Italian Sparkling Wines

Question 1

When did Italy overtake France for volume of sparkling wine production?

Answer 1

2009

Question 2

What method produces prosecco?

Answer 2

tank method

Question 3

what are the bars of pressure for spumante vs frizzante?

Answer 3

spumante- 3+ bars
frizzante- 1-2.5 bars

Question 4

what Italian regions produce traditional method wines?

Answer 4

Franciacorta and Trentodoc

Question 5

What are the Prosecco subregions?

Answer 5

Prosecco DOC
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG
Asolo Prosecco DOCG

Question 6

what is the climate of prosecco DOC

Answer 6

warm and continental, affected by local river fogs on the plains

Question 7

why are glera grapes trained on long, vertical trellising systems?

Answer 7

because the first two shoots don’t produce much fruit, longer canes/cordons allow the vine space to develop fruitful buds

Question 8

what are the trellising options for prosecco?

Answer 8

sylvoz
double arched cane
guyot

Question 9

what are ‘ciglione’?

Answer 9

the steep grassy terraces used on some hillside of consegliano valdobiadenne prosecco DOCG

Question 10

what is ‘Prosecco Col Fondo’?

Answer 10

a traditional style which ferments the wine in bottle without disgorging, creating a cloudy, dry wine in a frizzante style.

It must be called ‘sui lieviti’ in Consegliano Valdobiadenne.

Question 11

what is the minimum % of glera in prosecco?

Answer 11

85%

Question 12

what is a ‘rive’?

Answer 12

a steep hill, followed by a place name (eg. Rive di Soligo).

There are 43 ‘rive’ in prosecco, and if the term appears on the label, the yields must be lower, hand harvested, and vintage dated

Question 13

what is the main trellising style in C-V Prosecco DOCG?

Answer 13

Double arched cane

Question 14

what is the main trellising style in prosecco doc

Answer 14

sylvoz

Question 15

what are the yields of Prosecco DOC?

Answer 15

18T/ha

Question 16

What are the yields of C-V Prosecco DOCG?

Answer 16

12-13.5T/ha depending on the style (eg. rive, sui lieviti, superiore)

Question 17

what % of prosecco production is DOC/DOCG

Answer 17

82% Prosecco DOC
15% Prosecco DOCG
3% Asolo DOCG

Question 18

what is Asolo DOCG?

Answer 18

a 2,000 ha sub region of the Valdobbiadene hillside

Question 19

how do DOCG prosecco s differ from DOC?

Answer 19

DOC is on fertile plains with less fruit intensity

DOCG is higher elevation hillside with a longer ripening season, more acidity, and more fruit concentration

Question 20

how do hillsides promote quality wine in Prosecco DOCG?

Answer 20

High altitude + poor soils + better drainage + larger diurnal range

longer ripening, more acidity, more concentration, lower yields

Question 21

How would a quality conscious winemaker improve their prosecco?

Answer 21

whole bunch press
slow second ferment
leave wine on lees

Question 22

what is Charmat Lungo

Answer 22

a tank method technique that leaves the wine on lees for a longer period, agitating it with an insert in the tank.

Question 23

what are the yields for each Prosecco DOC/G in hL

Answer 23

Prosecco DOC- 94.5hL/ha
Prosecco DOCG- 85-94.5hL/ha
Asolo DOCG- 94.5hL/ha

Question 24

how is prosecco seen as a ‘soft brand’

Answer 24

it’s an accessible, everyday luxury competing with very cheap champagne and mid priced still rose

Question 25

who are the top producers of DOCG prosecco?

Answer 25

Bisol and Nino Franco`

Question 26

Which lambrusco DOC is based on hillside sites?

Answer 26

Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro DOC

Question 26

which lambrusco DOC produces the lightest style?

Answer 26

Lambrusco di Sorbara DOC

Question 26

does lambrusco go through MLC?

Answer 26

no, to keep the acidity and freshness

Question 26

what are the minimum alcohol laws for lambrusco?

Answer 26

spumante: +11% frizzante: +10.5% dolce: +7%

Question 26

what are the sweetness levels for frizzante lambrusco?

Answer 26

secco/ascuitto abboccato amabile dolce

Question 26

who is the largest producer of lambrusco?

Answer 26

Riunite (40%)

Question 26

what % of lambrusco production is DOC?

Answer 26

20%

Question 26

what is the name of lambrusco's governing quality body?

Answer 26

Consorzio Tutela Lambrusco

Question 26

What are the main challenges in lambrusco?

Answer 26

- quality grape production - poor international reputation - fungal diseases and soil compaction

Question 26

which lambrusco DOC has 24 hours on skin?

Answer 26

lambrusco sorbara

Question 27

which lambrusco DOC is the most extracted? why?

Answer 27

lambrusco grasparossa di castevetro DOC. It spends the longest time on skins (3-4 days)

Question 27

how long does the second ferment take for lambrusco?

Answer 27

2 weeks - frizzante 4 weeks - spumante

Question 27

which lambrusco grape is the most planted?

Answer 27

lambrusco salamino

Question 27

which lambrusco DOC has the highest permitted yields?

Answer 27

lambrusco salamino di Santa Croce DOC 133hl/ha

Question 27

what % of wine in lambrusco is created by coops?

Answer 27

95%

Question 28

what is the elevation of lambrusco?

Answer 28

some 200m hillsides, but many fertile plains around the river Po

Question 29

what river flows through the lambrusco regions?

Answer 29

the river po

Question 30

according to the WSET textbook, who is a quality oriented producer of lambrusco?

Answer 30

Cleto Chiarli