Italy and Spain Oct 13th

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1) Final date for students to DROP a course without penalty is Friday, October 17th

2) "The Friday Night Wine Tasting Series"

Weekly wine tasting hosted by Barry Alberts

at

Christabelle's-Coconut Grove @ 3157

Commodore Plaza

Questions 305-793-3120

Time: 7:00pm to 9:30 pm - No Reservations

Required

Upcoming Tasting:

October 17, 2008 - Exceptional wines (91 pts +)

from California, Australia, Spain & France

3) Check out wine blog by Fred Tasker of the Miami

Herald:

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/wine_beneath_the_palms/

Italy

Ancient Italy - Roman Empire

Mythology

• Roman god of wine: Bacchus

• Bacchanalia = wild festivals took place celebrating Roman god Bacchus

• The term bacchanalia is often used to indicate wild, drunken "partying"

Italian Wine Laws

• Modeled after the French AOC system• Government controls began in 1960s; updated regularly

Main elements controlled by Italian Wine laws:

The geographical boundaries of each wine region Grape varieties that can be used Maximum yield per acre Aging requirements in barrel or bottle*

* the term RISERVA indicates longer aging

Italian Wine Classificationsfrom low to high

• Vino da Tavola (VdT) > This level is INTENDED TO BE equal to French Vin de Table

• Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT)> Equal to French Vin de Pays

• Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) > Equal to French AOC

• Denominazione di Origine Controllata Garantita (DOCG)> Since Italy does not have Grand Cru nor Premier Cru vineyards, these areas are considered the top sites

Italian Terms for "Winery"

Azienda Agricola

Azienda Vinicola

Azienda Vitivinicola

Fattoria

Podere

Tenuta

Tuscany

Chianti (Tuscany)

Main grape: SangioveseChianti is a large region divided in 7 sub-areas:

– Classico *

– Colli Aretini

– Colli Fiorentini

– Colline Pisane

– Colli Senesi

– Montalbano

– Rufina

Chianti Regions

DOCG Chianti Classico

• In 1996, Chianti Classico received its own DOCG with production regulations different from those for other Chianti wines

• Aging Requirements: Chianti Classico = 1 yearChianti Classico Riserva =2 years

• Grape varietySangiovese (at least 80%)The remaining 20% is choice of producer

2005:Gallo Nero "Black Rooster" trademark(used since 1716 by Chianti Classico producers) was made compulsory on all bottles of Chianti Classico

The Super Tuscan Phenomenon

• High-end Vino da Tavola wines made in the 1990s in Tuscany became known as “Super Tuscans”

• Old style vs. new style wines

• Use of non-traditional, non-native grape varietals

• Some famous producers: Ornellaia ($150) Sassicaia ($150) Masseto by Ornellaia ($300)

Ornellaia blend:

• Cabernet Sauvignon • Merlot• Cabernet Franc • Petit Verdot

Price = $150+

Ornellaia winery building

Ornellaia vineyard view

Super Tuscan

(by Ornellaia)

100% Merlot

Price = $300+

DOC Bolgheri

• Tenuta dell’Ornellaia was

founded in 1981 - sold as

Vino da Tavola until 1994

• In 1994 Ornellaia was

granted DOC status in

Bolgheri

• Bolgheri is home to

several Super Tuscans

Wine: Sassicaia

• Winery:

Tenuta San Guido

• Owner: Marchese Nicolo Incisa della Roccheta

• Started experimenting with Cabernet Sauvignon grapes in the 1940s

DOC Bolgheri Sassicaia

In 1994, DOC Bolgheri granted a special DOC to the Super Tuscan Sassicaia, the first ever for a wine from a single estate

Sassicaia bottle price $150+

Tenuta San Guido - Sassicaia

The Piedmont Region

The Piedmont Region

A few well-known red wines include:

DOC GRAPE• Barbera d'Alba Barbera• Barbera d'Asti Barbera

DOCG GRAPE• Barolo Nebbiolo• Barbaresco Nebbiolo

Pinot GrigioThe Pinot Grigio grape is used in

many DOC and IGT wines all over Italy

Spain

Spanish Wine Classificationsfrom low to high

• Vino de Mesa (Table wine)

• Vino de la Tierra (Country wines)

• Vino de Calidad con Indicación Geografica (VCIG)Created in 2003; after 5 years, wines can apply for DO status

• Denominación de Origen (DO) Quality-wine regions (62)

• Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOC) >Regions with a proven track record of consistent quality >Only 2 wine regions with this status: Rioja and Priorato

• Denominación de Pago (DO de Pago)>Created in 2003 for highest-quality single estates>Spain’s answer to Super-Tuscans/Vino da Tavola

Spanish wine words…

• Cosecha = harvest

• Vendimia = harvest

• Tinto = red wine

• Bodega = winery and/or wine shop

• Cava = sparkling wine from Spain

Main grape varietals in Spain

REDTempranillo a.k.a Tinto Fino, Tinto del PaisGarnachaCariñena a.k.a Mazuelo

WHITEMacabeo, Parellada & Xare-lo (for CAVA)AlbariñoViura

Most well-known Spanish wine regions

• Rioja*• Ribera del Duero• Penedés *• Priorato• Rias Baixas• Navarra• Rueda• Jerez

RIOJA: Minimum Aging Requirements(before releasing for sale)

Rioja wines are aged longer before release than any other wines in the world:

• Crianza = aged 2 years, at least 1 year in oakwhites: 6 months in oak

• Reserva = aged 3 years, at least 1 year in oak whites: 1 year, at least 6 months in oak

• Gran Reserva = aged 5 years, at least 2 years in oak whites: aged 4 years, at least 6 months in oak

DOC RiojaGrapes: Tempranillo + Garnacha + Cariñena

Marqués de Riscal winery, Rioja

Marqués de Riscal winery designed by Frank Gehry

DO Penedés

• Spain’s sparkling wine — CAVA — is made by the same method as French Champagne, Méthode Champenoise; in Spain it is referred to as Metodo Tradicional

• Most Cava in Spain (95%) is made in the Penedés region

• Grapes used in CAVA (white): Macabeo, Parellada & Xare-lo

Cava Label

Cava cellar (Codorniu winery)

Codorniu vineyard

Greece

Greek Wine in History

• Wine produced as early as 3,000 BC

• Ancient Greeks worshipped Dionysus as god of wine (in ancient Rome known as Bacchus)

• Greek wine production went into decline during the middle ages

• Greek wine revival began in 1990s

• Retsina: Pine resin added to wine

Greek Wine Classifications

• OPAP = Appellation of Origin of High Quality (dry wines)

• OPE = Controlled Appellation of Origin (sweet wines)

• Topikos Oinos (Regional Wines)

• Table Wines

Next quiz: Monday October 20

Topics:– Alsace (France)– Germany – Austria– Italy– Spain+ Wine Ratings

Good Luck!

Aromas/flavors

• Berries: strawberry, raspberry, cherry

• Aged fruit: prunes, rasisins, dried cherries

• Wood: oak, cedar, vanilla, char/toast

• Forest floor: twigs, eucalyptus, earthiness

• Caramel, spices, smoky/campfire

• Leather, tar, tobacco, Worcestershire sauce

Wine: ________________________________________________Price: _________

1 = dislike _______ 2 = like _______ 3 = love ______

Description of Nose/Aroma

_________________________________________________________________

Aroma intensity: barely perceptible_____ expressive ______concentrated/complex _____

On the Palate

ACIDS soft _____ crisp _____ high/strong ______

TANNINS soft _____ medium ______ intense ______

SWEETNESS needs more ____ just right _____ noticeable _____ cloying/sticky______

OAK PRESENCE none _____ light _____ medium ______ heavy ______

BODY/WEIGHT light _____ medium _____ full ____

FINISH/PERSISTENCE ______ short ______ medium _______ lengthy

Purchasing criteria

Do not buy at any price_______ Buy only if "priced right"______

Buy at current price______ Buy a case! Great price/value ratio______

Buy for special occasions______ Buy only as collector/showcase item _______

Wine: ________________________________________________Price: _________

1 = dislike _______ 2 = like _______ 3 = love ______

Description of Nose/Aroma

_________________________________________________________________

Aroma intensity: barely perceptible_____ expressive ______concentrated/complex _____

On the Palate

ACIDS soft _____ crisp _____ high/strong ______

TANNINS soft _____ medium ______ intense ______

SWEETNESS needs more ____ just right _____ noticeable _____ cloying/sticky______

OAK PRESENCE none _____ light _____ medium ______ heavy ______

BODY/WEIGHT light _____ medium _____ full ____

FINISH/PERSISTENCE ______ short ______ medium _______ lengthy

Purchasing criteria

Do not buy at any price_______ Buy only if "priced right"______

Buy at current price______ Buy a case! Great price/value ratio______

Buy for special occasions______ Buy only as collector/showcase item _______

Wine: ________________________________________________Price: _________

1 = dislike _______ 2 = like _______ 3 = love ______

Description of Nose/Aroma

_________________________________________________________________

Aroma intensity: barely perceptible_____ expressive ______concentrated/complex _____

On the Palate

ACIDS soft _____ crisp _____ high/strong ______

TANNINS soft _____ medium ______ intense ______

SWEETNESS needs more ____ just right _____ noticeable _____ cloying/sticky______

OAK PRESENCE none _____ light _____ medium ______ heavy ______

BODY/WEIGHT light _____ medium _____ full ____

FINISH/PERSISTENCE ______ short ______ medium _______ lengthy

Purchasing criteria

Do not buy at any price_______ Buy only if "priced right"______

Buy at current price______ Buy a case! Great price/value ratio______

Buy for special occasions______ Buy only as collector/showcase item _______