Italy

Question 1

What are the major climatic influences across Italy’s wine regions?

Answer 1

• Alpine influence in the north (Piedmont, Alto Adige) – cool, continental
• Mediterranean influence in the south and coastal areas – warm and dry
• Apennine Mountains provide altitude and temperature variation across regions

Question 2

What is the Italian wine quality classification hierarchy (from basic to highest)?

Answer 2

1. Vino da Tavola – Table wine
2. IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) – Regional wines, more flexibility
3. DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) – Controlled origin and standards
4. DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) – Top tier, with stricter regulations and tasting panels

Question 3

Name Italy’s major wine-producing districts (north to south).

Answer 3

• Northern Italy: Piedmont, Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige, Lombardy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia
• Central Italy: Tuscany, Umbria, Marche, Lazio, Abruzzo
• Southern Italy: Campania, Puglia, Basilicata, Calabria
• Islands: Sicily, Sardinia

Question 4

What are the principal grape varietals of Italy by region?

Answer 4

• Piedmont: Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto
• Tuscany: Sangiovese
• Veneto: Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara, Glera
• Sicily: Nero d’Avola, Grillo, Catarratto
• Trentino-Alto Adige: Pinot Grigio, Lagrein, Schiava
• Friuli: Friulano, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot

Question 5

What wines come from Sicily, and what varietals are common?

Answer 5

• Nero d’Avola – red
• Etna Rosso DOC – Nerello Mascalese
• Etna Bianco DOC – Carricante
  
  • Marsala DOC – fortified wine (Grillo, Catarratto)

Question 5

What wines are produced in Piedmont, and from which grapes?

Answer 5

• Barolo & Barbaresco DOCG – Nebbiolo
• Barbera d’Asti DOCG – Barbera
• Dolcetto d’Alba DOC – Dolcetto
• Moscato d’Asti DOCG / Asti Spumante DOCG – Moscato Bianco

Question 5

What are the key wines of Tuscany, and what grapes are used?

Answer 5

• Chianti & Chianti Classico DOCG – Sangiovese
• Brunello di Montalcino DOCG – 100% Sangiovese (Brunello clone)
• Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG – Sangiovese (Prugnolo Gentile)
• Super Tuscans (IGT) – often include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot

Question 5

What wines are produced in Veneto, and what grapes are used?

Answer 5

• Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG – Corvina, Rondinella (dried grapes)
• Valpolicella DOC – same grapes, fresh ferment
• Soave DOC – Garganega
• Prosecco DOC/G DOCG – Glera

Question 6

What is the Recioto method and where is it used?

Answer 6

• Grapes are air-dried (appassimento) to concentrate sugars
• Used in Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG (sweet red), Recioto di Soave DOCG (sweet white)

Question 7

What is the Ripasso method and where is it used?

Answer 7

• Refermentation of Valpolicella wine on Amarone/Recioto pomace
• Adds body, tannin, and complexity
• Used in Valpolicella Ripasso DOC

Question 8

What is Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG and how is it made?

Answer 8

• Dry red wine made from air-dried grapes (appassimento)
• Full-bodied, high alcohol, no residual sugar
• Grapes: Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara

Question 9

What is Vin Santo, and how is it produced?

Answer 9

• Traditional sweet (or dry) wine from Tuscany
• Grapes (Trebbiano, Malvasia) are dried on straw mats, then aged in small caratelli barrels
• Often served with cantucci (almond biscotti)

Question 10

What are common label terms found on Italian wines?

Answer 10

• Classico – Wine from the historic/original production zone
• Superiore – Higher alcohol and stricter production rules
• Riserva – Longer aging period than standard wine
• Secco – Dry
• Dolce – Sweet
• Frizzante – Lightly sparkling
• Spumante – Fully sparkling

Question 11

What are the quality levels of Prosecco, and how is it produced?

Answer 11

• DOC Prosecco – Broad production zone
• DOCG Prosecco Superiore – Higher quality from specific areas
• Conegliano-Valdobbiadene DOCG
• Asolo DOCG
• Production method: Charmat method (Tank method)

Question 12

What are the 2 DOCG zones of Prosecco Superiore?

Answer 12

1. Conegliano-Valdobbiadene DOCG
2. Asolo Prosecco DOCG

Question 13

What is the DOCG ageing requirement for Barolo?

Answer 13

• Standard Barolo DOCG: 38 months total (18 months in oak)
• Riserva: 62 months total (min. 18 months in oak)

Question 14

What is the DOCG ageing requirement for Barbaresco?

Answer 14

• Standard Barbaresco DOCG: 24 months (9 months in oak)
• Riserva: 48 months (min. 9 months in oak)

Question 15

What are the ageing requirements for Chianti DOCG and Chianti Classico DOCG?

Answer 15

• Chianti: Min. 1 year
• Chianti Superiore: Stricter yield, min. 1 year
• Chianti Classico: Min. 1 year
• Riserva: 2 years
• Gran Selezione (Classico only): Min. 30 months, estate-grown-

Question 16

What are the ageing requirements for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG?

Answer 16

• Standard: 2 years (minimum 1 year in wood)
• Riserva: 3 years (minimum 1 year in wood)

Question 17

What are the ageing requirements for Brunello di Montalcino DOCG?

Answer 17

• Standard: 5 years (2 years in oak + 4 months in bottle)
• Riserva: 6 years (2 years in oak + 6 months in bottle)

Question 18

What are the 7 sub-zones of Chianti DOCG?

Answer 18

1. Chianti Classico (separate DOCG)
   
   2. Colli Fiorentini
   3. Colli Senesi
   4. Colli Aretini
   5. Colli Pisane
   6. Rùfina
   7. Montalbano
      (Chianti Montespertoli added later as an 8th)

Question 19

Name at least one DOCG from each major wine region of Italy.

Answer 19

• Piedmont: Barolo DOCG, Barbaresco DOCG
• Veneto: Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG, Soave Superiore DOCG
• Tuscany: Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Chianti Classico DOCG
• Sicily: Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG
• Lombardy: Franciacorta DOCG
• Marche: Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Riserva DOCG