Sicily

Question 1

Where are the wettest and driest areas of Sicily

Answer 1

Northeast (Messina) - wettest

Southern Most - Driest because of Scirocco

Question 2

What are the Red and White grapes of Etna

Answer 2

Red: Nerello Mascalese w Nerello Cappuccio
White: Carricante w Catatatto Comune & Minella Bianca

Question 3

What is Sicily’s only DOCG and what is it produced from?

Answer 3

Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico

Nero d’avola and Frappato

Question 4

THe Faro DOC is a blend of what grapes

Answer 4

Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio and Nocera

Question 5

The original Marsalla was made using what method

Answer 5

“in perpetuum” toping up the barrels containing wine from the previous year, with wine from the new production.

Question 6

What are the native Red grapes of Sicily - 6

Answer 6

Frappato
Nerello Mascalese
Nerello Cappuccio
Nero d'avila (calabrese)
Nocera
Perricone

Question 7

What are the important Native White grapes of Sicily

Answer 7

Carricante
The Cataratto's
Grillo
Inzolia (Ansonica)
Zibibbo (Moscato di Alessandria)

Question 8

What are the grapes of Marsala

Answer 8

Grillo
Catarrattos
Inzolia
Perricone
Nero D'Avola

Question 9

What are the native grapes of Delia Nivolelli

Answer 9

Grillo, Izolia, Grecanico

Perricone, Nero D’avola

Question 10

What are the native grapes of Menfi

Answer 10

Catarratto
Inzolia
Grecanico

Nero D’Avola

Question 11

What are the native grapes o Contessa Entellina

Answer 11

Inzolia
Catarratto

Nero D’Avola

Question 12

What are the native grapes of Contessa di Scaflani

Answer 12

Catarrato

Perricone, Nero D’avola

Question 13

Where is Eloro and Noto located in Sicily

Answer 13

Southern most tip

Question 14

What are the native grapes of Eloro

Answer 14

Nero D’avola
Frappato
Perricone

Question 15

What are the native grapes of Noto

Answer 15

Moscato Bianco

Question 16

Ansonica (Inzolia) does not produce very good wine in sicily - Why?

Where is the best Ansonica grown

Answer 16

It is a low acid grape so not ideal for hot climate

Best is off the coast in Tuscany on Elba and Giglio where (acidic) granite soils helps the grape retain acid.

Question 17

Which Sicilian cultivator has always made dry white wine

Answer 17

Carricante

Question 18

Where is Carricante grown in Etna

Answer 18

usually over 900 meters where Nerello does not ripen well

Question 19

Where are Carricantes oldest vines found

Answer 19

on the eastern and southern slope of Etna

Question 20

What grape does Caricante resemble with age

Answer 20

old riesling with its obvious flinty and diesel like aroma

Question 21

a wine labeled Etna Bianco Superiore must be produced from grapes grown where?

Answer 21

on the eastern slopes of Mt Etna

Question 22

What are the three sub zones of Etna

Answer 22

Northern
Eastern
Southern

Question 23

Which commune is considered to have the highest quality Carricante

Answer 23

Milo

Question 24

What is considered the Grand Cru of Carricante

Answer 24

Casselle in Milo

Question 25

Where does Cataratto get its name

Answer 25

Cataracts or "water fall" of wine

Question 26

what are Cataratto's 3 biotypes

Answer 26

Comune Lucido Extralucido - now rare

Question 27

Where are the cataracts most abundant

Answer 27

Trapani & Palermo

Question 28

What is Sicily's number one planted grape

Answer 28

Catarratto Bianco Comune

Question 29

Where is Catarratto Comune and Lucido best grown

Answer 29

Commune - high elevations | Lucido - Lower sites around 400 meters

Question 30

What is garganega called in Sicily

Answer 30

Grecanico Dorato

Question 31

How did Grillo get its name

Answer 31

Grilli the sicilian word for "pips"

Question 32

What is Grillio a crossing of and when did it become popular in Sicily

Answer 32

Catarratto Bianco Lucido and Moscato di Alessandria | 17th c

Question 33

How does picking Grillo impact its style

Answer 33

Early - Thiol dominate Passionfruit and lime Late - Terpine dominate and musky

Question 34

What is unique about Moscato di Noto

Answer 34

It is made from a unique biotype of moscato bianco that has adapted to that specific part of the island

Question 35

What grape is Zibibbo and what is unique about it

Answer 35

It Moscato di Alessandria 2nd oldest muscat variety it is very heat and drought resistant and tolerates wind well

Question 36

What are the two wines of Pantelleria and how are they diffrent

Answer 36

Moscato di Pantelleria - Dry, fresh, aromatic | Passito di Pantelleria - air dried grapes, sweet and creamy

Question 37

What two nutrients are Passito Pantelleria wines rich in and how do the impact the wine style

Answer 37

Potassium from volcanic nature of the soil - creates fleshier, richer mouthfeel Sodium - seawater salt saturated winds - creates the salty saline character

Question 38

What is Frappatos DOCG

Answer 38

Cerasuaolo di Vittoria

Question 39

What province does Frappato call home

Answer 39

Province of Ragusa

Question 40

What is the best soil for frappato

Answer 40

Red Sandy Calcareous Soils

Question 41

How does Nerello Cappuccio balance Nerello Mascalese

Answer 41

Cappuccio provides color and tannin to balance Mascalese's acid.

Question 42

What is the difference in flavor profile between Nerello Cappuccio and Nerello Mascalese

Answer 42

Mascalese marked by more tobacco and musky character | Cappuccio has more vanilla, riper red cherry and clove

Question 43

What is the best vine training system for Nerello Mascalese

Answer 43

Alberello Etneo - Bush vine

Question 44

What are the three sub zones of Mt Etna

Answer 44

Northern Eastern Southern

Question 45

What are the Crus of Etna called

Answer 45

Contrade

Question 46

What two elements define Etna's Contrade - explain How many Contrade are defined?

Answer 46

Geological - most contrade correspond to ancient lava flows Social - many cantrade refer to fiefdom or specific activities that happened on that plot 133

Question 47

What is the official name in italy for Nero d'Avola

Answer 47

Calabrese

Question 48

where is Nero d'Avola birthplace

Answer 48

Avola - The dark grape from Avola

Question 49

What is Sicily's second most planted grape

Answer 49

Nero d'Avola

Question 50

What physiological growing traits has made Nero d'Avola so popular in Sicily

Answer 50

the ability to maintain acidity when planted in high saline soils and heat. Grapes produce greater aromatic intensity in high saline soils

Question 51

What is Nero d'Avolas DOCG wine and what is often blended with it

Answer 51

Cerasuaolo di Vittoria - Frappato

Question 52

What is the difference in style on Nero d'Avola when planted at high or low altitude in North Central Sicily

Answer 52

High Altitude - paler color with more spice and the most refined in sicily Low altitude - richer more tannic with stronger tobacco and licorice notes

Question 53

What style of Nero dAvola is produced in Noto and Eloro area. What is the best area for Nero d'Avola

Answer 53

Very ripe and herbal with strong saline and even anchovy note Pachino - great concentration, super ripe and pungently fragrant

Question 54

What is Nocera ideal for warm climates

Answer 54

It is very sweet but does not drop acid

Question 55

What wine is Perricone most often use in

Answer 55

Marsala Rubino

Question 56

What are the primary grapes of Marsala Oro/Gold and Amber

Answer 56

Grillo, Catarrattos and Ansonica

Question 57

What are the primary grapes for Marsala Rubino

Answer 57

Perricone, Nero d'Avola, Nerello Mascalese

Question 58

What are the 6 classifications for Marsalla from youngest to oldest

Answer 58

``` Fine Superiore Superiore Riserva Vergine/Solera Vergine Riserva Vergine Stravecchio ```