Italy: Northeast

Question 1

Just over ___% of the wines in Trentino are produced by cooperatives

Answer 1

80

*70% in Alto-Adige, but typically higher quality than Trentino

Question 2

What are the cooling and warming influences in Trentino?

Answer 2

Cooling influences from mtns, esp at night (diurnal shift)
Mtns block worst of cold northerly winds
Lake Garda warms

Question 3

What three closely related black varieties are specialties of Trentino?

Answer 3

Teroldego
Marzemino
Lagrein

Question 4

Why are there questions of quality within the Trentino DOC category?

Answer 4

Because of the high yields permitted; quality is not necessarily uniform (has encouraged some high quality producers not to use the DOC)

Question 5

What is the difference in climate between Trentino and Alto-Adige?

Answer 5

Trentino has a moderate continental climate, Alto-Adige has a mild Alpine continental climate and is more affected by higher altitudes and the mtns

Question 6

What percentage of wines produced in Alto-Adige are DOC?

Answer 6

98%

*yields are slightly lower than in Trentino

Question 7

Where are the wines of Alto-Adige principally sold?

Answer 7

In Italy—just under half its production in the province in tourism sector
Italian hospitality sector, specialist wine shops
Germany, USA export mkts

Question 8

Describe the growing conditions in Friuli.

Answer 8

South: flat plains, very high rainfall (1200mm/yr)
North: low hills, better quality wines (more drainage, better circulation)

Question 9

Where will you most likely find Ribolla Gialla, Picolit, Refosco, and Pignolo?

Answer 9

Friuli

Question 10

What are synonyms for Friulano?

Answer 10

Sauvignon Vert, Sauvignonasse

Question 11

What is the style of winemaking like in Friuli? Who spearheaded this style?

Answer 11

Clean, unoaked, dry white wines; Mario Schiopetto in late 1960s

Question 12

What are the four important grapes in the Collio/Collio Orientale?

Answer 12

Ribolla Gialla
Friulano
Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay

Question 13

What are the two sweet wine DOCGs in Friuli? How are they made?

Answer 13

Colli Orientale del Friuli Picolit DOCG
Ramandolo DOCG
Made from air-dried grapes

Question 14

What grape is used in Ramandolo DOCG?

Answer 14

Verduzzo

Question 15

Friulian wines tend to do best in which market sectors?

Answer 15

Italian restaurant and specialist retail markets

Exports grew about 50% in last 5yrs

Question 16

Friulian wines tend to do best in which market sectors?

Answer 16

Italian restaurant and specialist retail markets

Exports grew about 50% in last 5yrs

Question 17

What is Italy’s largest wine producing region?

Answer 17

The Veneto

Question 18

Why is organic viticulture difficult in the veneto?

Answer 18

Much of the Veneto has flat plains which are affected by most air and fog from the River Adige and the Po River Valley, so there is an increased amount of spraying needed to combat disease and rot.

Question 19

What is the most planted variety planted in the Veneto?

Answer 19

Glera

Question 20

Where is Soave located?

Answer 20

East of Verona, near the River Adige

Question 21

What are the soils in Soave like? How do they affect the wines?

Answer 21

Hillsides: limestone and clay and/or volcanic rock (basalt); the cool soils plus altitude slows down ripening, grapes have full flavor but high acidity
Plain: fertile, sandy, alluvial; medium acidity wines and fruity; meant to be drunk young

Question 22

What are the three main DOCs for dry wines in Soave?

Answer 22

Soave—entire region; 105hl/ha (80% prod)
Soave Classico—Classico region, 98hl/ha (20%)
Soave Superiore—delimited hilly zone, 70hl/ha

*all have slightly rising minimum alcohol levels

Question 23

What is Recioto di Soave?

Answer 23

Semi-dried grapes from min 70% Garganega; 36hl/ha from a delimited hilly zone

Question 24

Less than ___% of Soave wine is bottled by small family wineries.

Answer 24

10%

Question 25

What is Soave‘s largest cooperative, and how much does it produce?

Answer 25

Cantina di Soave, just under half

Question 26

What has the Soave Consorzio done to elevate the quality reputation for the wines?

Answer 26

Classification of single vineyards across the region based on studies of soils, aspects, elevations, and their combined effect on the wines

Question 27

Where is Valpolicella located?

Answer 27

Immediately north of Verona, including northern foothills and southern plains

Question 28

Which important Veneto grape is still commonly trained on pergolas, and why?

Answer 28

Corvina; late budding and sunburn risk are mitigated by the extra shading. Pergolas give good air circulation to help reduce disease. Temps are significantly lower.

Question 29

What wine made single-variety Corvina famous?

Answer 29

Allegrini La Poja

Question 30

What qualities about Rondinella make it useful for Valpolicella, and also Recioto?

Answer 30

Reliable, productive, good disease resistance | Accumulates sugar fast

Question 31

Describe winemaking for inexpensive Valpolicella

Answer 31

Fermentation at slightly cooler, controlled temperatures Short maceration times Aged in stainless steel/large neutral oak for 6-8 mos before release

Question 32

Describe the appassimento method.

Answer 32

Grapes picked (potentially early to retain acidity and ensure healthy bunches), allowed to reach semi-dry state before crush (stored for 3-4 mos in drying lofts)

Question 33

How does Valpolicella Superiore differ from other classifications?

Answer 33

Higher alcohol minimum, often aged in large oak vessels for 1 yr; basically a higher grade of the basic DOC

Question 34

Describe the production method for Valpolicella Ripasso

Answer 34

New wine is added to Amarone/Recioto grape skins for second maceration; up to 15% of Amarone wine can also be added

Question 35

In terms of marketability, what are the differences between Recioto and Amarone? Ripasso vs Valpolicella?

Answer 35

Recioto has remained very niche Amarone has grown 6x since 90s Ripasso has grown 4x Valpolicella has dropped significantly

Question 36

Where do grapes for wine labeled Pinot Grigio delle Venezie have to come from, and how much production is this DOC responsible for?

Answer 36

Must be grown in the Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Trentino Accounts for 85% of Italy’s PG production (40% of world production!)

Question 37

Which moderating influence does Bardolino have? What style of wines are produced here?

Answer 37

Lake Garda | Light bodied reds, rosés (Chiaretto)

Question 38

What grape is used in Lugano wines?

Answer 38

Turbiana (Verdicchio)

Question 39

Most of Lugana’s vineyards are in the region of _____ but most wine is bottled in _____.

Answer 39

Lombardy | Veneto

Question 40

What is the other name for Trebbiano di Soave?

Answer 40

Verdicchio