1. Unit 7 Sparkling Wines, Dessert Wines, & Spirits Italian Wine Central™
Italian Wine Professional™ Course
2014 1

2. What we will cover Introduction
Refresher on viticulture and winemaking as they relate to sparkling and sweet wines
Denominations for sparkling wines and their associated grape varieties
Denominations for dessert wines and their associated grape varieties
Vermouth
Grappa
Italian desserts
Italian language practice 1

3. Learning objectives
Grapegrowing and winemaking techniques for sparkling and dessert wines in Italy
Commercially significant sparkling and dessert wine denominations
Which region are they located in?
Sparkling/dessert wines only, or other styles as well?
Primary grape variety or varieties
Single-variety, varietal, or blend?
Procedures for making vermouth and grappa 1a

4. Sparkling Wine 2

5. Making Sparkling Wine
Photo courtesy, Franciacorta consorzio 3

6. Making Sparkling Wine: The Classic Method
Traditional Method
Metodo Classico 4

7. Making Sparkling Wine: The Tank Method
Charmat Method
Metodo Charmat
Metodo Martinotti 5

8. Making Sparkling Wine: Grape Varieties6

9. Making Sparkling Wine: Grape Varieties
Classic Method
Champagne
Italy
Looking first at sparkling wines made by the classic method, [Click] Champagne in France is the world standard for this style of sparkling wine, and its grapes are: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and/or Pinot Meunier.
In Italy, Pinot Meunier is rare; Italian metodo classico wines typically use: [Click] Chardonnay, Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir), and/or Pinot Bianco (Pinot Blanc).
Pinot Grigio or other local grapes are authorized in some regions.
Chardonnay
Pinot Noir
Pinot Meunier
Chardonnay
Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir)
Pinot Bianco
Sometimes others 7

10. Making Sparkling Wine: Grape Varieties
Tank Method
An Italian specialty
Primary grape varieties in Italy:
Glera
Moscato
Lambrusco 8

11. Making Sparkling Wine: Grape Varieties
Chardonnay
Pinot Bianco
Pinot Nero
GLERA
MOSCATO
Brachetto
Lambrusco 9

12. Making Sparkling Wine: Styles
Sparkling wines come in many styles
Color:
White
Rosato (Rosé)
Red
Effervescence:
Spumante (sparkling)
Frizzante (fizzy)
Sweetness levels:
Brut nature/Dosaggio zero
Extra brut
Brut
Extra dry
Secco
Abboccato
Dolce
Photo by Lauren Bosak (Flickr: Kaydee & Prosecco) [CC-BY-SA-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons 10

13. Photo by Fabrizio Sciami (Flickr: Un brindisi per Riccardo), CC-BY-SA-2.0, via Wikimedia Commons11

14. Classic-Method Sparkling Wine DOPs
Trento DOC
Franciacorta DOCG
Permitted grape varieties:
Chardonnay
Pinot Nero
Pinot Bianco (except Alta Langa)
Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG
Alta Langa DOCG 12

15. Prosecco  Glera Prosecco 13
Photo by John W. Schulze from Tejas (Prosecco vineyards), CC-BY-SA-2.0, via Wikimedia Commons 13

16. FRIULI–VENEZIA GIULIA
Prosecco
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG
FRIULI–VENEZIA GIULIA
Asolo Prosecco DOCG
Prosecco DOC
VENETO 14

17. Two styles of wine from one denomination: Asti (sparkling)
Asti & Moscato d’Asti
Two styles of wine from one denomination:
Asti (sparkling)
Moscato d’Asti (frizzante)
Both 100% Moscato
PIEDMONT
Asti
Asti DOCG 15

18. Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG
PIEDMONT
Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG
Asti
Asti
Asti DOCG
Alta Langa DOCG 16

19. Lambrusco Lambrusco DOCs EMILIA ROMAGNA
Bologna
Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce DOC
Lambrusco di Sorbara DOC
Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro DOC 17

20. “Dessert wine” definitions Any wine served after a meal Any sweet wine
Any high-alcohol wine 18

21. How dessert wines are made
Making Dessert Wine
Most dessert wines start with unusually sweet grapes
How dessert wines are made
Harvested later than normal
With botrytis
Dried after harvest 19

22. Making Dessert Wine: Late Harvest
Vendemmia Tardiva 20

23. Making Dessert Wine: Botrytis
Botrytis cinerea =
Muffa nobile 21

24. Making Dessert Wine: Dried Grapes
Photo courtesy, Tommasi Family Estates 22

25. Making Dessert Wine: Dried Grapes
Appassimento
Photo courtesy, Azienda Agricola Alberto Coffele 23

26. Grapes harvested when ripe
Making Dessert Wine: Dried Grapes
Grapes harvested when ripe
Appassimento
(drying process)
Dried grapes
Fermentation
Passito wines 24

27. Making Dessert Wine: Grape Varieties
Common grape varieties used for making dessert wine:
Trebbiano
Sangiovese
Malvasia
Moscato
Aleatico
Whatever varieties are grown locally for dry wines 25

28. Vin Santo del Chianti Classico DOC
Florence
Siena
Vin Santo del Chianti DOC
Vin Santo is a style of wine in Maremma Toscana DOC
Photo by Paolo Piscolla, CC-BY-SA-2.0, via Wikimedia Commons 26

29. Occhio di Pernice = Eye of the Partridge Vin Santo 27
Photo of Red-legged Partridge by Juan Lacruz (own work), CC-BY-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons 27

30. Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG
Recioto di Gambellara DOCG
Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG
Verona
Venice
Recioto di Soave DOCG 28

31. Dessert Wines of Southern Italy
Primitivo di Manduria Dolce Naturale DOCG
Marsala DOC
Pantelleria DOC 29

32. Vermouth, Liqueurs, and Grappa
Vermouth = Aromatized wine
Liqueur = Sweetened aromatized spirits
Amaro: Bitter and sweet
Limoncello, amaretto, etc.: Sweet but not usually bitter
Grappa = Distilled spirit made from pomace 30

33. 31

34. Vermouth, Liqueurs, and Grappa
Vermouth = Aromatized wine
Liqueur = Sweetened aromatized spirits
Amaro: Bitter and sweet
Limoncello, amaretto, etc.: Sweet but not usually bitter
Grappa = Distilled spirit made from pomace 32

35. Italian Desserts 33

36. Italian Desserts: Cookies
Mostaccioli
Cantucci
Sicilian almond cookies 34

37. Italian Desserts: Cakes
Cassata cake
Pandoro 35

38. Italian Desserts: Pastries and Fried Dough
Apple strudel
Sfrappole
Castagnole 36

39. Italian Desserts: Pastries and Fried Dough
Sfogliatelle
Cannoli
Zeppole 37

40. Italian Desserts: Puddings
Panna cotta
Zabaione (Zabaglione)
Tiramisù 38

41. Italian Desserts: Gelato39

42. Intro to the Italian Language: Effervescence and Sweetness Terms
Spumante = Sparkling
Frizzante = Fizzy
Spuma = Foam
Millesimato = Vintage dated
Bollicine = Bubbles
Brut = Very dry
Secco = Dry
Abboccato = Off-dry; slightly sweet
Amabile = Semisweet
Dolce = Sweet
Appassimento = The process of drying grapes
Passito = Dried-grape wine 40

43. Unit 7 Sparkling Wines, Dessert Wines, & Spirits Italian Wine Central™
Italian Wine Professional™ Course
2014 1