History - the Central and Southern Italy Flashcards
(101 cards)
1
Q
Political stability was restored in Puglia in the early 18th century when it fell under the control of another political power?
Name the entity.
A
The Spanish Bourbon dynasty
2
Q
Which three countries produce most corks?
For Italy, where is its cork production concentrated?
A
- Portugal, Spain and Italy
- Gallura in Sardegna
3
Q
Which two wine regions stand at the forefront of viticulture and winemaking by receiving the number of awards and ratings?
A
- Piemonte
- Toscana
4
Q
Which two important cities in Umbria the Etruscans founded and were instrumental in developing viticulture and winemaking prior to the Roman conquest?
A
- Perugia
- Orvieto
5
Q
Who influenced the viticulture in Marche prior to the Senones in the 4th century B.C? The Senones was a Celtic Gallic tribe from northwest Europe that crossed the Alps.
A
Etruscans who lived in nearby Umbria.
6
Q
This DOC is Toscana’s easternmost DOC. It lies proximity to the border with Umbria and Lake Trasimeno.
Syrah is the most widely planted grape and accounts for more than half of the total wine production.
Varietal Syrah has become the signature wine.
A
Cortona DOC(!)
7
Q
The Medici family and Napoleon highly praised wines of Elba. What was the wine they were referring to?
A
The sweet passito wine made from the red Aleatico grape.
8
Q
How did the Etruscans play critical role in viticulture and winemakng in the terriotries they inhabited? (2)
A
The Etruscans domesticated wild vines (Vitis vinifera sylvestris) and trained them high above the ground using trees as natural supports.
They also developed wine trade by exporting to the southern coast of France and Spain.
9
Q
What is the most famous crop along the Amalfi coast along with vines and famous liqueor produced from it?
A
Lemon, locally known as “sfusato”.
Limoncello is the liqueor produced from it.
10
Q
How did the word “Toscana” derive from ?
A
It is from Latin “Etrurla”, a word used by the Romans to indicate the land inhabited by the Etruscans.
11
Q
What wines are produced in San Gimignano DOC as opposed to Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG (!)?
A
Red wines
Sangiovese based red and varietal wines from Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot among others.
12
Q
Campania wines follow the precedents set by Greeks, Etruscans and Romans.
Name the four appellations with the influence still felt today.
A
- Falerno del Massico
- Aspirino di Aversa
- Campi Flegrel
- Ischia
13
Q
What viticultural practices introduced to then inhabitants in Sicilia by the Greeks?
A
- Introduced their native vines
- Low Alberello training system
- Short pruning techinques
- Produced sweet high alcohol wines which were diluted with water and seasoned with various spices
14
Q
Which tribe of people inhabited Marche as early as 1,000BC?
A
Piceni tribe
15
Q
While its most important agricultural products are olive oil and wine, which region is renowned for black truffles, lentils and the chocolate?
A
Umbria
(“the chocolate of Perugia”)
16
Q
When did Chianti area was awarded DOC and then ulpgraded to DOCG?
When did Chianti Classico receive its own independent DOCG appellation?
A
DOC: 1967
DOCG: 1984
Chianti Classico DOCG: 1996
17
Q
What wine region is the second smallest and the second least populated behind Valle d’Aosta?
A
Molise
18
Q
True or Flase
Prior to the 18th century, most prominent wines produced in Montalcino were sweet white wines based on Malvasia grape.
A
False
The wine was based on Moscato, locally known as Moscadello.
19
Q
What is ancient city founded by Greek settlers in the 8th century BC and among the most important and influential cities of Magna Graecia (Great Greece)?
The famous inventor and mathematician Archimedes was born here.
A
Siracusa
20
Q
Which two city-states in Toscana became regional super-powers as of the 13th century and for the next 300 years?
A
- the Republic of Siena
- the Republic of Firenze
21
Q
List top three grapes in Abruzzo (by area under vine).
A
- Montepulciano : 56%
- Trebbiano Toscano: 18%
- Trebbiano Abruzzese: 9%
22
Q
After the 11th century with the arrival of Normans, Puglia was handed over to another group which inherited the Kingdom but they were not interested in economic development of the region.
Who were they?
A
The German House of Hohenstaufen
23
Q
Who initially were instrumental in developing viticulture and winemaking in Campania?
A
The Greeks
24
Q
True or False
Wine has been produced in Umbria since at least the time of Etruscans in Umbria.
A
True
25
What caused surprise and chagrin of the Chianti producers in the historic wine growing area in 1932?
The Italian government officially expanded the Chianti denomination to a much larger area.
Subsequently the historic area of Chianti was awarded with the designation of Classico in order to distinguish from the enlarged area. Sub-zones were also created in the expanded Chianti winegrowing area.
26
Which wines in Campania were highly reputed during the Roman period? (3)
1. Wines of Vesuvio
2. Campi Flegrei
3. ***Falernum*** from Monte Massico
27
Which current village lies where the most sought-after Falernum, Falernum Faustianum and which part of elevlation on the hill it is located?
Falciano del Massico
Mid level elevation
28
What did Umbria take its name from?
***Umbri***
An ancient italic tribe who settled in the araa before the 1st millennium BC.
The tribe occupied on the east bank of ***the Tevere River*** while the Etruscans occupied the area on the western bank.
29
What is the minimum grape percentage for Vernaccia di San Gilignano DOCG(!) and ageing requirment for Riserva?
Minimum of 85%
Minimum of 11 months ageing with at least 3 months in bottle (12.5% minimum abv)
30
List in order of the people (up to 10) who arrived and inhibited Sicilia.
1. Siculi (Sicels)
2. Phoenicians
3. Greeks
4. Romans
5. Arab Saraceni
6. Normans (the Kingdom of Sicily)
7. German Hohenstaufen
8. French House of Anjou
9. Spanish Kingdom of Aragon
10. House of Savoy
11. Austrian Habsburgs
12. Spanish Bourbons
31
What were noteworthy about Krotos and Rhegin?
Krotos (modern day Crotone) and Rhegin (modern day Reggio Calabria) were among the most famous Greek settlements as Calabria was one of the principal centers of Greek colonization in southern Italy.
32
What was “***Marmertinum***”?
***Marmentinum*** was the most famous Sicilian wine during the Roman period and was considered among the best Italian wines in its day.
In the 1960s, a handful of producers around MIlazzo began to bottle some of their wines with the name “***Mamertino***”. The DOC was approved in 2004.
33
Who founded the small coastal colony of Ankon (modern day Ancona) in Marche between the 5th and 4 th century?
The Greeks
34
This area in Eastern Toscana was one of the four winemaking zones protected by Grand Duke Cosimo III de' Medici edict in 1716 but its wines fell into oblivion over rtime.
The DOC designiation was received in 2011.
Although Sangiovese is widely grown, the DOC also grows a substantial amount of international grapes.
Val d'Arno di Sopra DOC
35
After recovery from phylloxera, Puglia focused solely on the production of deeply colored, alcoholic full bodied wine.
What is this style of wine called in Italian?
***Vini da Taglio***
36
Which winegrowing reqion the ancient Greeks settlers initially named “***Oenotria” ("the land of vines")*** when they first arrived in southern Italy?
Calabria
37
Volumetrically which three wine regions compete as Italy's largest producer?
* Veneto
* Emilia-Romagna
* Puglia
38
The widespread use of Alberello training system in Puglia points the strong heritage of which culture?
The Greek
39
True or False
Marche is highly reputed for truffle-hunting.
True
Especially the Pesaro-Urbino province is considered one of Italy's best areas for finding this delicacy.
40
In what year an eruption of the Vesuvio volcano wiped out the cities of Pompei and Ercolano along with illustrious Latin author and naturalist Pliny the Elder?
79 AD
41
Until the emergence of Torgiano and Montefalco in the late 20th century, which wines were the only Umbrian wines with a longstanding reputation?
The white wines of Orvieto
42
Which city in Toscana in particular became the center of the Rinascimento marking the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the early Modern Age?
Firenze
43
In 1924, 33 producers of historic Chianti grouped together to combat fraud. What did they do?
They formed one of the first Italian consorzio. They adopted the Gallo Nero as their iconic symbol.
In 1927, the consorzio officially formalized the boundaires of the historic Chianti zone.
44
Name the most celebrated artists of the ***Rinascimento***? (8)
1. Raphael \*
2. Giotto
3. Botticelli
4. Titian
5. Brunelleschi
6. Bramante
7. Michelangelo \*
8. Leonard da Vinci \*
\*Ninja Turtle character name (Donatello is the other)
45
After the fall of Roman Empire which took over Lucania from Lucani tribe, the Byzantine briefly took over the land and renamed it to Basilicata.
Which tribe came after them in 5th century AD? And which tribe took them over?
Lombards
Normans
46
Which tribe originally settled in Basilicata around 8th century BC when the Greeks tried to move in?
Lucani Tribe
Lucania is still commonly used as synonym of Basilicata.
47
Which tribe/force fought Samnites to take Campania in its own?
Romans
48
True or False
Until 1963, Molise and Abruzzo formed one single region.
True
49
What specific viticulture practices improved from ***quantity minded*** to focusing on ***quality***? (up to 8)
1. Higher planting densities
2. Lower yields
3. Better Clones
4. International grapes introduced
5. Consulting enologists
6. New modern equipment
7. Impeccable cellar hygine
8. New French oak barrrel introduced
50
What is the people in Sardegna called and what is their language is called?
* The Sardi
* Sardo, very close to Latin and is officially recognized by the Italian government
51
According to historical documents which area was said to have used Verdicchio grape for winemaking as early as 1579?
Matelica
The town can be traced back to the time of the Piceni tribe.
52
What is the volcanic island, the largest of Sicilian islands?
It lies in the Sicilian Channel and is closer to North Africa (Tunisia) than to Sicilia. The island is nicknamed “Perla Nera” (black pearl) because of its dark, greenish volcanic rocks.
Volcanic island of Pantelleria
53
What event triggered the modern day red wine renaissance that spread across Toscana and gradually over all of Italy in 1980s?
Birth of Super Tuscan wine category
54
This wine from Campania was considered to be the greatest wines of antiquity and for Romans, it was the greatest and most sought-after wine of all - a wine for emperors and a true "first growth" of its time.
***Falernum***
55
Who brought relatively stability to Campania in the 18th century, establishing the Kingdom of Two Sicilies incorporating Campania and the rest of southern Italy including Siscilia?
The Spanish Bourbon dynasty
56
In Roman times, Pliny the Elder described the island as ***"insula vini ferax" (the island fertile of wine)***? Which island was Pliny the Elder referring to?
Elba
57
What is the town of Alberobello in Puglia well known for as it is listed among UNESCO World Heritage Sites?
“Capital of the Trulli”
In the southern part of the Murge plateau is famously characterized by “trulli” (trullo, singular) - small round white houses with conical rooves.
58
List in proper historical order the tribes/people who inhabitated (or invaded) and established in Campania from pre 7th century BC on
* Samnites/Osci
* Etruscans
* Greeks
* Romans (Republic/Empire)
* Lombards
* Byzantines (East Roman Empire)
* Normans
* Ostrogoths
* Spanish Bourbons
1. Greeks
2. Etruscans
3. Samnites/Osci
4. Romans(Republic/Empire)
5. Ostrogoths
6. Byznatines (East Roman Empire)
7. Lombards
8. Normans
9. Spanish Bourbons
59
Who founded the city of Capua and trained their vines up trees in Campania?
The Etruscans
60
This winegrowing area is an ancient medieval hill town of Etrsucan origin in the southeast of Toscana along the border wtih Umbria.
Arguably no other Italian wine that has gathered such a long list of documented praise and was already famous during Roman times and acquired a ***noble (nobile)*** connotation as they largely ened up on the tables of noblemen and other prominent individuals.
***Montepulciano***
61
What factors stimulated a period of viticulture recovery and development in Toscana after the abolishment of ***Mezzedria***? (3)
1. Investment in land due to inexpensive land prices
2. Introduction of DOC system
3. Grapes were no longer planted alongside other crops
62
Which people (tribe) first settled in the island of Elba to exploit its iron deposits but also cultivated vines prior to the Romans?
Etruscans
63
What was ***Lega del Chianti*** and what did it to do to ***Chianti*** region?
Powerful city-state of Firenze established ***Lega del Chianti (League of Chianti),*** military and poilitical jurisdiction in 1384 to officially establish the geograhpic and political boundaries of the original/historic zone of ***Chianti (Chianti Storico)*** for the first time.
64
When did Greek settlers arrive to introduce the vine to the island of Ischia?
The 8th Century B.C.
65
Which region of Toscanao the following DOCs are located in:
* Val d'Arbia DOC
* Colli del'Etruria Centrale DOC
* San Torpe DOC
* Terre di Pisa DOC
* Valdinievole DOC
* Bianco dell'Empolese DOC
* Terre di Casole DOC
Central Toscana (often overlapping Chianti winegrowing areas)
66
How did the name “Sicilia” derive from?
From Siculi (Sicels), one of the ancient Italic tribes to first inhibit the island.
67
What triggered the turning point of Marche's wine industry starting in the 1960s and 1970s? (up to 4)
1. The end of mezzadria
2. The end of coltura promiscua (mixed crop farming)
3. The introduction of DOC system
4. Outside investment allowined the wine industry to modernize and advance
68
True or False
Campania turned out to be a fulcrum of Hellenic culture for all of central and southern Italy and one of the most important centers of Magna Gracia (Great Greece).
True
69
What were the native people who lived in Sardegna as far back as in 1800 BC?
Nuragic
70
Which region has been known as “wine reservoir” of Europe?
Puglia
71
Describe how the Estruscans used the system of tunnels and caves.
* A gravitiy fed vinification system untilizing three floors or levels for making and preserving wines
* Grapes were pressed at ground level then drained through terracota pipes
* In the underground middle level fermenation took place
* The wine transferred to a lower level and cooler cave where maturation and cellaring took place.
72
True or False
Most experts agree that Falernum was a white wine, possibly made with Falaghina, Greco of even Aglianico in the blend.
True
73
Who officially founded the town of Vittoria (famed for ***Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG(!)***) in the early 17th century?
The Countess of Modica, Vittoria Colonna Henriquez.
This noblewoman developed the township by offering the first 75 settlers two hectares of land each, but she stipulated that one of those two hectares be solely planted to vines.
74
Which banking family became de facto ruler in the 15th century in Firenze and helped Firenze take control of nearly all of Toscana?
The Medici family
75
Which people (tribe) settled in Toscana in the 9th century BC and remained the dominant and civilizing presence in the area for centuries?
the Etruscans
76
What is "***Rinascimento***"?
***"Renaissance"***
Eventual European wide Italian cultural movement that took place between the 14th and 16th centuries.
Tuscan cities played prominent roles.
77
What style of wine Calabria produced much of the 19th and 20th century?
Deeply colored highly alcoholic bulk wine (***vino da taglio).***
78
What were added to Falernum to soften and prolong its life?
Honey, resin, spices and sea water and aged in amphorase for long periods, more than 10 years.
79
True or False
Abruzzo rivals Toscana as the second most productive region of central and southern Italy.
False
it is the third most.
80
What influence was instrumental in the development of Marsala, the most famous Italian fortified wine?
Between the late 18th and early 19th century, the British Royal Navy was stationed in the Mediterranean and the sailors became major consumers of Sicilian wine.
81
Why did Italian government delimted the Marsala winegrowing area in 1931 well before the DOC introduction in 1960s?
Due lack of local grapes due to outbreak of phylloxera, several producers began to heavily adulterate and manipulate their “Marsala” wines resulting in mediocre quality and a loss of typicity
82
Which four wine regions in Toscana, Cosimo III de' Medici issed a bando (edict) to delimit the geographical boundaries of prestigeous winegrowing zones in 1716?
1. Chianti
2. Pomino
3. Carmignano
4. Val d'Arno di Sopra
83
What island is the largest, most populated and most famous island of the Aeolian Island archipelago with the DOC appellation name?
***Malvasia delle Lipari DOC (!)***
84
Which of the following tribes has not settled in Sicilia:
* Phoenicians
* Greeks
* Romans
* Goths
* Byzantines
* Lombards
* Arabs
* Normans
Lombards
85
Before the Romans occupied Molise in the 3rd century, which tribe inhibited the land?
The Samnites
86
Which ecosystem is said to be one of the most pristine and unspoiled natural environments in all of Italy?
Sardinian
87
Which current wine producing district is said to be the home of ancient ***Falernum*** wine?
Area surrounding the massif of ***Massico. - Falerno del Massico in Campania.***
88
This wine town is one of Toscana's most distinctive and best-preserved medieval hilltop towns.
The town's "skyline" is characterized by many distinctive towers earning it a listing among UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.
The town is also known for an historic white wine made from ancient native grape.
***San Gimignano (Vernaccia di San Gimignano)***
89
Which four Tuscan cities are generally refered to as
"***citta d'arte***" (cities of art)?
1. Firenze
2. Siena
3. Arezzo
4. Pisa
90
Before the Greeks settled in Puglia, which tribe inhabited Puglia?
Iapygian
91
What is one of the most specutacular Etruscan relics made of the ***tufo in Orvieto***?
A system of underground tunnels and caves carved out of the tufo beneath the city of Orvieto.
92
Which five Tuscan wines have been made for centuries and attest to the region's ancient and noble wine heritage?
1. Chianti Classico
2. Vino Noble di Montepulciano
3. Camignano
4. Chianti Rufina
5. Pomino
93
How were the wines of Umbria transported to Rome during the time of Roman occupation?
Via the Tevere River
94
Which wine region is said to have the wines marked by characteristic nuances of Mediterranean scrub coupled with a salty-briny note that gives these wines a strong sense of place
Sardegna
95
Which region is considered to be the birthplace of modern Italian language?
Toscana
The Italian laguage is based on the Floretine dialect from the 16th century onward.
96
Which wine region continues to be one of Italy's major rose producers as exemplified those from Salento)?
Puglia
97
In the early 19th century, Sicilia was united to the southern part of Italy forming the Kingdom of Naples.
What was this Kingdom later renamed under Bourbon rule?
Then in 1860, Sicilia joined another kingdom in preparation for Italian unification in 1861. What was this kingdom's name?
* Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
* Kingdom of Sardinia
98
Pliny the Elder mentioned that this wine could catch fire if it approached a flame.
What wine was it?
Falernum Faustianum, considered to be the best among the three Falernum.
99
What are three royal dynasties which ruled Sicilia?
1. German Hohenstaufen
2. French Angevin
3. Spanish Bourbons
100
After the fall of Roman Empire, which four groups of people competed to overtake Puglia until 10th century?
1. Lombards
2. Byzantines
3. Franks
4. Arabs (Saraceni in Italy)
101
What event triggered the turning point for the Sicilian wine industry?
Phylloxera ravaged the vineyards of France and bulk wine market brought prosperity and considerable vineyard expansion.
Sicilian producers focused on the quantitative production of ***vino da taglio*** for the next hundred years.
