Italian Grapes Flashcards

Question

**Coda di Volpe Bianca**

Answer 1

**Campania** Ancient white grape, Exclusive to Campania "**White Foxtail**" referring to shape of cluster which looks like a fox tail **Medium Acidity, needs careful harvest not to lose acidity** **Golden Color, Wines range from austere to mineral and soft, Full, RIch Ripe Pear, Stone and Exotic Fruit, Spice** Plays secondary role to soften Fiano, Greco, Falaghina oftern blended Starting to do varietals (**Sannio** & **Irpinia**)

Answer 2

**Lazio, Most planted Italy** Part of a larger Malvasia group **The most widely planted Malvasia in Italy (and Lazio)** **Vigourous & abundant yields** **Neutral, Aromatic profile** **Full Body, Medium Acidity, M-H ABV**

Answer 3

**Lazio** Or **Malvasia Puntinata ("dotted")** **Distinctive within Malvasia - Cross between Muscat Alexandris (Zibibbo) and Schiava Grossa** Native to Lazio (almost exclusive) -Castelli Romani is primary location Berries have darks specks that appear on the skin when ripening Gives quality boost to white blends, Muscat-aromas **Prone to Botrytis, produces rich, luscious sweet wines**

Answer 4

**Lazio** Most distinctive native black grape in Lazio and only grown here 2 Types - Cesanese Comune (more cultivated) Cesanese d'Affile (considered better of the 2) **Intensely Fruity, Medium Bidy, Well Structure, supple on palate** **Still, Sweet and Fizzy**

Answer 5

**Sardegna** An ancient red grape of unknown origin found in Sardegna One of the most widely planted High yielding so initially left to grown uncheck for cheap table wine No restricted yields, attractive wines with Wild Berries Soft and round on the palate Usually still and dry ***ambabile, frizante, spumante***

Answer 6

**Toscana** **Once considered principal grape 18th c** Declined after phylloxera, hard to graft, lost favor to Sangiovese **Used as a blending partner** **Softens Sangiovese rough edges, refines the perfume and mouthfeel**

Answer 7

**Toscana, Marche (#1)** **Jupiters blood** **Italy's most widely planted, most representative of Toscana (no mention before 16th AD)** **Cross - Ciliegiolo x Calabrese Monenuovo** Buds early, ripens late, long growing season **Light-Medium Color; High Acidity; High Tannin; Violet, Sour Cherry, Plum, Tealeaf** Susceptible to bunch rot & oidium - Drought & wind resistant High Diurnal important

Answer 8

**Toscana** **Ancient dating to 1276** Almost exclusively grown around **San Gimignano** Crisp, Delicate, Subtle aromas of Citrus, White Flowers, RIpe Yellow Fruit & Almond Vernaccia = native/indigenour

Answer 9

**Abruzzo** **Abruzzo, uncertain origin, genetically distinct from other Trebbianos, confused with Bombino Biano & TT, but is higher quality** **White Flowers, Citrus, Stone Fruit, Nuts, Mineral, High Acidity, Age well**

Answer 10

**Toscana, Puglia** Traditional in Puglia (mostly used for sweet) **Black Grape related to Muscat Blanc à Petit Grains** **Grown on Elba for sweet Passito Wines** **Aromatic Fragrant, Disctinctive Sweet Red Wines**

Answer 11

**Toscana** White grape grown in Chianti for centuries **Provides Body and Perfume to Blend** Trebbiano Toscano and Malvasia Bianca Lunga could be used to blend in Chianti

Answer 12

**Umbria** **Native to Montefalco, Umbria 16th c,** Traditionally sweet passito, now dry Late Ripening, Cold Resistant with irregular yields, Thick Skins (good for appassimento), High polyphenols ***_Highest Tannins in Italy_*** Deep Color, Full Body, Powerful Acidity, High ABV **_Need Oak to mitigate tannins_** **_Origins to Roman grape Initola (Pliny wrote)_**

Answer 13

**Sagratino**

Answer 14

**Umbria** Umbria near **Orvieto**, **Terni** and W of **Perugia** White grape that is mildew resistant so **suitable for late harvest or botrytis** **Light, Crisp, Refreshing Acidity**

Answer 15

**Umbria** **Identical to Emila-Romagna's Pignoletto** White grape distinct from Grechetto di Orvieto, but DOC do not make a distinction **Light crisp, delicate perfume, high acid Suitable for sparkling wines**

Answer 16

**Umbria (only)** Mainly around **Spoleto** and **Montefalco** Almost extinct, increasing plantings since 2000 **Med-Full Body, Refreshing Acidity, Citrus, Blossom, Aromatic Herbs and Tropical Fruits**

Answer 17

**Calabria** **ONE OF THE MOST ANCIENT ITALIAN GRAPES 13th century** Believed to be Native to Calabria with a Greek Name & widely grown throughout **Pale-Medium Ruby Color, High Acidity, High Tannin**s

Answer 18

Identical to **Malvasia di Lipari or Malvasia di Sardenga.** Name is used to reference several Calabrian Greco Bianco Rich Textured Mouth Feeel, Balanced with Fresh Acidity **Orange Blossom, Tropical Fruit, Honey** **Sweet desert Passito wines** from air dried grapes

Answer 19

**Sicilia** Ancient Native Western Sicilia - Most widely planted Workhourse Biotypes: Catarratto Bianco Comune & Catarratto Bianco Lucido (best) **Small Berries, Low Sugar, High Acid** **Used in Marsala, and table wines** Often blended with other grapes or made into simple wines

Answer 20

**Sicilia** Cross Between Catarratto Bianco & Zibibbo Traditional & High Quality Wine Making changed - Once used O2 - earthy, nutty. Now reductive - Temperature control changed the character - fresher, cleaner (Old) Deep Color, Earthy, Nutty, Astringent and high ABV, **(New) Fresh Grass, Grapefruit, Passion Fruit similar to SavBlanc** **Citrus, Aromatic Herb & Nut, Briny** Mostly used in **Marsala** - **Best Versions** - but also becoming Good Varietal

Answer 21

**Sicilia** Ansonica Is official name **Old, Native to West Sicilia** Moderate Acidity, **needs early picking** **Marsala & Dry DOC & IDT wines**

Answer 22

**Sicilia** Ancient Grape Grown on Med Sea - Moscato di Alessandria (Zibibbo -Arabic name - predates name of MoA), Maybe a Cross between **Muscat Blanc a Petit Grains and Axina de Tres Bias** (Sardegna table wine) **Big, Large Clusters, Sweet berries, Thick & Crunchy Skins** **Used for Passito** **Zahib** = **raisin** in Arabic. Used for raisins

Answer 23

**Sicilia - Etna** High Quality almost exclusive to Etna (900-1,200m) **High Malic Acid (needs MLF & lees), harvest late to reduce acidity, Medium ABV** **Orange Blossom, Citrus, Apple, Anise & honey, Minerality, Flint Petrol, Age Well**

Answer 24

**Sicilia - Aeolian Islands** Genetically identical to Malvasia di Sardegna & Greco Bianco Aeolian Island **Complex Passito**

Answer 25

**Sicilia** Sicilia's most **predominant** red grape **Deep Color, Full Body, Smooth Fine Tannins, High ABV** **Red & Black Fruit - Cherry, Plum & Blackberry, Brush, Herb, Age Potential** Requires warm growing conditions, alberello trained, Barrel Maturation

Answer 26

**Sicilia - Etna foothills** **Noble Grape - Similar to Pinot** **Derived from "nero" = black and town of Mascali** Late ripening, Pale - Med Color, Perceptible, Smooth Tannins, High ABV, High Acidity **Red Fruit, Aromatic Herbs, Spices, Minerals** Different characteristics from site-to-site

Answer 27

**Sicilia - Etna** Other principal Red grape of Etna **Less distinctive** than Nerello Mascalese, thus less planted **Used to soften and add color Etna Rosso** Plays secondary role in Etna wines, co-planted, minor player in blends, some varietal

Answer 28

**Sicilia - Vittoria** Traditional around Vittoria SE Sicilia used as a **blend** **Light Body, Gently Tannins** **Perfumed, Lively, Fresh, Juicy** Used to be traditionally **blended** now **varietal**

Answer 29

**Sicilia** **Unknown origin - ancient grape - s****avedfrom extinction** **Used as a minor blend often with Nero d'Avola** **Provides Tannins & tectured mouthfeel**

Answer 30

**Sardegna - Nuoro** Sardegna - Flagship Grape Most Widely Planted (29%) across the island, **Nuoro** (East/Central) is stronghold with 50% plantings there, **Sassari** (North) also wide plantings **Resistant to drought, Late-budding, Mid/Late-ripening. Likes warm, dry conditions** **Full Body, High Alcohol, Medium Acidity, Floral and Red Fruit**

Answer 31

**Sardegna** Most likely originated in **Piemonte** - Thrives in Sardinia Resistant to wind/drought, Early Budding, Mid-Ripening **Yellow/Straw Color, Full Body & Textured, High ABV, Balanced Acidity, Saline Finish** **Intense Floral & Fruity aromas, with Aromatic Herb, Stone/Mineral Notes** Bottle Age can develop Flint-Smoke notes

Answer 32

**Sardegna** From Spain - Mostly Southern Sardegna - sometimes referred as **Uva di Spagna** (Grape of Spain) *Late-bud, Late-Ripen, Needs heat to fully ripen e.g. warm, dry.* Vigorous, Productive, resistant to drought & wind, prone to powdery mildew **Deep Ruby Color, High Tannin, High Acidity** **Sardinian are defined by distinctive, velvety-creamy mouthfeel**

Answer 33

**Sardegna** Distinct, Ancient Sicilian Grape, **Tirso River** near Oristano (W Sardinia) **Unique Oxidative StyleSherry** Like style (**not Fortified)**, Intense, complex, very long lived **Thrives in warm climate and alluvial soils**

Answer 34

**Sardega - Bosa** **Identical to Malvasia di Lipari & Greco Bianco in Calabria** **Makes sweet wine from Malvasia di Bosa DOC** Rich Textured Mouth Feeel, Balanced with Fresh Acidity Orange Blossom, Tropical Fruit, Honey **Classic producer Colombu - makes oxidative style nonn-fortified up to 17%. ABV**

Answer 35

**SIcilia** **Mutation of Sangiovese** **Legal blending partner to Malvasia di Lipari (5-8%)**

Answer 36

**Bovale Grande in Sardegna is Carignano** **Bovale Sardo is Graciano**

Italian Grapes Flashcards

(61 cards)