Italy

Question 1

Italy’s first white DOCG? Where? When?

Answer 1

• Albana di Romagna, Emilia-Romagna
• 1987
• Controversial because many thought it was not deserved

Question 2

Synonyms for Nebbiolo

Answer 2

Picutener - Valle d’Aosta
Spanna - Ghemme DOCG, Piedmont
Spanna - Gittinara DOCG, Piedmont
Chiavennasca - Valtellina, Lombardy

Question 3

Where is schiava grown? Synonyms?

Answer 3

• Trentino - Alto Adige 🔴
• AKA Vernatsch, Trollinger (Germany)

Question 4

What countries border Friuli-Venezia Giulia?

Answer 4

• Austria to the North
• Slovenian to the East

Question 5

Important DOC’s of Friuli

Answer 5

• Carso DOC
• Collio (Goriziano) DOC
• Colli Orientali DOC

Question 6

What is Governo all’uso Toscano?

Answer 6

• The process of adding dried grapes to a partially fermented must
• Historically used to jumpstart a slow fermentation when it got too cold
• Results in a richer wine

Question 7

Differences between Asti and Moscato d’Asti?

Answer 7

Asti: Spumante, less sweet, standard ABV, industrial

Moscato d’Asti: Frizzante, slight sweetness, LOW ABV, boutique

Both: Moscato bianco using charmat method

Question 8

Traditional vs Modern Barolo/Barbaresco

Answer 8

Traditional: Until the 80’s wine was
- Unpalatable until aged 15-20 years
- Aged in Slavonian casks (botti)
- Hella tannic!

Modern:
- Temperature controlled tanks fermented warmer and faster
- Aging split between barrels and bottles to maintain fruit and suppleness
- Less tannic!

Question 9

What’s an MGA?

Answer 9

• Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive
• Piedmont name for crus

Question 10

Famous barbera based DOCG?

Answer 10

Nizza DOCG (2014)

Question 11

Alba’s most famous food?

Answer 11

• White truffles!
• Ripen in fall
• Always shaved fresh
• Earthiness intensifies earthiness of Barolo/Barbaresco

Question 12

What is a rive?

Answer 12

• Prized vineyard site on steep hillsides
• Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG, Italy

Question 13

What is Cartizze?

Answer 13

• The ‘Grand Cru’ of Conegliano Valdobbiadene

Question 14

What are ronchi? Ronco?

Answer 14

• The tops of terraced hillsides in Friuli
• Often the first word in the name of a vineyard
• Ronco - singular

Question 15

Rosso di Montalcino

Answer 15

• Outlet for Brunello di Montalcino’s less ideal grapes
• BdM’s younger sibling
• 100% Sangiovese
• No aging requirement

Question 16

Rosso di Montepulciano

Answer 16

• Outlet for vino nobile di Montepulciano’s less ideal grapes
• 100% Sangiovese
• No aging requirement

Question 17

contrada (plural: contradae)

Answer 17

• A vineyard parcel in Sicily (similar to Cru of burgundy)
• Follow the lava flows of Mt. Etna

Question 18

Marsala colors

Answer 18

• Oro (golden)
• Ambra (amber)
• Rubino (ruby) — Very rare

Question 19

Marsala sweetness levels?

Answer 19

• Secco, 4% RS, a little sweet
• Semisecco, 4-10% RS, noticeably sweet
• Dolce, +10% RS, very sweet

Question 20

Marsala aging categories?

Answer 20

• Fino, 1 year
• Superiore, 2 years
• Superiore Riserva, 4 years
• Vergine, 5 years
• Vergine Stravecchio, 10 years

Question 21

What are the four grapes used in Amarone?

Answer 21

• Corvina
• Corvinone
• Rondinella
• Molinara

Same as Valpolicella