Italy Flashcards
(106 cards)
1
Q
What are the major wine regions in Italy?
A
2
Q
What is the historical background of Italy?
A
Etruscans and Greek settlers produced wine in Italy before the rise of the Romans, who developed the ancient world’s most extensive wine culture. Evidence indicates that vines were planted widely across the peninsular “boot” by the 3rd century, with special concentration in areas close to Rome.
3
Q
What is the climate in Italy?
A
Spans from cool, continental in the north to warm Mediterranean in the south.
4
Q
How many registered grape varieties in Italy?
A
1300
5
Q
What is the classification hierarchy in Italy?
A
6
Q
What does DOCG stand for?
A
Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita
7
Q
What does IGP stand for?
A
Indicazione Geografica Protetta
8
Q
What does DOP stand for?
A
Denominazione di Origine Protetta
9
Q
Define Classico?
A
Traditional, theoretically superior vineyard area within a DOC or DOCG.
10
Q
Define Riserva?
A
Means “reserve” and is legally defined. This term usually indicates extended ageing (in cask, then bottle) and can denote lower yields and higher alcohol depending on the appellation.
11
Q
Define ‘Vino’ classification?
A
Generic wines - blanco, ross, or rosato - Labeled with or without vintage
12
Q
Define Superiore?
A
Denotes higher level of alcohol or longer aging depending on the appellation.
13
Q
Define Frizzante?
A
Lightly sparkling
14
Q
Define Metodo Classico?
A
Traditional method for making sparkling wines
15
Q
Define Secco?
A
Dry
16
Q
Define Amabile?
A
Off-dry
17
Q
Define Dolce?
A
Sweet
18
Q
Define Recioto/Passito?
A
Wine made from dried grapes, most often sweet.
19
Q
How many registered vineyards in Italy?
A
900,000
20
Q
What are the regions in Northern Italy?
A
21
Q
Where is Piedmont located?
A
Piedmont is located in Northwestern Italy, bordering both France and Switzerland. Piedmont is actually a French word meaning “foot of the mountain”.
22
Q
What is the climate in Piedmont?
A
Continental; rain shadow from Alps.
23
Q
What is the topography of Piedmont?
A
Mountains and rolling foothills
24
Q
What is the soil of Piedmont?
A
- Limestone
- Sandstone
25
What are the Piedmont white grape varieties?
1. Moscato
2. Cortese
3. Arneis
26
What are the Piedmont red grape varieties?
1. Nebbiolo
2. Barbera
3. Dolcetto
4. Brachetto
27
What are the appellations of Piedmont?
28
What is the Nebbia in Piedmont?
Pervasive fog that arrives at harvest time; potentially how Nebbiolo grape was named.
29
List the sub-regions of Piedmont.
1. Barolo 2. Barbaresco 3. Moscato d'Asti-Asti 4. Gavi 5. Brachetto d'Acqui
30
What are the Barolo/Barbaresco grape varieties?
100% Nebbiolo
31
What is the Barolo aging requirements?
Barolo requires 38 months total aging with a minimum of 18 months in oak.
32
What is the Barbaresco aging requirements?
Barbaresco requires 26 months total aging with a minimum of 9 months in oak.
33
What is the Moscato d'Asti / Asti DOCG grape varieties?
Moscato
34
What type of wine is Moscato d'Asti?
Off-dry, frizzante sparkling wine
35
What is the Barbera d'Asti DOCG grape varieties?
Barbera (Dry Red)
36
What is the Gavi DOCG grape varieties?
Cortese (Dry White)
37
What is the Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG grape varieties?
Brachetto (Sweet, sparkling red)
38
Where is Lombardy located?
Northeast of Milan at the foothills of Alps.
39
What is the Lombardy topography?
Mountainous and rolling foothills
40
What is the Lombardy climate?
Continental
41
What are the two appellations in Lombardy?
42
What is the Lombardy white grape varieties?
1. Chardonnay
2. Pinot Bianco
43
What is the Lombardy red grape varieties?
1. Pinot Nero
2. Nebbiolo
44
What are the Franciacorta DOCG (Lombardy) white grape varieties?
1. Chardonnay
2. Pinot Bianco
45
What are the Franciacorta DOCG grape varieties?
1. Pinot Nero
2. Chardonnay
3. Pinot Bianco
46
What are the Valtellina Superiore (Lombardy) grape varieties?
1. Nebbiolo
47
What is the Valtellina Superiore DOCG climate?
* High altitude and alpine
* Abundant sunshine allows for long, slow growing season
48
Where is Trentino-Alto Adige located?
Alpine border of Austria and Switzerland.
49
What is the Trentino-Alto Adige climate?
* Continental
* Cold winters and surprisingly warm summers
50
What are the two appellations in Trentino-Alto Adige?
1. Trentino DOC
2. Alto Adige (Sudtiroler) DOC
51
What are the Trentino-Alto Adige red grape varieties?
1. Merlot
2. Lagrein
52
What are the Trentino-Alto Adige white grape varieties?
1. Pinot Grigio
2. Sauvignon Blanc
3. Pinot Bianco
53
Where is Veneto located?
Northeastern Italy in the foothills of the Alps extending eastward to the border of the Adriatic Sea.
54
What are the four appellations in Veneto?
55
What is the Veneto climate?
Continental; warmer maritime near coast
56
What are the Soave DOC (Veneto) grape varieties?
Garganega (Dry White)
57
What are the Prosecco DOC (Veneto) grape varieties?
Glera (Prosecco)
58
What is the Prosecco DOC (Veneto) vinification process?
Charmat/tank method sparkling wines
59
What are the Valpolicella DOC (Veneto) red grape varieties?
1. Corvina (predominant)
2. Rondinella
60
What are the Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG (Veneto) red grape varieties?
1. Corvina (predominant)
2. Rondinella
61
What is the Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG vinification method?
Appassimento Process
62
What is the Appassimento process?
* Grapes harvested and dried for several weeks
* Fruit dries and develops unique flavor characteristics
* Wine fermented dry or off-dry
* High alcohol wine 14 –16% ABV
63
Where is Friuli-Venezia-Giulia located?
Northeastern Italy, extending eastward to the border with Slovenia
64
What is the Friuli-Venezia-Giulia climate?
Continental
65
What are the Friuli-Venezia-Giulia white grape varieties?
1. Pinot Grigio
2. Sauvignon
3. Friulano
66
What are the Friuli-Venezia-Giulia red grape varieties?
1. Merlot (most widely planted)
67
What is the Emilia-Romagna climate?
Continental
68
Where is Emilia-Romagna located?
A large region extending from the heart of north-central Italy eastward to the coast of the Adriatic Sea.
69
What are the five regions of Central Italy?
70
Where is Tuscany located?
Extends from Ligurian Sea (west) to Apennine Mountains (east)
71
What is the climate in Tuscany and how does it change across the region?
Maritime on coast; more continental moving inland
72
What are the Tuscany red grape varieties?
1. Sangiovese
2. Syrah
3. Cabernet Sauvignon
4. Merlot
73
What are the Tuscany white grape varieties?
Vernaccia
74
What are the Tuscany Appellations?
75
What are the Chianti DOCG grape varieties?
1. Sangiovese
76
Where is Chianti Classico DOCG located?
Smaller area in the heart of the larger Chianti region, More stringent rules and aging requirements than Chianti DOCG.
77
What are the Chianti Classico DOCG soil types?
1. Galestro
2. Sandstone
78
Where is Brunello di Montalcino located?
Slopes around hill town of Montalcino
79
What type of soil is in Brunello di Montalcino?
1. Clay and marine sediments (Lower elevation)
2. Galestro (Higher elevation)
80
What are the Brunello di Montalcino grape varieties?
1. 100% Sangiovese Grosso (locally called Brunello)
81
By law, when can Brunello di Montalcino wines be released for sale?
After January 1st of the 5th year following harvest.
82
What are the aging requirements in Brunello di Montalcino DOCG?
Min. 2 years in wood plus 4 months in bottle.
83
Where is Marche located?
On the eastern coast of Italy along the Adriatic Sea and extending westward into the foothills of the Apennine Mountains.
84
What is the Marche climate?
Mediterranean
85
What are the Marche grape varieties?
Verdicchio
86
Name 2 important appellations in Marche?
87
Name the 7 regions of southern Italy?
88
Where is Campania located?
Southern Italy, extending from the Mediterranean Sea into the mountains to the east, near Naples and the Amalfi Coast.
89
What is the Campania climate?
Mediterranean, sunny, warm
90
What is the Campania topography?
A combination of relatively low-lying areas near the sea and very rugged terrain in the mostly volcanic mountains to the east.
91
What is the Campania soils type?
1. Alluvial sediments
2. Volcanic soils
92
What are the Campania red grape varieties?
1. Aglianico
93
What are the Campania white grape varieties?
1. Falanghina
2. Fiano
3. Greco
94
Name the three appellations in Campania?
95
What are the Fiano di Avellino DOCG (Campania) grape varieties?
1. Fiano (Dry White)
96
What is the Greco grape variety?
An old grape variety planted by the Greeks.
97
What are the Greco di Tufo DOCG grape varieties?
Greco (Dry White)
98
What are the Taurasi DOCG grape varieties?
1. Aglianico (Dry, oak-aged, red wines)
99
Where is Sicily located?
Island to the west of the mainland Italy in the Mediterranean Sea
100
What is the Sicily climate?
* Overall Mediterranean climate, but with important local variations
* Maritime near the sea, hot inland becoming much cooler at higher elevations on Mt. Etna
101
What is the Sicily topography?
* Rolling hillsides near Mt. Etna
* Flat along coast
102
What is the Sicily soils type?
Notably varied across different areas on this very large island, but famously volcanic on and near the slopes of the active Mt. Etna.
103
What are the Sicily red grape varieties?
1. Nero d'Avola
2. Nerello Mascalese
104
What are the white red grape varieties?
1. Carricante
105
What is the import appellation of Sicily?
Etna DOC
106
What are the Etna DOC (Sicily) grape varieties?
1. Nerello Mascalese
2. Carricante
