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WSET ® Level 3 Wine > Northern Italy > Flashcards

Northern Italy Flashcards

1
Q

Where is Piemonte and what is its climate?

A

Piemonte is in the northwest corner of Italy.

Its climate is moderate Continental.

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2
Q

What are the primary black/red grapes used in Piemonte?

A
  • Nebbiolo
  • Barbera (most planted)
  • Dolcetto
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3
Q

What are the 2 most important red DOCGs of Piemonte?

A
  1. Barolo DOCG
  2. Barbaresco DOCG
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4
Q

What is the only red grape allowed in Barolo and Barbaresco?

A

Nebbiolo

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5
Q

What is the aging requirement for Barolo?

A

Barolo

  • 38 months, 18 of which must be in oak
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6
Q

What is the aging requirement for Barbaresco?

A

Barbaresco

  • 26 months, 9 of which must be in oak
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7
Q

If a bottle of Barolo has just “Barolo” on it, where can the grapes come from that go into that wine?

A

The grapes can come from any of the several villages that make up the Barolo DOCG.

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8
Q

If the grapes for a Barolo come from just one village or just one vineyard, what appears on the label?

A

You’ll see Barolo + name of village (e.g. Serralunga d’Alba, La Morra) or Barolo + name of cru (e.g. Villero, Francia).

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9
Q

Is Nebbiolo an early or late ripener?

A

Nebbiolo is a late ripener.

Note the pale color (Nebbiolo is thin skinned but packed with tannins).

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10
Q

What is the first red grape to ripen in Piemonte?

A

Dolcetto

Note the purple color.

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11
Q

What is the white grape in Gavi DOCG?

A

100% Cortese

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12
Q

Which mountains create a rain shadow in Piemonte, protecting the region from northern winds?

A

The Alps

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13
Q

What are the weather threats in Piemonte?

A
  • summertime hail
  • fog, which can lead to underripe grapes or rot
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14
Q

What are the 2 primary white grapes in Piemonte?

A
  • Moscato (most planted)
  • Cortese
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15
Q

Are there any IGPs or IGTs in Piemonte?

A

No, Piemonte has only DOCs and DOCGs.

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16
Q

What is the altitude range for vineyards in Barolo?

Which direction do the most important vineyards in Barolo face?

A

300-500m

Most vineyards in Barolo face south.

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17
Q

What is the altitude range for vineyards in Barbaresco?

A

200-400m

Lower altitude means Nebbiolo ripens earlier in Barbaresco, making Barbaresco usually a bit fruitier than traditional Barolo.

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18
Q

Which DOCG can be on a wine if the Cortese grapes only come from the village of Gavi itself?

A

Gavi di Gavi DOCG

Light body, high acid, citrus, pear/apple aromas

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19
Q

Barbera d’Alba is a DO____.

Barbera d’Asti is a DO____.

A

Barbera d’Alba DOC

Barbera d’Asti DOCG

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20
Q

Which Dolcetto DOC is generally viewed as the one making better Dolcetto?

A

Dolcetto d’Alba DOC

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21
Q

Veneto lies on what sea?

A

The Adriatic

Venice is in the eastern part of the Veneto.

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22
Q

What lake is on Veneto’s western border?

How does this lake influence the winegrowing area around it?

A

Lake Garda

Breezes off the lake cool down vineyards in the western portion of the Veneto.

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23
Q

What is the main red grape in Valpolicella DOC and Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG?

A

Corvina

It has a profile of sour cherry and high acidity.

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24
Q

Grapes grown on the valley floor in Valpolicella use which DOC?

Grapes grown in the foothills of Valpolicella use which DOC?

A

Valley floor: Valpolicella DOC

Foothills: Valpolicella Classico DOC

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25
Q

What are the soils of Valpolicella DOC?

What are the soils of Valpolicella Classico DOC?

Which is more fertile?

A

Valpolicella DOC – gravel and sand (more fertile)

Valpolicella Classico DOC – limestone, clay, and volcanic

26
Q

Valpolicella Classico DOC and Soave Classico DOC, both located in their respective foothills, have similar soils.

What are those soils?

A

Limestone, clay, and volcanic rock

27
Q

What are the 2 styles of red wines in Veneto made using the passito process?

A
  1. Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG
  2. Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG
28
Q

When a winemaker knows they’re going to use the passito process, when do they harvest the grapes and when do they start fermenting them?

A

Harvested early to retain high acidity

Ferment the grapes after they’ve dried indoors, which takes months, so fermentation doesn’t start until mid-winter.

29
Q

How is Valpolicella Ripasso made?

A

Fresh, just-fermented Valpolicella DOC wine is poured over drained but unpressed skins left over from Amarone or Recioto production; both are racked into a different container where a secondary alcoholic fermentation occurs giving the Valpolicella Ripasso more structure and richness.

30
Q

Recioto della Valpolicella is made with fresh, semi-dried, or fully dried grapes?

A

Recioto della Valpolicella is made with semi-dried grapes, which are dried on straw mats prior to fermentation.

There is still so much sugar in these partially dehydrated grapes that fermentation stops naturally.

31
Q

Recioto della Valpolicella wines are dry, semi-sweet, or sweet?

A

Recioto della Valpolicella wines are sweet.

They’re also high in alcohol, high in tannins, and full bodied.

32
Q

Which sparkling wine DOC in Veneto is shared with Friuli?

A

Prosecco DOC

Prosecco DOC puts out >2,000,000 hl of wine annually.

33
Q

What 2 influences help cool down the warm climate of Veneto?

A
  1. Cool breezes from Lake Garda
  2. Diurnal shifts that affect vineyards planted in the foothills of The Alps
34
Q

The flat plains in southern Veneto, where a lot of inexpensive wine is made, are affected by what?

A

Moisture and fog coming from the Pò River, which increases disease pressure and therefore the need for spraying.

35
Q

The vineyards on the flat land near the Pò River are planted mostly to which grapes?

Under which IGT are these grapes usually bottled?

A

These high-yielding grapes go into inexpensive wines usually bottled under Veneto IGT.

Whites

  • Pinot Grigio
  • Chardonnay
  • Garganega
  • Trebbiano

Reds

  • Merlot
  • Corvina
36
Q

Many wines that have been labeled as Veneto IGT are now using this newer DOC.

In what year was this newer DOC launched?

A
  • delle Venezie;
  • 2017.
37
Q

Describe the 2 distinct areas of Soave.

A
  1. Northern foothills
    • soils are limestone, clay, and some volcanic rock
    • grapes ripen slowly due to altitude
    • resulting wines have higher acid and can age
  2. Southern flat plain
    • soils are sandy and alluvial
    • grapes ripen faster
    • resulting wines are fruitier and are meant to be drunk young
38
Q

What is the main grape used in Soave and Soave Classico?

A

Garganega

You don’t need to know this for the exam, but the other grapes permitted in Soave and Soave Classico are Trebbiano di Soave and Chardonnay.

39
Q

Grapes grown in the foothills in Soave can use which DOC?

A

Soave Classico DOC

40
Q

Amarone della Valpolicella: is it dry, off-dry, or sweet?

A

Amarone della Valpolicella can be dry or off-dry.

41
Q

What is Italy’s northernmost region?

A

Alto Adige

42
Q

How are the majority of wines from Trentino-Alto Adige labelled: by grape variety, by fantasy name, or by zone?

A

By grape variety

43
Q

What are the main white grapes of Alto Adige?

And the main white grapes of Trentino?

A

Alto Adige

  • Pinot Grigio
  • Gewurztraminer
  • Chardonnay
  • Pinot Blanc

Trentino

  • Pinot Grigio
  • Chardonnay
44
Q

What are the main red grapes of Alto Adige?

And the main red grapes of Trentino?

A

Alto Adige

  • Schiava

Trentino

  • Merlot
  • Teroldego
45
Q

Are there any DOCGs in Trentino-Alto Adige?

A

No. Only DOCs in Trentino-Alto Adige.

46
Q

What is the climate of Trentino and Alto Adige?

A

Moderate climate, with cold winters and short summers with low rainfall.

47
Q

What 2 bodies of water provide moderating influences to Trentino-Alto Adige?

A
  1. Lake Garda
  2. River Adige
48
Q

Trentino-Alto Adige is in the foothills of which mountain range?

A

The Alps

Alto Adige experiences a big diurnal shift due to its being high in altitude.

49
Q

Where are vineyards planted in Alto Adige and what aspect do they have?

A

Vineyards in Alto Adige are planted on terraces on both sides of the River Adige facing southeast and southwest.

50
Q

Vineyards in Trentino are planted where: on the valley floor, on slopes, or both?

A

Vineyards in Trentino are planted both on the valley floor and on slopes, though these slopes are lower in altitude than they are in Alto Adige.

51
Q

Trentino is north or south of Alto Adige?

A

Trentino is south of Alto Adige.

It has a slightly warmer climate than Alto Adige.

52
Q

What factors make Trentino slightly warmer than Alto Adige?

A
  1. More southerly latitude;
  2. Vineyards at lower altitudes;
  3. Mountains to the west protect it from cooling breezes off Lake Garda.
53
Q

The northeastern region of Friuli abuts which countries?

A
  • Austria to the north
  • Slovenia to the east
54
Q

Friuli receives airflow from which two sources?

A
  • The Alps
  • The Adriatic
55
Q

What is the climate of northern Friuli?

What is the climate of southern Friuli?

A

Northern: moderate Continental

Southern: warm Maritime

56
Q

What is the most prevalent white grape in Friuli?

A

Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigios from Friuli are medium to full bodied, richly textured, and stone fruited.

57
Q

What is Friuli’s most prevalent red grape?

A

Merlot

58
Q

Besides Pinot Grigio, what is another important white grape in Friuli?

A

Friulano

59
Q

What are the 3 most important DOCs in Friuli?

A
  1. Friuli Grave (largest)
  2. Colli Orientali
  3. Collio (smallest)
60
Q

VSP training is quite common in northern Italy, but Pergola trellising can be found there.

What is Pergola trellising and what are its advantages?

A

Canopy trained high with fruit hanging below

Advantages:

  • provides shade, slows ripening/protects from sunburn
  • improves air flow, decreasing rot
  • good for grapes that need high acid/low sugar, e.g. grapes for sparkling wine
  • good for grapes that need to be dried after harvest, e.g. passito wines

WSET ® Level 3 Wine (40 decks)

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