An Overview of Italy

An Overview of Italy The Main Regions of Italy Abbruzzo - Location o East central Italy with significant coastline on the Adriatic Sea to the south the Marche Region. If you travel straight east from Rome, you would find yourself in Abruzzo. - Climate o Mediterranean with hot and dry summers and moderate to cool winters. Abruzzo is very mountainous so there are plenty of microclimates due to altitude and different aspects - Geology o Can be divided into two areas: . The internal mountainous area, which is characterized by a continental climate and represents over 65% of the entire territory of the region . The coastal area with its many hills and temperate climate o In general, the soils are mostly alluvial, with some outcrops of granite and limestone. - Important Grape Varieties o Red Varieties . Montepulciano The most widespread grape variety here and represents over half of the regional ampelographic base, as well as being the grape variety which serves as reference point for the DOC Montepulciano d'Abruzzo o White Varieties Trebbiano d'Abruzzo – wines are golden in color, typically dry but fruit-forward, with delicate aromatics and refreshingly high acidity. Most are stainless steel but there are some barrel fermentation and/or maturation examples. - Relevant Appellations o Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC . Red wine that be made from a minimum of 85% Montepulciano variety . May be produced in all four of Abruzzo’s provinces: Chieti, L’Aquila, Pescara, and Teramo . Riserva wines must be aged for at least 2 years, including 9 months in wood Friuli-Venezia Giulia - Location o Located in the far north-eastern corner of Italy, bound by the borders with Austria and Slovenia (to the north and east respectively), which follow the contours of the eastern Alps. o The most significant mountains in this area are the Julian Alps, hence the appendix Giulia in the region's name. To the south lies the Gulf of Trieste (the northern tip of the Adriatic Sea), and to the west. - Climate o The region has a temperate climate. However, due to the terrain's diversity, it varies considerably from one area to another. Walled by the Alps on its northern flank, the region is exposed to air masses from the East and the West. The region also receives the southerly Scirocco from the Adriatic Sea, which brings in heavy rainfall. Along the coast the climate is mild and pleasant. Trieste records the smallest temperature differences between winter and summer and between day and night. The climate is Alpine-continental in the mountainous areas, where, in some locations, the coldest winter temperatures in Italy can often be found. The Kras plateau has its own weather and climate, influenced, mostly during autumn and winter, by masses of cold air coming from the North-East. These generate a very special feature of the local climate: the north-easterly wind Bora, which blows over the Gulf of Trieste with gusts occasionally exceeding speeds of 150 km/h. o There is frequent problems with hail - Geology o The most important influence on Friuli-Venezia Giulia's vineyards is their position between the Alps and the Adriatic. The mountainous topography in the north and east lifts many vineyards above the low-lying clouds that are sometimes trapped between the hills and the coast. This allows the vines to bask in bright sunshine without overheating, allowing the grapes to develop full phenolic complexity and aromatic depth before their sugar levels peak. o Lower down and closer to the coast, maritime conditions moderate the diurnal temperature variation and create more stable, reliable weather, offering local producers the luxury of choice in their terroir. o Most vineyards are on glacial moraine – a gritty mixture of sand, gravel, and sediment deposited during the Ice Age. - Grape Varieties o Range of local varieties including: . Pinot Grigio, Picolit, Verduzzo, and Friulano o International varieties are popular here as well, including, . Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot - Relevant Appellations o There are three DOCG appellations and 10 DOCs within the Friuli borders. We will consider the Goriška Brda appellation across the border into Slovenia in this section, as it is really just a continuation of Friuli’s climate, location and geology. o Friuli Grave DOC - largest DOC in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, made up of approximately 16,000 acres (6500ha) of vineyards . Location: The area extends from the province of Udine in the east towards the province of Pordenone in the west and is divided east from west by the Tagliamento River. The west stretches from the foothills of the Julian Alps to the sea and borders Veneto, while the eastern side covers a huge area of the central Friuli plains. Soil: The soil is similar to the Graves in Bordeaux o The name Friuli Grave derives from the alluvial, often gravelly soil that characterizes the zone. The extensive stretch of stones beneath the vines reflects heat and light during the day to help the grapes ripen, as well as acting like a radiator during the night to maintain a constant and even mesoclimate. Climate: The east part of the region offers cooler temperatures and higher rainfall, while the west has a more maritime climate. The nearby Adriatic Sea tempers the heat, and the vineyards on the plains are also protected from the cold air currents coming from the north by the curve of the foothills of the Alps. Grape Varieties: Predominant White Varieties o Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Friulano, Pinot Grigio Predominant Red Varieties o Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Pinot Nero o Friuli Aquelia DOC . Location: Located on the lowlands in the southern part of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Climate: The area enjoys a temperate maritime climate thanks to its close proximity to the Adriatic Sea, which keeps it well ventilated in the summer and reduces humidity. Soil: The vines also benefit from two soil environments that are excellent for growing vines: o In the north the soils are glacial and alluvial, comprising clay and gravel o In the south sandy loess dominates. The wines reflect this excellent terroir by displaying exceptional, distinctive aromas. Grape Varieties Predominant White Varieties o Chardonnay, Malvasia, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Friulano Predominant Red Varieties o Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Refosco o Goriška Brda, Slovenia . Location: Very west side of Slovenia extending through the state border into Italy. In the southern part, the vineyards end into the Friuli valley. Climate: Mediterranean Climate o Because of the exposure of the Goriška Brda region towards the south and west a warm and sunny climate prevails. Soils: Sandstone and limestone. It is poor with organic and mineral substances . Grape Varieties: Predominant White Varieties o Rebula, Pikolit, Friulano, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio Predominant Red Varieties o Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc Marche - Location o Region in east central Italy on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, sandwiched between Abruzzo to the south, Umbria to the west and the eastern part of Emilia-Romagna to the north - Climate o Mediterranean with hot and dry summers, but with varying microclimates in the mountains to the east - Geology o Calcareous clay and limestone-rich soils - Grape Varieties o Verdicchio is the main white variety with the highest quality potential o Montepulciano and Sangiovese are the most relevant red varieties - Wine Styles o Still red and white wines, both varietal focused and blends - Relevant Appellations o Verdicchio di Matelica DOC . Location Landlocked, up in the mountains in the west of the region . Climate Vineyards are located at altitudes of over 1300 ft. Different microclimates but overall continental with cold winters . Geology Mineral rich with a calcareous clay content . Grape Variety Verdicchio, with small portions of Malvasia and Trebbiano allowed . Wine Style Known for its fresh and fragrant character displaying slightly sharper characteristics than its more well-known neighbor, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, which is located closer to the Adriatic Still and dry white. Spumante versions are allowed Piemonte - History o In 1995, a systematic revision of the entire DOC system of Piemonte produced Italy’s first overall regional DOC. The territory was divided into six broad zones: Piemonte, Langhe, Monferrato, Colline Novarese (the province of Novara, Coste della Sesia), the Colline Vercellesi, and Canavese (the Carema and Erbaluce di Caluso zones to the north of Turin). o Each of the region’s cultivated varieties can be used either for a smaller, more geographically restricted DOC or DOCG or declassified into a large, more general, and hence ‘lower’ DOC. The Nebbiolo of Barolo, for example, can become either a Barolo DOCG or Langhe Nebbiolo DOC . The Barbera cultivated in the province of Asti can be used either for the Barbera d’Asti, Monferrato Rosso, or Barbera Piemonte DOCs. o ‘Lower’ appellations allow both higher yields and lower alcoholic strength. The new system, in theory, allows all of Piemonte’s wine to achieve DOC status. - Location o Piemonte is a qualitatively outstanding and highly distinctive wine region in north-west Italy whose principal city is Turin. It sits at the foot of the Western Alps, which encircle the region to the north and west. o It is bordered to the south by the Liguria region on the Ligurian coast, to the east by Lombardia, to the north by Valle d’Aosta region and Switzerland - Climate o Alpine climate to the north closer to Switzerland, continental to the east towards Lombardia, and more Mediterranean to the south towards Liguria. o Average summer temperatures and rainfall are very similar to those in Bordeaux. o Fog is a mainstay in the region - Geology o Vines are planted at altitudes which can vary from about 150 m to above 400 m (490- 1150 ft.), with the best, south-facing sites typically devoted to Nebbiolo, while the coolest positions are planted with Dolcetto (or Moscato in zones in which it is grown).

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