Marsala**

Question 1

When were Marsala wines most famous?

Answer 1

in the 19th century they were among the world’s most admired fortified wines

Question 2

Who was John Woodhouse?

Answer 2

English merchant who landed in Marsala in 1773.

Question 3

What is the vinicultural basis of Marsala wine production?

Answer 3

similar to solera system in wood barrels

Question 4

What was the original name of Marsala wine?

Answer 4

vino perpetuo

Question 5

Who was the biggest customer of Marsala in the 19th century?

Answer 5

British Royal Navy

Question 6

Who contributed to improvement of Marsala wine in the early 1800’s with better viticulture and more systemic use of the solera system.

Answer 6

Benjamin Ingham

Question 7

Who was the first Italian entrepreneur to be involved in Marsala wine?

Answer 7

Florio, 1832

Question 8

What factors led to the decline of Marsala in the late 19th century?

Answer 8

phylloxera, increased alcohol tax, static market for fortified wine

Question 9

Who are the leading producers of Marsala today?

Answer 9

Florio, Marco de Bartoli (IWS) and Pellegrino (Wiki)

Question 10

What hard-to-match foods pair well with Marsala wine?

Answer 10

asparagus, brussel sprouts and chocolate (Wine Folly) [abc]

Question 11

How long does Marsala last after opened?

Answer 11

Marsala wine will stay fresh open for about a month.(Wine Folly)

Question 12

What is Marsala Speciali?

Answer 12

flavored Marsala mixed with fruit, nuts, spices, chocolate and egg - used for cooking

Question 13

What is the legal status of Marsala Speciali?

Answer 13

eliminated from DOC rules in 1984

Question 14

What province is associated with Marsala DOC?

Answer 14

Trapani, DOC covers the entire province

Question 15

What soil is associated with Marsala DOC?

Answer 15

mostly calcareous (terra rossa around Marsala, terre argillose [clay] around Salemi and dark soils in lower Belice Valley

Question 16

What climate is associated with Marsala DOC?

Answer 16

Mediterranean, one of the driest and warmest of Sicilia

Question 17

What is the preferred training for vines used for Marsala and what advantages does it confer?

Answer 17

alberello, canopy protects from sunburn, and keeps clusters cooler

Question 18

What are the base elements of Marsala wine?

Answer 18

usually, a white fortified wine from white grapes

Question 19

What is the most important grape of Marsala wine?

Answer 19

Grillo (not Catarratto)

Question 20

What is the relevance of Ingham?

Answer 20

Benjamin Ingham contributed to improvement of Marsala wine in the early 1800’s with better viticulture and more systemic use of the solera system.

Question 21

When was the Marsala wine growing area delimited?

Answer 21

government delimited it in 1931, before DOC structure existed

Question 22

When was the Marsala DOC established?

Answer 22

1969

Question 23

What is the contribution of Inzolia grapes to Marsala?

Answer 23

adds perfume

Question 24

What is the contribution of Damaschino grapes to Marsala?

Answer 24

minimal, least used grape for Marsala

Question 25

What red grapes contribute to ruby Marsala?

Answer 25

Nero d'Avola, Perricone and Neretto Mascalese [NNP]

Question 26

What are the defining aspects of Marsasa Vergine?

Answer 26

fortified white (only!) wine, treatment only with grape spirit or ethyl alcohol, minimum 5 years in oak, < 4% RS, >18% abv [VE=5,R(18th letter)gine]

Question 27

What are the defining aspects of Marsasa Vergine reserva?

Answer 27

riserva = stravecchio > 10 years maturation in wood barrels

Question 28

What is role of solera for Marsala Vergine?

Answer 28

can be made vintage or in solera

Question 29

What is purest and most authentic style of Marsala?

Answer 29

Marsala Vergine

Question 30

What is the Italian term for treatment of Marsala?

Answer 30

conciati

Question 31

What are the treatments not used for Marsala Vergine?

Answer 31

Mosto cotto, Sifone, Mosto concentrato

Question 32

What color and sugar classifications are used for Marsala Vergine?

Answer 32

occasionally labeled oro and secco (but it always qualifies for those two labels)

Question 33

What are the defining aspects of Marsala Superiore?

Answer 33

wood matured for 2 years and abv > 18% (riserva aged 4 years)

Question 34

What are the defining aspects of Marsala Fine?

Answer 34

matured for a year (8 months in wood) and abv > 17.5%

Question 35

What color and RS classifications are used for Marsala Superiore?

Answer 35

oro, ambra, rubino; secco, semisecco, dolce

Question 36

What color and RS classifications are used for Marsala Fine?

Answer 36

oro, ambra, rubino; secco, semisecco, dolce

Question 37

Which Marsala styles are vintage labeled?

Answer 37

all: Vergine, Superiore, Fine (rare)

Question 38

Mosto cotto is used to achieve what effect?

Answer 38

(cooked grape must) adds aromas such as burned sugar and caramel

Question 39

Mosto cotto is added to which styles of Marsala?

Answer 39

Ambra Marsala Superiore or Ambra Marsala Fine [not Marsala Vergine or Marsala rubino or Marsala oro]

Question 40

What are the two overall styles of Marsala conciati?

Answer 40

Marsala Superiore and Marsala Fine

Question 41

Mosto cotto is never added to which style of Marsala?

Answer 41

Marsala Vergine or Marsala rubino or Marsala oro

Question 42

What is the volume of production breakdown for the different styles of Marsala?

Answer 42

Vergine <1%; Superiore <20%, Fine 80%

Question 43

Sifone is used to achieve what effect?

Answer 43

(sweet fortified grape must) adds sugar, texture and aromas [FO]

Question 44

Mosto concentrato is used to achieve what effect?

Answer 44

(concentrated grape must) adds smooth mouthfeel and adjust sweetness

Question 45

The old term S.O.M. refers to which Marsala style?

Answer 45

Superior Old Marsala > Superiore

Question 46

The old term G.D. refers to which Marsala style?

Answer 46

Garibaldi Dolce > Superiore

Question 47

The old term L.P. refers to which Marsala style?

Answer 47

London Particular > Superiore

Question 48

The old term I.P. refers to which Marsala style?

Answer 48

Italian Particular > Fine

Question 49

Which Marsala treatments may be obtained from outside the Marsala DOC?

Answer 49

none

Question 50

What are the defining aspects of Marsala Superiore riserva?

Answer 50

wood matured for 4 years and abv > 18% (compared to 2 years for non-riserva)

Question 51

What is the primary use of Marsala Fine?

Answer 51

sold to the food industry or intended as a cooking ingredient

Question 52

What is definition of Marsala secco?

Answer 52

< 4% RS (< 40 g/l)

Question 53

What is definition of Marsala semisecco?

Answer 53

between 4-10% RS (btwn 40-100 g/l)

Question 54

What is definition of Marsala dolce?

Answer 54

> 10% RS (> 100 g/l)

Question 55

What are the treatments used for Marsala Vergine?

Answer 55

only fortification

Question 56

What is training for vines is allowed in Marsala DOC?

Answer 56

vertical (Guyot) and alberello (preferred)

Question 57

What is the contribution of Catarratto grapes to Marsala?

Answer 57

considered the traditional grape, adds oxidative aromas

Question 58

What is the traditional grape of Marsala?

Answer 58

Cataratta (not Grillo)

Question 59

What type of wood barrels are allowed for Marsala production?

Answer 59

oak or cherry

Question 60

What are the color markers for white Marsala?

Answer 60

oro and ambra (not rubino)

Question 61

What are the determinants of color for Marsala?

Answer 61

color of grapes used and proportion of mosto cotto used

Question 62

What is the percentage of red grapes used in Marsala Rubino?

Answer 62

at least 70%

Question 63

What is acquavite?

Answer 63

grape spirit (added to all styles of Marsala)

Question 64

What 4 white grapes are used for Marsala production?

Answer 64

Damaschino, Inzolia, Catarratto, Grillo (DiOCG]