Northern Italy Flashcards
Learn the regions of Northern Italy: their topography, climate, grapes, appellations, and wines.
What are the 8 regions of northern Italy?
- Liguria
- Piedmont
- Valle d’Aosta
- Lombardy
- Trentino-Alto Adige
- Veneto
- Friuli-Venezia Giulia
- Emilia-Romagna
Where in Italy is the region of Piedmont, and what 2 countries border it?
- Northwestern Italy
- France, Switzerland
What does the word Piedmont translate to in English?
Foot of the mountain
The mountain range that lies to the north of Piedmont is the _____, and the mountain range that lies to the south and east is the _____.
North: Alps
South and East: Apennines
What is the climate of Piedmont?
Continental
What effect do the Alps have on Piedmont?
Rain shadow
The Alps protect Piedmont from cold northerly winds.
Select the correct answer.
What is the landscape of Piedmont?:
a) mountains and rolling hills
b) mostly flat with some bunny slopes
Mountains and rolling hills
What are the soils of Piedmont?
- Limestone
- Sandstone
What are the white grapes of Piedmont?
- Moscato
- Cortese
- Arneis
- Timorasso (an older variety making a comeback)
What are the red grapes of Piedmont?
- Nebbiolo
- Barbera
- Dolcetto
- Brachetto
What are the 2 most important DOCGs of Piedmont?
- Barolo DOCG
- Barbaresco DOCG
The wines of Barolo DOCG and Barbaresco DOCG are only allowed to be ____, ____, ____ wines.
Dry, still, red wines.
Besides Barolo and Barbaresco, what 4 other DOCGs are of importance in Piedmont?
- Moscato d’Asti/Asti DOCG
- Barbera d’Asti DOCG
- Gavi DOCG
- Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG
What is the only grape allowed in Barolo DOCG and Barbaresco DOCG?
Nebbiolo
The best Nebbiolo vineyards in Barolo and Barbaresco are planted where?
South-facing hillsides to maximize sun exposure to ripen Nebbiolo.
Select the correct answer.
All Barolo and Barbaresco must be aged in:
a) only stainless steel for a short time
b) only oak for longer aging
Only oak for longer aging
What are the aging requirements for Barolo DOCG?
- 38 months total aging
- at least 18 of those 38 months must be in oak, whether it’s new barriques or large, neutral barrels
What are the aging requirements of Barbaresco DOCG?
- 26 months total aging
- at least 9 of those 26 months must be in oak, whether it’s new barriques or large, neutral barrels
Which DOCG ages their wines longer: Barolo or Barbaresco?
Barolo
Barolo requires at least 38 months of aging prior to release while Barbaresco requires 26 months.
What is the grape in Moscato d’Asti DOCG and Asti DOCG?
Moscato
What are the similarities and differences between Moscato d’Asti and Asti?
Similarity:
- same grape, Moscato
Differences
- Moscato d’Asti = sweeter than Asti, frizzante
- Asti = off-dry, spumante, can also be made metodo classico
What is the grape in Barbera d’Asti DOCG?
What style of wine is Barbera d’Asti?
- Barbera
- Dry, still, red wine
What is the grape in Gavi DOCG?
What style of wine is Gavi?
- Cortese
- Dry, still, white wines
What is the grape in Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG?
What style of wine is Brachetto d’Acqui?
- Brachetto
- Sweet, sparkling pale red wines
Where is the region of Lombardy located?
East/Northeast of Milan
What 3 lakes in Lombardy do you need to know?
- Lago di Como (near Valtellina)
- Lago d’Iseo (near Franciacorta)
- Lago di Garda (shared with Veneto)
What is the climate of Lombardy?
Cool continental
What is the general landscape of the winegrowing regions of Lombardy?
Mountainous with rolling foothills
What are the white grapes of Lombardy?
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Bianco
What are the red grapes of Lombardy?
- Pinot Nero
- Nebbiolo
Valtellina Superiore is literally on the southern side of the Alps from Switzerland.
What kind of climate and terrain does Valtellina have?
- Alpine climate
- High altitude, mountainous (see photo)
What are the 2 most important DOCGs of Lombardy?
- Franciacorta DOCG
- Valtellina Superiore DOCG
What is the only style of wine made in Franciacorta DOCG?
Sparkling wines only, made metodo classico (or Traditional Method, same as in Champagne)
What are the grapes allowed to be used in Franciacorta DOCG?
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Bianco
- Pinot Nero
What is the grape allowed in Valtellina Superiore DOCG and what is the style?
Nebbiolo vinified dry (in oak, new and/or used)
Where is Trentino-Alto Adige located?
North/northeast Italy, bordering Austria and Switzerland.
What is the general style of wine that comes out of Trentino-Alto Adige?:
- clean and linear
- stinky and obtuse
Clean and linear
What is the climate of Trentino-Alto Adige?
Continental, with very cold (Alpine) winters and warm summers.
With the Alps separating Trentino-Alto Adige from its neighboring countries, what kind of terrain would you expect in Trentino-Alto Adige?
Mountainous with rolling foothills
What are the 4 main white grapes of Trentino-Alto Adige?
- Pinot Grigio
- Pinot Bianco
- Chardonnay
- Sauvignon Blanc
What are the 3 main red grapes of Trentino-Alto Adige?
- Merlot
- Lagrein
- Schiava
What are the 2 main DOCs of Trentino-Alto Adige?
- Trentino DOC
- Alto Adige DOC (aka Südtiroler DOC)
Where is Veneto located in Italy?
Northeastern corner (it’s the region where Venice is)
On what sea is Veneto located?
Adriatic Sea
What is the climate of Veneto?
Continental, though it becomes more warm maritime closer to the coast
What major/larger Veneto DOCs and DOCG do you need to know for this exam?
- Soave DOC
- Prosecco DOC
- Valpolicella DOC
- Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG
In Soave DOC, name the:
- grape
- style of wine
- superior sub-zone that’s a DOCG
- Garganega (pronounced gar-GAH-nuh-guh)
- Dry, still, white wines
- Soave Superiore DOCG
In Prosecco DOC, name the:
- grape
- style of wine
- superior sub-zone that’s a DOCG
- Glera
- Sparkling wine made Tank Method (Charmat)
- Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG
In Valpolicella DOC, name the:
- grapes
- style of wine
- superior sub-zone that’s a DOC
- Corvina + Rondinella
- Dry, still, red wines
- Valpolicella Classico DOC
What are the grapes in Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG?
- Corvina (primary)
- Rondinella
What particular process is used in the vinification of Amarone della Valpolicella?
Appassimento process
What is the appassimento process?
Drying out the grapes after harvest for several weeks, allowing the grapes to develop concentrated, dried-fruit characteristics and aromas of oxidation
To what level of sweetness is Amarone della Valpolicella vinified?
Dry to off-dry
What is the typical abv for Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG?
14 - 16% abv
Generally speaking, how would you describe Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG?
- Full bodied
- High alcohol
- Usually off-dry (though some are dry)
- Flavors of concentrated, dried fruits
Where is Friuli-Venezia Giulia located? What country does it abut?
Way northeastern Italy abutting Slovenia
What is the climate of Friuli-Venezia Giulia?
Continental
What are the top white grapes planted in Friuli-Venezia Giulia?
- Pinot Grigio
- Sauvignon (they drop the “Blanc” here)
- Friulano
The majority do not see new oak and are meant to be drunk young + fresh.
In Friuli-Venezia Giulia:
- wines are bottled with the name of the grape on the label, like in Alsace
- grapes are not allowed to appear on the label
The name of the grape appears on the label, like in Alsace.
What is the most planted red grape in Friuli-Venezia Giulia?
Merlot
Most do not have a lot of new oak and are meant to be drunk young + fresh.
Where is Emilia-Romagna located in Italy?
North-central Italy extending eastward towards the Adriatic (it does have a coastline on the Adriatic).
What is the climate of Emilia-Romagna?
Continental
What is the landscape/terrain of Emilia-Romagna?
A lot of flat, fertile plains
Emilia-Romagna is better known for agriculture than it is for its wine.
What is Emilia-Romagna’s most famous DOC?
Lambrusco DOC
In Lambrusco DOC:
- grape
- style
- sweetness levels
- Lambrusco grape
- sparkling red made Tank Method (Charmat), can be either frizzante or spumante
- Dry (Secco) or off-dry (Amabile)
Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG:
The grapes must be dried off the vines for __ - __ days
100–120
The wines have intense red, fresh- and dried-fruit flavours, a full body, and medium (+) to high tannins.
What is the ripasso method, as seen in Valpolicella Ripasso DOC?
- Unpressed grape skins with some residual sugar are taken from the end of the fermentation phase of Amarone or Recioto;
- Newly made Valpolicella wine, having been pressed off its own skins, is then added to these grape skins for a second maceration;
- Yeasts, which are also transferred in this process, ferment the remaining sugar, during which time the grape skins give more color, flavor and tannins to the wine.
What is Vin Santo in Italy?
- An amber colored, sweet wine made by the appassimento method;
- Most often a blend of Trebbiano Toscano and Malvasia;
- Prevalent throughout Tuscany and permitted within many denominations.
