varieties (perhaps Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains) grown in Termeno/Tramin
74
Savagnin is native to where?
northeast France or southwest Germany; not introduced to Alto Adige until 19th century
75
When was Pinot Blanco introduced into Alto Adige?
probably 1850's
76
Where are the finest examples of Pinot Blanc grown in Alto Adige?
Oltradige and Val d'Adige winegrowing districts [not Val d'Adige DOC]
77
Where are the finest examples of Muller Thurgau grown in Alto Adige?
Isarco Valley and Venosta Valley
78
Where are the finest examples of Sylvaner grown in Alto Adige?
Isarco Valley
79
What is structure of Lagrein wine?
high in tannin and acidity
80
What is structure of Schiava wine?
low in tannin and refreshing acidity
81
What is the etymology of Schiava
from "female slave," vines trained on poles and not freely trained in trees
82
What is the "everyday" wine of Alto Adige?
Schiava
83
How does Pergola Trentina in Alto Adige differ from that in Trentino?
smaller in size and lower to the ground in Alto Adige
84
What is role of cooperatives in Alto Adige?
very large, almost 80%, similar to Trentino, but higher in number and lower in size (reflecting high quality in Alto Adige)
85
What is the wine quality pyramid in Alto Adige?
"one of the highest" proportions of DOC wines
86
What is significance of Val Venosta wine district?
newer wine sub-region in Alto Adige, former apple region, known for Muller Thurgau, Riesling and Pinot Bianco
87
What is significance of Merano wine district?
around city of Merano in Alto Adige; Schiava grown
88
What is significance of Isarco Valley?
northeast of Bolzano in Alto Adige; high [!], south facing vineyards with Sylvaner, Riesling, Muller Thurgau and Kerner
89
What is significance of Val d'Adige wine district?
around town of Terlano in Alto Adige; Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Blanc grown here
90
What is significance of Oltradige wine district?
heart of Alto Adige's winegrowing area around Lago di Caldaro and town of Appiano; well known for Schiava
91
What is significance of Bolzano wine district?
Alto Adige's warmest wine district; focuses on red wines
92
What is Valadige DOC?
the interregional DOC, Trentino/Alto Adige/Veneto
93
What is the location of Bassa Atesina wine district?
Alto Adige's southernmost wine district
94
Name the appellations in Alto Adige.
Alto Adige DOC, Lago di Caldara DOC; Valdadige DOC
95
Name the appellations located totally within Alto Adige?
none
96
Name the appellations with the largest production in Alto Adige.
Alto Adige DOC
97
What style of wine is most common in Alto Adige DOC?
still, varietally labeled (85%)
98
What is aging requirement for Spumante Metodo Classico Alto Adige?
15 months on lees before disgorging
99
What is significance of hamlet of Gries?
near Bozano, Lagrein from this area can add to label; also made in rosato
100
What are the need to know sub-zones of Alto Adige DOC?
Terlano, Valle Isarco, Santa Maddalena
101
What is significance of Terlano sub-zone?
Alto Adige sub-zone which is regional historic home of Sauvignon (Blanc)
102
What is significance of Valle Isarco sub-zone?
Alto Adige sub-zone which is almost entirely focused on German whites
103
What is significance of Santa Maddalena sub-zone?
Alto Adige sub-zone, north of Bolzano, which is the historic home of Schiava [but not largest producer, Lago di Caldero DOC]
104
What is Italy's most northern appellation?
Valle Isarco sub-zone of Alto Adige DOC
105
What is the analog of Trento DOC in Alto Adige?
Spumante Classico Alto Adige DOC, blend of Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay a/o Pinot Nero
106
What are genetics of Sauvignon Blanc?
Savagnin is parent; sibling to Chenin Blanc and Trousseau (red in Jura); Sauvignon Blanc is parent to Cabernet Sauvignon
107
In what wine region is Lago di Caldaro DOC located?
shared between Alto Adige (mostly) and Trentino
108
What is the focus of Lago di Caldaro DOC?
Schiava, largest producer, but not historic home [Santa Maddalena]
109
What is Lago di Caldaro in German?
Kalterersee [double -er]
110
What is Isarco Valley in German?
Eisacktal [sarc>sac]
111
What is Val d'Adige in German?
Etschtal
112
What is difference between Eisaktal and Etschtal?
Eisaktal - Isarco; Etschtal - Adige
113
A blend from Terlano sub-zone contains what?
Alto Adige DOC sub-zone, white blend based on Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco (may have some Sauvignon Blanc)
114
What is the soil of Val d'Adige wine district?
red porphyry
115
How many days of sunshine in Alto Adige?
at least 300 days a year
116
What preserves the acidity of grapes in Alto Adige?
significant diurnal swing
117
Where is commercial market for Schiava from Alto Adige?
previously exported to German-speaking countries, now consumed locally
118
What are the genetics of Kerner?
white, Riesling x Schiava cross
119
Where is Kerner grown in Alto Adige?
Isarco Valley and Venosta Valley
120
What is Conca di Bolzano?
geological basin in Alto Adige, acts as heat trap in the summer
121
In what wine growing district is Lago di Caldero?
lower part of Oltradige wine growing district in Alto Adige
122
What river runs through Venosta?
Adige River, left arm of Y
123
Which Italian regions border two different countries
Piemonte, Valle d'Aosta, Alto Adige, Friuli
