Italy Flashcards
(132 cards)
1
Q
What is the greatest moderating influence with respect to Italy’s climate?
A
The Mediterranean Sea
2
Q
What three seas, besides the Mediterranean, play a role in the climate of Italy?
A
The Tyrrhenian to the West, the Adriatic to the East and the Ionian to the South?
3
Q
How many subregions is Italy divided amongst?
A
20
4
Q
What two mountain ranges affect the topography of Italy?
A
The Alps, which form the border to the North and the Apennines, which run the length of the peninsula.
5
Q
How many grapes are allowed in Italian wine production?
A
400 (closer to 2000 including sub-varieties)
6
Q
What are the leading white and red grapes of Italy?
A
Trebbiano Toscana and Sangiovese (also Pinot Grigio)
7
Q
What are four designations of Italian wine in increasing order of quality?
A
Vino (Table wine)
Indicazione geografica tipica (IGT)
Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC)
Denominazione di origine controllata e garantita (DOCG)
8
Q
How much of Italy’s wine production is table wine?
A
40%
9
Q
What are Super Tuscans?
A
Outstanding limited-production wines produced at the IGT level.
10
Q
A varietal IGT wine must have what percentage of the state grape variety?
A
85%
11
Q
What were the first wines to receive DOCG status, in what year?
A
Brunello di Montalcino, Barolo and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano in 1980.
12
Q
What does Classico mean?
A
A central or historic subzone within a larger region, denotes higher quality.
13
Q
What does Superiore mean?
A
A specific higher level of alcohol in the finished wine, usually riper grapes and lower yields.
14
Q
What does Riserva mean?
A
Aged for a longer minimum period of time than a regular wine.
15
Q
What rivers and lakes play a role in the climate and terroir of Veneto?
A
- Po River
- Adige River
- Piave River
- Lake Garda
16
Q
What are the five top varieties in Veneto?
A
- Corvina
- Corvinone
- Rondinella
- Garganega
- Glera
17
Q
What does appassimento mean?
A
The process by which grapes are left to dry in slatted boxes, on open shelfs or hung from the rafters until they’ve lost up to 60% of their water content.
18
Q
What does recioto mean?
A
An appassimento wine in which fermentation is arrested at around 12% ABV, producing a sweet wine.
19
Q
What four styles of wine are made in Valpolicella?
A
- Valpolicella DOC
- Recioto della Valpolicella DOC
- Valpolicella Ripasso DOC
- Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG
20
Q
What does Ripasso mean?
A
The practice of reusing the sediment, or lees from Amarone or recioto production to produce a Valpolicella with more flavor, tannin and alcohol.
21
Q
What are the aging and alcohol requirements for Amarone?
A
2 years and 14%
22
Q
What wines are produced in Bardolino DOC?
A
Reds and chiarettos from Corvina and Rondinella.
23
Q
What are the Soave appellations?
A
Soave DOC, Soave Superiore DOCG and Recioto di Soave DOCG
24
Q
What grapes are used in the production of Soave DOC?
A
70% Garganega with either Chardonnay, Verdicchio or both
25
What four appellations are based on the Glera grape?
Prosecco DOC, Prosecco Rose DOC, Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOGC, Avolo Prosecco
26
What are the Tre Venezie?
Trentino-Alto Adige
Friuli-Venezia Guilia
Veneto
27
What is made in the Lugana DOC?
Light white wines from Turbiana.
28
How many IGTs are found in Veneto?
10, including Veneto IGT and Trevenezie IGT
29
What area does delle Venezie DOC encompass and what is made there?
Trentino, Veneto and Fruili-Venezia Giulia; a good amount of Pinot Grigio
30
What is made in the following appellations from Veneto?
1. Piave DOC
2. Piave Malanotte DOCG
3. Lison-Pramaggiore DOC
4. Lison DOC
1. Dry and appassimento wines from a variety of grapes.
2. Red wines from Raboso
3. Range of white and reds from international and indigenous varieties.
4. Friulana
31
What is another name for Alto-Adige and what language is spoken there?
Sudtirol and German
32
What wine is made in Trentodoc?
Traditional method sparkling wine from Trentino.
33
How much wine from Trentino-Alto Adige is DOC?
80%
34
What are the three primary DOCs in Trentino-Alto Adige?
Alto Adige, Trentino and Valdadige.
35
What indigenous red grape is important in Friuli?
Refosco
36
What indigenous grape in Friuli is used to make an orange wine?
Ribolla Gialla
37
What grape in Fruili is used to make a sweet wine wine?
Picolit
38
What are the two highest quality appellations in Fruili?
Friuli Colli Orientali DOC and Collio Goriziano DOC
39
What wine is produced in the Ramandolo DOCG in Fruili?
Sweet whites from Verduzzo
40
What wine is produced in the Rosazzo DOCG in Friuli?
Dry whites with 50% Friulano; Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco and Ribolla Gialla make up the rest of the mix.
41
What are the first and second-largest producers of DOC and DOCG wines in Italy?
Veneto, then Piedmont
42
Describe Piedmont's climate?
Cold, snowy winters, foggy autumns, warm and dry summers
43
What are the leading red grapes in Piedmont?
Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, Brachetto, Freisa, Grignolino
44
What are the leading white grapes of Piedmont?
Moscato, Arneis, Cortese, Erbaluce
45
How many DOCGs and DOCs are found in Piedmont?
18 and 40
46
What are the two best known DOCGs in Piedmont, and what varietal do they use?
Barolo and Barbaresco, 100% Nebbiolo
47
What are the aging requirements for Barolo and Barbaresco?
1. Barolo - 38 months, 62 for riserva
2. Barbaresco - 26 months, 50 for irserva
48
What kind of wine is produced in Asti DOCG, and by what method.
Asti Spumante, made with Moscato Bianco, using the Charmat method.
49
What kind of wine is produced in d'Asti DOCG, and by what method?
Moscato d'Asti, a frizzante, off-dry wine, using the Asti method.
50
What other product is Piedmont known for?
Vermouth
51
What is the Asti method of producing sparkling wine?
Wine undergoes a single fermentation in a pressurized tank which is halted by refrigeration, resulting in a lower alcohol, lightly carbonated, slightly sweet wine.
52
What DOCG is based on the Brachetto grape and what style of wine does it produce?
Brachetto d'Acqui, generally slightly sweet, carbonated reds with bright berry aromas.
53
What DOCG in Piedmont is based around the Cortese grape.
Cortese di Gavi DOCG
54
What are two DOCGs based on Nebbiolo blends?
Gattinara and Ghemme DOCGs, based on 70% Nebbiolo, locally known as Spanna
55
What DOCG is based around the Arneis grape?
Roero DOCG
56
What are two DOCGs based on Barbera, and what are their requirements?
Barbera d'Asti DOCG, 90% Barbera. Nizza DOCG, 100% Barbera, 18 month aging, 30 months for Riserva
57
Name three DOCs based on Barbera, Dolcetto, and Grignolino
1. Barbera d'Alba
2. Dolcetto d'Acqui
3. Grignolino d'Asti
58
What wine is Lombardy best known for?
Franciacorta DOCG, a metodo classico sparkling wine made with Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Nero and limited amounts of Erbamat
59
What are the five subzones of Valtellina Superiore DOCG?
Grumello
Inferno
Maroggia
Sassella
Valgella
60
What are the lees aging requirements for Franciacorta?
1. NV 18 months
2. Vintage 30 months
3. Riserva 60 months
61
Where is Valtellina located and grape is associated with it?
Lombardy, Nebbiolo
62
What is Nebbiolo called in Valtellina?
Chiavennasca
63
What are two appellations in Lombardy that require 90% Chiavennasca?
Valtellina Rosso DOC and Valtellina Superiore DOCG
64
What wine is produced under the Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG?
A high-alcohol wine based on Chiavennasca that have been partially dried. Passito-style, rich, dry, minimum 14% alcohol.
65
What grape are Tuscany's most famous wines based on?
Sangiovese
66
Where is Tuscany located?
On the West Coast of Italy, north of Rome.
67
What are the major cities of Tuscany?
Florence, Pisa, Siena
68
What is the climate in Tuscany?
Mediterranean, with more extreme Continental characteristics inland.
69
What are two minor blending grapes used in the red wines of Tuscany?
Canaiolo Nero and Corlorino
70
What are the leading white grapes of Tuscany?
Trebbiano Toscano, Malvasia Bianca Lunga, Vermentino and Vernaccia
71
What Italian region is more focused on red wine than Tuscany?
Calabria
72
What percentage of Tuscany's output is red or rosato wine?
90%
73
What does the term "governo" mean and what must be listed on the label?
A traditional winemaking process allowed in Tuscany, whereby overripe or dried grapes are added to a batch of fermenting wine. Governo all'uso Toscana
74
What is the best known white wine in Tuscany?
Vernnaccia di San Gimignano
75
What dessert wine is a specialty in Tuscany and how is it made?
Vin Santo. Grapes are hung in attic rafters, then crushed and barreled on the lees from a previous vintage initiated a new fermentation. Aged in the attic for a minimum of three years.
76
What is Vin Santo made with Sangiovese called?
occhio di pernice (eye of the partridge)
77
What is Vin Santo usually made with?
Trebbiano Toscano or Malvasia
78
When was the term Super Tuscan coined?
1970s
79
What is Sassicaia?
The original Super Tuscan, first released in 1968 by Tenuta San Guido. A Cabernet Sauvignon-Cabernet Franc Blend
80
What IGT is associated with Tuscany?
Toscana IGT
81
Besides Sassacaia, what are two other famous Super Tuscans?
Antinori's Tignanello and Solaia, both made with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, but the reverse ratios.
82
The rules of Chianti and Chianti Classico have been modified to reflect what?
100% Sangiovese for Chianti and up to 20% international varieties for Chianti Classico
83
When was the Chianti appellation initially demarcated?
1716
84
What are the minimum and maximum amounts of Sangiovese allowed in Chianti DOCG?
70% - 100%
85
What are the 7 subzones of Chianti DOCG?
1. Colli Aretini
2. Colli Fiorentini
3. Colli Senesi
4. Colli Pisane
5. Montalano
6. Montespertoli
7. Rufina
86
What are the rules in Chianti Classico DOCG?
80% - 100% Sangiovese, no white grapes.
12% alcohol
Can't be released until 1 year after harvest
Riserva required 2 years of age and an additional 1/2% of alcohol.
87
What are the additional requirements of Chianti Classico Gran Selezione?
Estate-grown grapes, 30 months aging.
88
What DOC is considered an alternative to Brunello di Montalcino?
Rosso di Montalcino DOC
89
What are the grape and aging requirements of Brunello di Montalcino DOCG?
100% Sangiovese
Aging: 4 mo in bottle, 2 yrs in wood, just over 4 years total (cannot be released until January 1 of the 5th year after harvest)
90
What is Sangiovese called in the area where Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is made, and how much of it is required?
Prugnolo Gentile, 70%
91
What DOCG requires 10% to 20% of Cabernet Sauvignon and or Cabernet Franc and has been blending Sangiovese and international varieties longer than the Super Tuscans have existed?
Carmignano DOCG
92
What are four DOCs specifically for Vin Santo
del Chianti
del Chianti Classico
di Montepulciano
di Carmignano
93
When was Vernaccia di San Gimignano elevated to DOC status and again to DOCG status?
1966 and 1993
94
What coastal area of Tuscany is considered an exciting wine district and the birthplace of Super Tuscans?
Maremma, near the town of Bolghieri
95
What three new DOCs were established based on the success of Super Tuscans?
Bolgheri DOC, Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC, Maremma Toscana DOC
96
What was the first white wine to achieve the DOCG designation in Italy?
Romagna Albana DOCG in Emilia-Romana
97
What geographical feature dominates Emilia-Romagna?
Fertile Po River Valley
98
What else is Emilia-Romagna known for besides wine?
Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma and balsamic vinegar from Modena
99
What is the most famous wine in Emilia-Romana and under what DOCs is it produced?
Lambusco, a red, frizzante sweet or dry wine.
1. Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce
2. Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro
3. Lambrusco di Sorbara
Also in Reggiano and Modena DOCs
100
What major white grape is Le Marche known for?
Verdicchio
101
Besides Verdicchio, name two other red and white grapes associated with Le Marche?
Pecorino, Passerina, Montepulciano and Sangiovese
102
What are two well-known DOCGs associated with Verdicchio in Le Marche?
Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva DOCG
Verdicchio di Matelica Riserva DOCG
103
What DOCG and DOCs are based on blending Montepulciano and Saviovese?
Conero DOCG and Rosso Conero DOC - 85% Montepulciano minimum
Rosso Piceno DOC - 35% - 85% Montepulciano
104
What is the leading white wine DOC in Abruzzo?
Trebbiano d'Abruzzo DOC
105
What's are two well-known red wines from Abruzzo?
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC (85% Montepulciano with Sangiovese permitted)
Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo DOC (light red with shorter maceration period)
106
Which Italian wine region is landlocked?
Umbria
107
What is the best known appellation in Umbria and what grapes does it utilize?
Orvieto DOC - Trebbiano Toscano and Grechetto
108
What two red wine DOCGs located in Umbria?
Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG (100% Sangrantino)
Torgiano Rosso Riserva (70% Sangiovese)
109
Names four appellations associated with Lazio.
1. Frascati DOC
2. Frascati Superiore DOCG
3. Est! Est! Est! di Montefiascone DOC
4. Cannellino di Frascati DOCG
110
What grapes are generally associated with Lazio?
Trebbiano Toscano, Trebbiano Giallo, Malvasia Bianca di Candia, Malvasia del Lazio
111
What city and geographical feature is associated with Campania?
Naples and Mount Vesuvius
112
What is the red wine appellation best associated with Campania?
Taurasi DOCG, based on Aglianico
113
What are two white wine appellations associated with Campania?
Greco di Tufo DOCG, Fiano di Avellino DOCG with Greco and Fiano, respectively
114
What DOC in Calabria produces red and white wine respectively?
Ciro DOC - Gaglioppo,
Greco Bianco
115
Where is Salice Salentino DOC located and which grape is associated with it?
Puglia, Negroamaro
116
What are the important grapes in Puglia?
Negroamaro, Primitivo, Aleatico, Montepulciano, Sangiovese
117
What is a DOCG in Puglia based on a sweet, late-harvest wine?
Primitivo di Manduria Dolce Naturale, awared in 2011
118
Name 3 DOCGs in Puglia NOT based on sweet wine?
1. Castel del Monte Nero di Troia Riserva
2. Castel del Monte Rosso Riserva
3. Castel del Monte Bombino Nero
119
What is the prominent geographical feature in Sicily?
Mt. Etna
120
What is Sicily's only DOCG?
Cerasuolo di Vittoria, made from Nero d'Avola and Frappato
121
What IGT and DOC cover the entirely of Sicily?
Sicilia DOC and Terre Siciliane IGT
122
What wines are made in Etna DOC?
Crisp whites based on Carricante and Catarratto; reds and roses from Nerello Mascalese
123
What three DOCs are known for sweet wines in Sicily?
1. Malvasia delle Lipari DOC
2. Moscato de Noto DOC
3. Moscato di Pantelleria DOC
124
What fortified wine is Sicily known for?
Marsala
125
What main grapes are used in the production of Marsala?
Inzolia and Grillo
126
What are the three main styles of Marsala?
Oro - golden
Ambra - amber
Rubino - ruby
127
What is the most highly esteemed version of Marsala?
Vergine Stravecchio Riserva
128
What are the three sweetness levels of Marsala?
1. Secco - max 4% RS
2. Semisecco - 4% - 10% RS
3. Dolce - over 10% RS
129
What are the aging levels of Marsala?
1. Fine - 1 year
2. Superiore - 2 years
3. Superiore Riserva - 4 years
4. Vergine/Solera - 5 years in Solera
5. Vergine Stravecchio Riserva - 10 years in cask
130
What is Sardinia's only DOCG?
Vermentino di Gallura DOCG
131
What two unique Italian grapes are found in Sardinia?
red: Monica
white: Naragus
132
What DOC in Sardinia covers the entire island and what does it produce?
Cannonau di Sardegna DOC
85% Cannonau (Grenache)
90% for Riserva
