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Master Somm Exam Italy > Sicily > Flashcards

Sicily Flashcards

1
Q

Why is much of Sicily ideal for organic viticulture?

A

The climate is very dry and very little spraying is necessary.

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2
Q

In the mid 1990s Sicily competed with what other region in Italy as the country’s most productive wine region?

A

Puglia

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3
Q

What is Sicily’s wine focus now in the 21st century?

A

Quality over quantity using more indigenous varieties that imports.

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4
Q

What red grape is responsible for Sicily’s reputation for quality wine? What is

A

Nero d’Avola

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5
Q

What three DOCs in the southeast of Sicily around Avola make red wines largely from Nero d’Avola?

A

Eloro DOC
Noto DOC
Siracusa DOC

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6
Q

Eloro “Pachino” must contain what min % of Nero d’Avola? What other grapes make up the blend?

A

Min 80% Nero d’Avola

Max 20% Frappato and/or Pignatello

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7
Q

What is Sicily’s only DOCG and what are the grape requirements? Min alcohol?

A

Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG

50-70% Nero d’Avola (Calabrese)
30-50% Frappato

13% min alcohol

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8
Q

What is the star red grape found on the slopes of Mt. Etna? Up to what altitude can it grow?

A

Nerello Mascalese

3300ft (1,000m)

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9
Q

Why has Mt. Etna become a magnet for terroir-minded wine producers?

A

Due to its rich mix of different altitudes and exposures and densely planted centenarian vines sprouting from soils that include congealed magma.

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10
Q

Who is responsible for re-igniting Etna’s wine reputation while working with the long-established Benanti family? What label does he bottle his wines under? Where on Etna does he bottle wines from?

A

Salvo Foti

Bottles wines under the label “I Vigneri”

Easter slopes

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11
Q

Who makes Rosso del Conte? What’s significant about this wine? What is the name of the vineyard that this wine comes from? Grapes? How is it produced? Aged?

A

Tasca d’Almerita

Was the first serious Sicilian red of the modern era

Comes from Vigna San Lucio

made from mostly old bush-trained Nero d’Avola, Perricone, and other Sicilian grapes.

Stainless steel fermentation and aged for 18 months in Allier and Tronçais barriques.

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12
Q

What DOC does Rosso del Conte bottle under?

A

Contea di Sclafini DOC

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13
Q

What US wine importer is credited with an increase in interest in Sicilian wine?

A

Marc de Grazia

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14
Q

What is the ultra naturalist wine maker form Belgium who uses no sulphur in his wines that makes wine in Sicily?

A

Frank Cornelissen

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15
Q

What is the grape most commonly blended with Nerrello Mascalese that’s considered to produce softer wines?

A

Nerello Cappuccio

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16
Q

Faro DOC is on the far northeastern end of the island is created by a blend of what three red grapes primarily? What other grapes may be blended in?

A 
Nerello Mascalese (45-60%)
Nerello Cappuccio (15-30%)
Nocera (5-10%)

Max 15% alone or combined Sangiovese, Calabrese (Nero d’Avola), Gaglioppo (Montonico Nero)

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17
Q

What does Faro mean?

A

Lighthouse

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18
Q

What is the synonym often encountered for Nero d’Avola in Sicily?

A

Calabrese

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19
Q

What is the star white grape of Etna known for producing crisp wines?

A

Carricante

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20
Q

Who makes Pietramarina? What is the grape? What is the DOC?

A

Benanti

100% Bush-trained Carricante

Etna DOC Bianco Superiore

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21
Q

What is the name for free standing “bush-trained” in reference to vine training in Sicily?

A

alberello

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22
Q

Carricante is the star grape of the eastern part of the island. What is the star workhorse grape of the western part? What are the other two major white grapes often blended or produced varietally?

A

Catarratto

Inzolia (Ansonica) and Grillo

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23
Q

What is the distant cousin of cream sherry produced around the town of Trapani?

A

Marsala

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24
Q

What are the three styles of Marsala produced? What are the grapes allowed in each?

A

Oro
Ambra
Rubino

Oro/Ambra:
Primary: Grillo, Ansonica (Inzolia)
Secondary:Catarratto, Damaschino

Rubino: Perricone, Calabrese (Nero d’Avola), and Nerello Mascalese with up to 30% white grapes

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25
What are the three RS designations for Marsala and what are there g/L values?
Secco: max 40g/L Semisecco: 40-100g/L Dolce: 100g/L
26
What are the 5 aging designations for Marsala in order from least to most in regards to time aging prior to release? What are the min alcohol requirements after fortification for each?
``` Fine Superiore Superiore Riserva Vergine/Solera Vergine Riserva/Solera Riserva/Vergine and Solera Stravecchio ``` 17% abv for Fine 18% abv for the rest
27
What are the two authorized aging vessels for Marsala?
Oak or Cherry Wood
28
What does the term "Vecchio" indicate on a bottle of Marsala?
That the wine has met the minimum requirements for Marsala Superiore which are min 18% abv after fortification and min 2 years aging in oak or cherry wood
29
If seen on a bottle of Marsala, what do the following abbreviations stand for? IP SOM GD LP
IP: Italy Particular SOM: Superior Old Marsala GD: Garibaldi Dolce LP: London Particular
30
What style of Marsala must include min 1% mosto cotto? What styles forbid the addition of mosto cotto (concia)?
Ambra must include a min 1% Oro and Rubino may not include mosto cotto
31
What is mosto cotto?
cooked grape juice
32
What does Vergine on a bottle of Marsala indicate?
It has not been sweetened and it has seen a minimum of 5 years of aging in oak or cherry wood.
33
What are the two agents used for sweetening wines in Marsala?
``` Mosto cotto (cooked grape must) Sifone (mistelle created by fortifying the unfermented grape must of overripe grapes) ```
34
What is the addition of mosto cotto to sweeten Marsala called?
Concia
35
What is the system called that is similar to the sherry solera system that's used to produce Marsala?
In perpetuum
36
Name three producers of Marsala
Marco De Bartoli Donnafugata Cantine Florio
37
What are three DOCs for Moscato? Which are made from Muscat Blanc and which is made from Muscat of Alexandria?
Muscat Blanc Noto DOC "Moscato di Noto" Siracusa DOC "Moscato di Siracusa" Muscat of Alexandria Pantelleria DOC "Moscato di Pantelleria"
38
Pantelleria is closer to what country than to Sicily?
Tunisia
39
What is Moscato known as in Pantelleria and other parts of Sicily? What is Zibbibo synonymous with?
Zibbibo Muscat of Alexandria
40
The island of Eioli (Lipari) and the Aeolian Islands are known for the production of wines from what grape?
Malvasia
41
Who is the Englishman responsible for reviving Sicily's wine industry at the end of the 18th century with the discovery of Marsala?
John Woodhouse
42
What is the largest wine-growing province in Sicily?
Trapani, located on the western part of the island.
43
What does liquoroso indicate in regards to style?
The wine is strong, usually sweet and fortified
44
What is the main white grape of Alcamo DOC? Red?
Catarratto for white | Calabrese (Nero d'Avola) for Red
45
When was the Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG established?
2005
46
What is the name of the largest cooperative in Sicily?
Settesoli
47
Who makes Vecchio Samperi? Grape?
Marco de Bartoli 100% Grillo
48
When during the meal is Marsala appropriate to serve?
As an aperitif or an accompaniment to dessert
49
What are the two large umbrella designations that most Sicilian wines are bottled under?
Sicilia DOC | Terre Siciliane IGT
50
Vines in Syracuse are planted on the slopes of what mountains?
Iblei Mountains
51
What does Cerasuolo mean?
"Cherry-like"
52
What are the two main white grapes used in Marsala?
Grillo | Inzolia (Ansonica in Tuscany)
53
Name 8 producers making quality wine in Sicily
``` Planeta COS Corvo De Bartoli Donnafugata Tasca d'Almerita Tenuta di Fessina Tenuta Rapitalà ```
54
What are the aging requirements for Fine Marsala?
Min. 1 year in oak or cherry wood (first 4 months may be in alternative containers)
55
What are the aging requirements for Marsala Superiore? Superiore Riserva?
Superiore: min 2 years in oak or cherry wood Superiore Riserva: min 4 years in oak or cherry wood
56
What are the aging requirements for Vergine/Solera Marsala? Vergine Riserva/Solera Riserva/ Vergine and Solera Stravecchio?
Vergine/Solera: Min 5 years in oak or cherry wood Vergine Riserva/Solera Riserva/ Vergine and Solera Stravecchio: Min 10 years in oak or cherry wood
57
What is the name of the sweet Sicilian wine that was famous during the Roman empire and said to be the favorite wine of Julius Caesar?
mamertine
58
What is the star indigenous white grape of Etna? Star international white grape here?
Carricante (Indigenous) Riesling (international)
59
Who makes MunJebel Bianco? Grape?
Ultra naturalist winemaker Frank Cornelissen Carricante
60
Nerello Mascalese is believed to be a progeny of what major Tuscan grape?
Sangiovese
61
Which wine growing island off the Sicilian mainland has been compared to Sanorini? Why?
Pantelleria Vines are trained low to the ground in shallow basins to protect them from the fierce winds the island is subjected to.
62
What Sicilian wine is produced in a manner similar to Tokaji aszú? How is it similar? How is it different?
moscato passito di Pantelleria Freshly harvested grapes are pressed and the juice is set aside while the rest of the grapes are dried for several weeks. These sugar-rich raisenated grapes are crushed and the pressed juice is mixed with the juice from the original press then fermented. Difference is that in Tokaji the other grapes aren't dried, they're botrytized
63
Who makes Bukkuram? What is it?
Marco de Bartoli moscato passito di Pantelleria
64
Who makes Ben Ryé? What is it?
Donnafugata Moscato passito di Pantelleria
65
What chain of volcanic islands is famous for being covered in obsidian?
Lipari
66
Name two producers of Malvasia delle Lipari
Carlo Hauner | Lantieri
67
Of the three colors that Marsala is produced in, which is the most rare?
Rubino
68
Sicily is separated from Calabria by what?
the Straight of Messina
69
What is Marsala considered a great alternative to? Why was it so popular in the 1700s?
Great alternative to oloroso sherry, tawny port, and madeira. Popular due to the taxes at the time on Bordeaux that stifled the trade between England and France
70
Why is Sicily so prime for quality viticulture despite its sweltering hot climate?
Higher altitude sites exist which get cooler at night creating an ideal diurnal shift.
71
What major white grape did the Greeks bring to Sicily?
Grecanico
72
What is the most planted white grape in Sicily and the third most planted white grape in Italy despite only being planted on the island's western end?
Catarratto
73
What are the main white and red grapes of Etna DOC?
Carricante for white | Nerello Mascalese for red
74
What is the most planted red grape on Sicily?
Nero d'avola (Calabrese)
75
What international grape is Nero d'Avola most often compared to?
Syrah
76
Moscato di Siracusa is planted to how many acres?
5 acres!
77
What percentage of wine produced in Sicily is of DOC or IGT quality?
14%
78
Who makes Montecarrubo?
Peter Vinding Dier
79
What province in Sicily is establishing a strong reputation for Syrah?
Palermo
80
When was IGT Sicilia promoted to DOC? What IGT took the place of this?
2012 Terre Siciliane IGT
81
Who resuscitated the Faro DOC in the mid 1990s?
Palari estate
82
What DOC is prized for its volcanic terroirs and high concentration of ungrafted centenarian Nerello Mascalese bush vines?
Etna DOC
83
What is the vine training system where vines are planted to a single stake and planted in a square called?
quinconce
84
Name two of the top producers of Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG. Which is known for biodynamic farming?
``` COS Arianna Occhipinti (biodynamic) ```
85
What DOC is said to be the birthplace of Nero d'Avola? What sub zone in particular?
Eloro DOC Pachino is the sub zone
86
What is sifone?
Mistelle created by adding 20-25% of pure alcohol to a must of late-picked, overripe grapes. Used for sweetening Marsala
87
What style of Marsala is considered the best?
Dry (Vergine) made by the solera system
88
What is Marsala Speciale?
Cloying Marsala wines that have been flavored with coffee, chocolate, strawberries, almonds, or eggs which all were permitted by the DOC until 1984. These damaged the name of Marsala and largely gave it its "kitchen wine" stigma. The name Marsala is banned now on the bottles from 1984 onward.
89
Marsala Ambra gets its color from what?
the addition of mosto cotto
90
What grapes are used to produce Marsala Rubino?
Nero d'Avola Perricone Nerello Mascalese
91
The addition of Mosto Cotto was allowed for all three colors of Marsala until 1984. Which is still allowed to sweeten Marsala with it? Which are not?
Ambra permits the addition of mosto cotto (except for Vergine versions) Oro and Rubino forbid it
92
Why is Marco de Bartoli not allowed to use the name Marsala on the labels of his high quality Marsala Vergine, Vecchio Samperi?
Because it is made without the required addition of alcohol, although it has the mandatory 18% alcohol by volume.
93
What is the name of the traditional bottle of Marsala and how much volume does it hold?
Marsalina 500mL

Master Somm Exam Italy (16 decks)

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