Diploma Unit 3 Southern Italy Robert Scibelli, DWS

Does Sangiovese have what it takes to make internationally successful wines today? Discuss with specific reference to the wines and regions of Central Italy.

SOUTHERN ITALY & THE ISLANDS SARDEGNA CALABRIA S I C I L I A ABRUZZI BIFERNO MOLISE CASTEL DEL MONTE LAZIO PUGLIA TAURASI Bari GRECO DI TUFO VERMENTINO DI GALLURA PUGLIA Brindisi Napoli Taranto SALICE SALENTINO CAMPANIA BASILICATA FIANO DI AVELLINO SARDEGNA AGLIANICO DEL VULTURE R. Tirso Nuoro CALABRIA Oristano CIRO CARIGNANO DEL SULCIS Cagliari Palermo Marsala MARSALA Mt Etna S I C I L I A SOUTHERN ITALY & THE ISLANDS ©WSET®2003

Southern Italy Topics Campania (Campagna) Taurasi, Greco di Tufo, Fiano di Avelino, Falerno, IGT Wines Sicilia (Sicily) Alcamo, Cerasuolo, Passito di Pantelleria, IGT Wines Puglia (Apulia) Salice Salentino, Primitivo de Manduria, IGT Basilicata: Aglianico del Vulture Calabria: Cirò Sardegna (Sardinia) Cannonau di Sardegna, Vermentino di Gallura

Campania & Basilicata Campania Basilicata Taurasi DOCG Greco di Tufo DOCG Fiano di Avelino DOCG Falerno del Massico DOC IGT Wines Basilicata Aglianico del Vulture DOC

Campania

Taurasi

Taurasi DOCG AGLIANICO (85% minimum) Medium Thick Skin (some rot resistance) Late Ripening, High Tannin and Acid Wild Cherry, Black Currant, Frutti di Bosco Ages to Red Fruits, Tar and Leather Possible addition of Piedirosso Sciascinoso, Aleatico, Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese Three years ageing with one in wood Riserva: additional year ageing

Vineyards at Taurasi

Campania White Wines Fiano di Avellino DOCG Greco di Tufo DOCG Best at Medium-low Yields Small Berry, Small Bunch Subtlety of Flavor and Aroma Apple, Pear, Pineapple, Hazelnut max. 15% Greco a/o Coda di Volpe bianca a/o Trebbiano Toscano Greco di Tufo DOCG Wines of Body and Extract Late Maturing, Susceptible to Rot Likes Sulphur Rich Soils and Dry Growing Conditions Not known for its aromatics tending toward the earthy, modern versions can intensify the aromatics adding ripe fruits and almond Also spumante (min. 85% Greco,  max. 15% Coda di Volpe Bianca)

Campania Mixed Wines Falerno del Massico DOC Bianco: Falanghina Rosso: 60-80% Aglianico, 20-40% Piedirosso, Barbera a/o Primitivo to 20% Monovarietale Rosso: Primitivo (min. 85%, plus Aglianico a/o Piedirosso a/o Barbera) Lacri(y)ma Christi del Vesuvio DOC Extension of DOC to wines with higher minimum alcohol (12%) and lower yields. Versions: bianco, spumante naturale, rosato, rosso, liquoroso

Aglianico del Vulture DOC All wines 100% Aglianico Normale: 12 months ageing, not to be released prior to November 1° following the vintage. Spumante: As Normale Vecchio: 36 months minimum ageing with 24 months in wood. Riserva: 60 months minimum ageing with 24 months in wood.

Basilicata

Sicilia Sicilia (Sicily) Alcamo DOC Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG Catarratto + Grecanico, Trebbiano to 20% Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG Also Classico: 50-70% Nero d'Avola, 30-50% Frappato Passito di Pantelleria DOC liquoroso, spumante, passito liquoroso 85% Zibibbo (Moscato di Alessandria) IGT Wines

Sicilia Black Grapes NERO D’AVOLA OTHER Given to Deep Color High Sugar and Tannin Levels Firm and Fixed Acidity (Tartaric) Dark Fruits, Plum, Chocolate OTHER Frappato Nerello (Mascalese, Cappuccio) Perricone

Sicilia White Grapes CATARRATTO INZ(S)OLIA (ANSONICA) CARRICANTE MALVASIA MOSCATO (ZIBIBBO) GRILLO

Calabria Cirò DOC Predominant red grape variety in Calabria Possibly of Greek origin Thrives in dry conditions and reaches high sugar levels which result in robust, if rarely subtle, wines. Bianco (min. 90% Greco bianco, max. 10% Trebbiano Toscano) Rosato, Rosso (95% Gaglioppo, max. 5% Trebbiano Toscano and Greco)  Frappao: The vine, however, is very common in Sicily, especially in the area around Vittoria. The grapes ripen around the first week of September and produce flavorful wines with hints of marasca cherry and pomegranate. It is one of the base grapes used in the making of Cerasuolo di Vittoria wine and is part of the specification for the Eloro DOC wine.

Cirò

Puglia Salice Salentino DOC Copertino DOC Bianco min. 70% Chardonnay Monovarietale Bianco Pinot Bianco (min. 85%, with Chardonnay a/o Sauvignon max. 15%) Rosato, Rosso min. 80% Negroamaro, plus Malvasia Nera di Lecce a/o di Brindisi Monovarietale Rosso min 85% Aleatico plus negroamaro a/o malvasia nera a/o primitivo max Copertino DOC Min 70% Negroamaro, max 30% Malvasia Nera di Brindisi a/o di Leccea/o Montepulciano a/o Sangiovese (max 15%) Second largest high volume producer, mostly bulk, but a growth in quality. Interest in quality IGT from this region – Hot maritime climate.

Puglia Primitivo di Manduria DOC Locorotondo DOC IGT Wines 50%-60% Verdeca, 30%-35% Bianco d’Alessano Up to 5% Fiano a/o Bombino a/o Malvasia Toscana IGT Wines 6 IGT categories Second largest high volume producer, mostly bulk, but a growth in quality. Interest in quality IGT from this region – Hot maritime climate.

Puglia Black Grapes NEGROAMARO PRIMITIVO OTHER: Albania? Xinomavro? Stable and Reliable, Depending on Harvest a Range of Wines Possible Lush Black Fruit with a Bitter Edge PRIMITIVO Early Ripener (two harvests) High in Sugar Brother of Zinfandel, Son of Crljenak Kastelanski OTHER: Uva di Troia; Malvasia Nera; Aleatico

Puglia Black Grapes NEGROAMARO PRIMITIVO OTHER: Albania? Xinomavro? Stable and Reliable, Depending on Harvest a Range of Wines Possible Lush Black Fruit with a Bitter Edge PRIMITIVO Early Ripener (two harvests) High in Sugar Brother of Zinfandel, Son of Crljenak Kastelanski OTHER: Uva di Troia; Malvasia Nera; Aleatico

Puglia White Grapes Verdeca Bianco D’Alessano Pampanuto Bombino Bianco

Cannonau di Sardegna DOC Min. 90% Subzones of Oliena, Capo Ferrato, and Jerzu Vermentino di Gallura DOCG 95% Vermentino Large potential due to Geography and Climate Varietal Wine produced from Vermentino and Cannonau

According to the data released by the Chambers of Commerce of Cagliari, Oristano, Nuoro and Sassari, the production of DOCG wines accounts for the 3.02% of the total, the DOC for the 17.42%, the IGT for the 2.97%, with the remaining 76.59% good quality table wine.

Sardinia Black Grapes Cannonau Other: Medium Vigor but High Production Higher Slopes Better for “Elegance” Not Rich in Color, Tannin or Acid Fruity (Strawberry, Raspberry) and Peppery Other: Carignano; Monica; Bovale; Cagnulari, Nieddera; Nebbiolo?? The origin of the Cannonau vine is not documented, but the enological community has agreed with the hypothesis that it was brought to Sardinia by the Spaniards at the time of their domination of the island.Recent discoveries though, appears to squarely contradict this theory. Whatever the roots, the Cannonau found in Sardinia the ideal environment, and the local vintners have planted it virtually all over the island, so much so, that it it accounts for the 20% of all vineyards in the region. The Cannonau grapes are used to make red and rosé wines with high alcohol content, its DOC zone covers the whole island and

Sardinia White Grapes VERMENTINO OTHER: Both Light and Superiore Versions in Gallura All Styles Exist Elsewhere Tropical Fruit (But Quite Flexible) OTHER: Nuragus; Vernaccia do Oristano (Oristano); Nasco; Malvasia; Moscato