Northern Italian Grapes by Region

Question 1

Corvina (Corvina Veronese)

Answer 1

Veneto -
Primary Grape for Valpolicella & Bardolino
Produced in Verona (hence Veronese)
Late budding, mid-late ripening
Thick skins - appassimento
Light-Med Body, Med Color Intensity, Bright Acidity, Low-Med Tannins
Cherry, Violet, Herbs, Bitter Almonds

Question 2

Rondinella

Answer 2

Veneto
Native - offspring of Corvina
Blending partner to Valpolicella & Bardolino
Easy to grow, resistance to disease, cold & drought
Adaptable to multiple soils and growing conditions
Good for appassimento
Light Body, Low Tannin, Cherry

Question 3

Raboso, Raboso Piave

Answer 3

Veneto
Piave River historical home
Called Friularo around Padova
Raboso = angry due to harsh character, but could be named after tributary
Very High Tannins & Acidity
Confused with Raboso Veronese
Deep Color, Complex, Bright Berry, Violet, Tobacco, Leather

Question 4

Refosco

Answer 4

Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto

Question 5

Schiava

Answer 5

Alto Adige

Question 6

Lagrein

Answer 6

Trentino-Alto Adige

mostly Alto Adige

Question 7

Teroldego

Answer 7

Trentino

Question 8

Nebbiolo

Answer 8

Lombardia, Piemonte (85%)
Valle d’Aosta - Picotendro - pale, less structured
13th C
Nebbia = fog
Early budding, very late ripenning - a challenge to grow
Needs exposure
Prefers calcareous marls
Pale Ruby turning Amber, High Acid/Tannin/ABV, Intense Red Fruits, Rose, Sweet Spice, Leather
Age worthy

Question 9

Barbera

Answer 9

Campania, Emilia Romagna, Lombardia, Piemonte

primarily Piemonte, 67%

Question 10

Dolcetto

Answer 10

Piemonte - Traditional
“Little Sweet One”
Maybe Dogliani or Monferrato
Mostly grown in Langhe and Monferrato
Prized for early ripening and on cooler sites = income sooner
Deep Color, Fragrant, Black Fruit, Tannins

Question 11

Freisa

Answer 11

Piemonte - one of oldest reds
16th C
Lost ground to Barbera and Dolcetto
Light Color, High Acid/Tannin
Distinct wild Strawberry & Raspberry
Bitter so residual sugar added

Question 12

Grignolino

Answer 12

Piemonte
Monferrato native - 13th C
Once widely planted
Grapes contains “pip” which is gignole in Italian
Pale Red (Pink), Light Body, High Tannin and Acid, Fresh Flowers, Red Berry
Immediate Consumption

Question 13

Bonarda

Answer 13

Emilia Romagna, Lombardia, Piemonte

sometimes referred to as but unrelated to Uva Rara

Question 14

Croatina

Answer 14

Emilia Romagna, Lombardia, Piemonte

Question 15

Ruchè

Answer 15

Piemonte
Castagnole, Asti
Rare, aromatic red
Intensely Perfumed, Red Fruit, Spice

Question 16

Uva Rara

Answer 16

Lombardia, Toscana, Piemonte, Puglia

Piemonte is the only province with DOCs for this grape

Question 17

Sangiovese

Answer 17

Abruzzo, Campania, Emilia Romagna, Lazio, Marche, Puglia, Sardegna, Sicilia, Toscana, Umbria

(primarily Toscana, Puglia, and Emilia Romagna)

(most planted variety in Marche, Puglia, Toscana, and Umbria)

Question 18

Lambrusco

Answer 18

Emilia Romagna, Lombardia, Puglia

(primarily Emilia Romagna and Puglia)

(used in several Trentino DOCs)

Question 19

Cabernet Sauvignon

Answer 19

Emilia Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lombardia, Molise, Puglia, Sicilia, Toscana, Umbria, Veneto

(primarily Veneto, Sicilia, and Toscana)

Question 20

Cabernet Franc

Answer 20

Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sicilia, Toscana, Veneto

primarily Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Toscana

Question 21

Merlot

Answer 21

Throughout Italy

primarily Veneto, Sicilia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Toscana

Question 22

Pinot Nero

Answer 22

Mostly Northern Italy

Primarily Lombardia, Trentino-Alto Adige, and Veneto

Question 23

Grechetto

Answer 23

Emilia Romagna, Lazio, Umbria

primarily Umbria and Emilia Romagna

Question 24

Malvasia

Answer 24

Calabria, Campania, Emilia Romagna, Lazio, Marche, Puglia, Toscana, Umbria

(primarily Lazio, Puglia, and Umbria)

Question 25

Trebbiano

Answer 25

Mostly Central and Southern Italy (primarily Emilia Romagna, Puglia, and Abruzzo) (Trebbiano Toscano is wide spread and commonly used in Vin Santo)

Question 26

Vermentino

Answer 26

Liguria, Sardegna, Sicilia, Toscana | primarily Sardegna, 68%

Question 27

Arneis

Answer 27

Piemonte Native to Roero Hills 15th C Bruno Giacosa & Vietti save '60s called "Nebbiolo Bianco" - Poor and irregular yields, acid drops quickly Med-Full Body, Perfumed and Complex, White flowers, Stone Fruit

Question 28

Cortese

Answer 28

Piemonte, Veneto | primarily Piemonte, 89%

Question 29

Erbaluce

Answer 29

Piemonte - Native Caluso town White 17th C Thick Skins, Very High Acid, Suitable for Passito Vibrant floral, citrus, apple makes good dry

Question 30

Friulano

Answer 30

Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto

Question 31

Garganega

Answer 31

Puglia, Veneto (95%) Primary white grape of Western Veneto 1 of most ancient Italian grapes 13th C Identical to Sicilia's Grecanico Dorato (its biotype) Late-ripening, vigorous, very productive Steely Acidity, White Flowers, Citrus Used for passito and appassimento technique related to TT, Albana, MBC, Cattaratto, Marzemina Bianco

Question 32

Glera

Answer 32

Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto (94%) Principal grape of Prosecco (or Prosecco Tondo) 18th C Late-ripening, prone to fungal disease and water stress Semi-aromatic Uncontrolled yields - neutral, Controlled yields with South Facing = Soft aromas of White Flowers, Lemon, Pears, Apple

Question 33

Moscato Bianco

Answer 33

Lombardia, Piemonte, Veneto | primarily Piemonte, 79%

Question 34

Ribolla Gialla

Answer 34

Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Puglia | primarily Friuli-Venezia Giulia, 69%

Question 35

Chardonnay

Answer 35

Abruzzo, Emilia Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lombardia, Piemonte, Puglia, Sicilia, Toscana, Trentino Alto-Adige, Veneto (primarily Sicilia, Trentino-Alto Adige, and Veneto)

Question 36

Pinot Bianco

Answer 36

Emilia Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lombardia, Trentino Alto-Adige, Veneto (primarily Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige, and Friuli-Venezia Giulia)

Question 37

Pinot Grigio

Answer 37

Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lombardia, Sicilia, Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto (primarily Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Trentino-Alto Adige)

Question 38

Brachetto

Answer 38

``` Piemonte (mostly Piemonte 86%), Puglia Aromatic red Best in sweet, fizzy and sparkling reds Strawberry and Raspberry Equivalent to Moscato Bianco ```

Question 39

Sauvignon Blanc

Answer 39

Emilia Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sicilia, Toscana, Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto (primarily Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto, and Trentino-Alto Adige)

Question 40

Gewürztraminer

Answer 40

Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Toscana, Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto | primarily Trentino-Alto-Adige and Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Question 41

Picolit

Answer 41

Friuli-Venezia Giulia | Sweet

Question 42

Rossese

Answer 42

Liguria, Toscana Identical to French Tibouren Traditional to Riviera di Ponente Dolceacqua DOC / Rossese Riviera Ligure di Ponente DOC Pale Ruby, M Body, Bright Acidity, Floral, Red Berry

Question 43

Welschriesling

Answer 43

Lombardia, Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto | primarily Lombardia, 84%

Question 44

Pigato

Answer 44

Liguria Classic White Grape of W Riviera Riviera Ligure di Ponente DOC Identical to Vermentino

Question 45

Bosco

Answer 45

Liguria La Specia (Riviera di Levante) Blended with Vermentino and Albarola (Cinque Terre DOC) Body and structure

Question 46

Oremasco

Answer 46

Liguria for Dolchetto Dry and Sweet reds for Ormeasco di Pornassio DOC More herbal and lighter than Piemonte

Question 47

Prié Blanc or Blanc de Morgex

Answer 47

Valle d'Aosta Only native white grape and most widely planted Mt Blanc foothills 800-1,200m No phylloxera, vines ungrafted Pale, Light Body, Steely Acidity, Minerality

Question 48

Petite Arvine

Answer 48

``` Valle d'Aosta Traditional From Switzerland Straw Yellow, High Acidity, High Extract & ABV Late Harvest Age Potential ```

Question 49

Petite Rouge

Answer 49

``` Valle d'Aosta Indigenous, one of oldest reds Known as Picciourouzo locally Main Component in Central Valley Dark, Medium Body, Acidity, Red Fruit and Flowers ```

Question 50

Fumin

Answer 50

``` Valle d'Aosta High Quality native red Traditionally Central Valley - Blending partner for body and color Deep Ruby, Full Body, High Acidity & Tannin Red Fruit, Pepper, Herbs Long-lived ```

Question 51

Timorasso

Answer 51

``` Piemonte Ancient, rare from Tortona (SE) Most distinctive white Walter Massa saved in '80s High Acidity, Creamy Palate Intense Mineral, Floral, Citrus, Honey Age worthy ```

Question 52

Corvinone "Big Corvina"

Answer 52

Veneto Veronese native once considered a Corvina clone (DNA both are different) Bigger berries, looser clusters traditionally used in Valpolicella & Bardolino Higher tannins, adds structure in appassimento and meaty savory notes.

Question 53

Glera Lunga

Answer 53

``` Veneto Once called Prosecco Lungo Less common then Glera. Not related Spicier, less floral notes Can be used as minor component (15%) for Prosecco ```

Question 54

Raboso Veronese

Answer 54

``` Veneto Red grape Not Raboso Piave Is similar but not the quality. Often co-planted Veronese is only 10% of plantings. ```

Question 55

Vespaiola

Answer 55

``` Veneto Ancient variety and exclusive to Vicenza name refers to wasps "vespe" which are attracted to the sweet grapes Vigorous, High Acidity Known for sweet passitos ```

Question 56

Manzoni Bianco

Answer 56

Veneto Most successful and HQ Italian cross Original name "Incrocio Manzoni" after Luigi Manzoni a professor at Enological School of Conegliano 1930s. Maybe cross between Riesling and Chardonnay Used in white blends for high acidity and spicy notes Crisp, Light Aromatic, Mineral, Spicy, White Flowers, Apples, Stone Fruit, Pear