Veneto

Question 1

Which red wine/grape varieties are most closely associated with Veneto?

Answer 1

Valpolicella / varieties are Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella.

Question 2

What is the primary white grape of Veneto?

Answer 2

The primary white grape of Veneto is Garganega.

Question 3

Which grape is the basis for Veneto sparkling wine (aka Prosecco)?

Answer 3

Glera (must be 85% of the blend)

Question 4

What are the best-known red and white wines of Veneto?

Answer 4

Valpolicella (“the Italian Beaujolais”) and Bardolino are among the best-known red wines of Veneto. In most years, as much as 75% is white wine, including Pinot Grigio, Soave, and Prosecco.

Question 5

What wine is known as “Baby Amarone”?

Answer 5

Valpolicella Ripasso

Question 6

How many DOCGs in Veneto?

Answer 6

14

Question 7

What are the 4 styles of wine produced in Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG?

Answer 7

Amarone, Valpolicella DOC, Valpolicella Ripasso DOC, and Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG

Question 8

What are the aging/alcohol requirements for Amarone?

Answer 8

Amarone requires a minimum of 2 years of aging and a minimum of 14% alcohol

Question 9

What are the grape blending requirements for Soave?

Answer 9

Garganega must comprise at least 70% and may be blended with Trebbiano di Soave (Verdicchio), Chardonnay, or both.

Question 10

What is the three region DOC that includes Veneto called?

Answer 10

Delle Venezie, comprising Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige and Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Question 11

What are the principal red (7) and white grapes (5) of Trentino-Alto Adige?

Answer 11

The principal white varieties include Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco, Müller-Thurgau, and Traminer (Gewürztraminer). The main reds include Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Lagrein, Merlot, Marzemino, Schiava, and Teroldego.

Question 12

What is the appellation for sparkling wine in Trentino-Alto Adige?

Answer 12

Trento DOC

Question 13

What are considered the top quality appellations in Friuli-Venezia Giulia?

Answer 13

Friuli Colli Orientali DOC (and its associated DOCG for sweet white wines made from the Picolit grape, Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit) and Collio Goriziano DOC (often called simply Collio). Both are in the eastern part of Friuli near the Slovenian border.

Question 14

What are the common red and white wines of FVG?

Answer 14

Red: Refosco / Whites: Verduzzo, Friulano (a Sauvignon Blanc relative, until recently called Tocai Friulano), and Picolit.

Question 15

What type of wines is the Rosazzo DOCG known for?

Answer 15

Rosazzo DOCG makes dry white wines with a minimum of 50% Friulano; other allowed grapes include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, and Ribolla Gialla.

Question 16

What is the Ramandolo DOCG known for?

Answer 16

Sweet white wines from the Verduzzo variety, a unique white grape rarely seen outside of northeast Italy.

Question 17

Describe the basic geography and main rivers/lakes of Veneto

Answer 17

South/East are flat; NORTH AND WEST are mountainous (most of Veneto’s grapes are grown here).. The Alps in North protect against most of coldest continental air in winter. Main rivers are Po, Piave and Adige and lake is Lake Garda.

Question 18

Name three types of white wine from Veneto

Answer 18

Pinot Grigio, Prosecco and Soave

Question 19

Name three types of red wine from Veneto

Answer 19

Valpolicella, Bardolino, and Amarone

Question 20

What is the difference between Recioto and Amarone wine?

Answer 20

Recioto: Fermentation is stopped during “appassimento” process by chilling wine around 12% alcohol.
Amarone (della Valpolicella): Appasimento process continues until wine is fermented dry with alcohol level at 15%-16%

Question 21

How is Ripasso wine made?

Answer 21

Wine gets a second fermentation with either Recioto or Amarone lees, increasing tannins and alcohol

Question 22

How long does the “appassimento” process take?

Answer 22

A minimum of two years

Question 23

Which areas are near Lake Garda and what wine s are they known for?

Answer 23

Bardolino/Chiaretto (Rose based on Corvina and Rondinella)
Lugana DOC/Turbiana (aka Verdicchio/OAWG)
Bianco di Custoza DOC / Whte blend with Cortese, Friulano, Garganega, TT and OAWG)

Question 24

Which area of Veneto does the Prosecco DOC cover?

Answer 24

The Prosecco DOC appellation covers a large area, including the northern and eastern portions of the province of Veneto 9as well as all of Friuli-Venezia Giulia).

Question 25

Which DOC is shared between Veneto and Lombardy, where is it and what wine is it known for

Answer 25

Lugana, South of Lake Garda, Turbiana (close relative of Verdicchio).

Question 26

Which DOC/DOCG areas, encompassing the Piave and Livenza rivers, lie North of Venice and what wines do they make?

Answer 26

Piave DOC produces both dry and appassimento wines from a range of grapes. However, Piave Malanotte DOCG—which occupies the same location as the Piave DOC—is only approved for red wines based on the indigenous Raboso grape (aka Raboso Piave).

Question 27

Which DOC/DOCG areas between the Livenza and Tagliamento rivers and what wines do they make?

Answer 27

The Lison-Pramaggiore DOC (which extends into the Friuli-Venezia Giulia area) produces a range of red and white wines from both traditional and international varieties, while the Lison DOCG—located in the same geographic area—is approved only for white wines made using the Friulano grape variety (Veneto is second to Friulano over 35% of Friulano plantings, where it can be a component of a number of DOC wines including Bagnoli di Sopra, Breganze and Custoza)

Question 28

What are the three main DOCs in Trentino-Alto Adige?

Answer 28

Alto Adige, Trentino, and the overarching Valdadige.

Question 29

Describe the basic geography and main rivers/lakes of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia

Answer 29

The northern half is the Alps; most viticulture takes place in the South. There are four rivers: Livenza, Meduno, Tagliamento and Isonzo

Question 30

What are three popular white wines in FVG made from local grapes, what are they and what DOCs are they in?

Answer 30

Friuli's signature white grape is Friulano (once known as Tocai Friulano but misleading associations with Hungary's prestigious Tokaji wine prompted a change under international law and it is now simply called Tai). Other wines made from indigenous grape varieties are Verduzzo (Ramandolo DOCG produces sweet white wines from the Verduzzo) and Picolit (Friuli Colli Orientali DOC and its associated DOCG for sweet white wines made from the Picolit grape, Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit).

Question 31

Which FVG DOC makes an oxidized-style wine and which grape variety is used?

Answer 31

Collio Goriziano makes skin-fermented “orange” wines from the indigenous Ribolla Gialla grape, often in an oxidized style.

Question 32

Which small DOCG is near the town of Udine and what wine does it typically produce?

Answer 32

The Rosazzo DOCG makes a dry white wine using a minimum of 50% Friulano; other allowed grapes include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, and Ribolla Gialla.

Question 33

How many DOCGs and DOCs in FVG?

Answer 33

4/12; the DOC designation which which covers the whole area is known either as Friuli, or by the longer name.

Question 34

What are the five quality levels/variations of Prosecco?

Answer 34

DOC DOCG Asolo and Conegliano Valdobbiadene ("CV") DOCG CV Rive (43 communes/steep areas/microclimates) DOCG Superiore Cartizze (0.5 > alcohol thatn superiore, only from Cartizze hill/mesoclimate) DOCG CV Sur Lieviti (aka "col fondo"): Bottle fermented/not disgorged/Brut Nature