Ep. 572 Sparkling Wines | Jumbo Shrimp Guide to International Grape Varieties in Italy

Welcome to the Italian wine podcast. I'm Rebecca Lawrence. And I am Yacupofan Shule, and we are the authors of the jumbo sharing guide to Italian wine series. This show will feature generations of our second book in the series. You guys to tell your mind international regularities. We wrote this book for Curzwain lovers. Especially those who enjoy the idea of having a lighthearted and entertaining crash course into this very broad topic. Journey through the world of Italian wine. Hello. And while welcome to another installment of the second jumbo shrimp guide to Italian wine. International Great varieties in Italy presented by the Italian wine podcast. My name is Joy Livingston, and I'll be your narrator for this series. The jumbo shrimp guide Italian wine international grape varieties in Italy is the new book from Positive Press and if you're wondering how to get a copy of the book, the kindle version will soon be available on Amazon, and the paperback will likewise be available from Positivepress dot net. Donate to the Italian wine podcast, and we'll send you a complimentary paperback copy of the book. Wait. I should rephrase that. It seems like last time I said this, a one dollar donation cost us thirty dollars to ship to to Pakistan. Seriously not cool dude. So by donating a minimum of ten dollars to the Italian wine podcast, we'll send you a free copy of the book. Find details at italia wine podcast dot com. And remember, to rate our show wherever you listen to your podcasts. The international dominance in sparkling wine. If we exclude for the moment Italy's undisputed sparkling wine juggernaut prosseco. We can say that much of the history and success of Italian sparkling wines are linked to the presence and diffusion of international varieties in Italy. In fact, this is the case for many sparkling wines around the world. As Champagne from France really led the way and gained the first global reputation for sparkling wines made with a second fermentation in the bottle. The method that gives yeast, toasty, and biscuity aromas, and flavors to the finished wine. This is obviously one of the main reasons why the grapes planted in the Champagne region of France. Have been carried around the world, but also grapes of chardonnay and pinot noir are ideal for sparkling wines as they can grow in cool climates. Have excellent acidity levels and can be made into wines neutral enough for the fruit character not to hide or overpower the autolytic yeast character. The sparkling wines of Italy have long been ambitious and striving to produce Afro Veth in wines able to compete with the most renowned bubbles in the world. The first example can be dated from as early as eighteen sixty when winemaker and innovator carlo Gancha. Took it upon himself to deepen his knowledge about the production of Champagne and then bring this knowledge back to Italy to experiment with the traditional method for the production of Moscato based sparkling wine in the area of Asti. Later, other key figures in the history of Italian winemaking began their own experiments with the production of sparkling wines. In particular, Antonio Carpeini. In Coneliano, in eighteen sixty eight, and Julia Ferrari, in Trento, in nineteen o two. As the initial inspiration came from Champania, In most cases, the grapes used for the production of Italian sparkling wines are pinot noir and chardonnay. However, there are a myriad of sparkling wines made from native grapes and sparkling wines in Italy. Has established itself as a high quality category in order to protect its image and production in nineteen seventy five, a group of big names in the Italian Sparkling wine industry founded the instituto Italian Espumante classical which aim to protect wines produced with the traditional method, reformatted in bottles. And to promote their diffusion and knowledge in Italy and abroad. The founding members were the owners of the company's Gansha, La Verza, Carpene Maloborti, Contratto Ferari, Antinori, and Duke Antonio Denari. In nineteen sixty six, the Institute was renamed Instituteo Tallento. This group aimed to identify the sparkling wines produced in Italy using a second fermentation in bottle in specifically defined areas. According to strict production rules and using chardonnay, Pino narrow, and pinot bianco grapes produced in the dock areas of Piamonte, lombardy, Trentino, alto adige, veneto, and friuli Veneza, Julia. Despite the fact that many doc or DOCG areas include sparkling wine types within their rules and that many of these are made with native grapes, there are a series of select denominations that focus on sparkling wines made with international varieties. Let's look specifically at those you absolutely must get to know. This story begins in nineteen o two when Julia Feradi, after having studied at the Agriculture School of San Mikale Aladighe and the Institute of Viticulture in Montelier. Set up a small winery and began to produce a wine with re fermentation in the bottle using chardonnay and pinot noir. The success of this first experiment and the exponential growth over the years in the number of bottles produced meant that by the sixties, a growing number of trentino producers began to follow his example. And in nineteen ninety three, the sparkling wine produced in trentino up obtain the recognition of the denomination of origin, Trento doc. The wines are required to undergo a minimum of fifteen months of bottle aging to meet the denomination's requirements. Francha Corta, d o c g. The history of Franca Corta begins in Lombardi in nineteen sixty one. When the winemaker, released the first three thousand bottles of a mezzolo classico sparkling wine, christening the product, pinot di Franca Corta. This is also the first time that the name Franca Corta appears on the label of a wine. The vines used at the time were with the possible addition of pinot grillo and pinot grillo. Then in the following years, chardonnay began to replace pinot grillo in the blend. And indeed now Pino Grijo is no longer allowed in the blend. In the seventies, Franca Corta began its rise to prominence. In this period, a large number of entrepreneurs began to buy land and plant vineyards in Franca Corta. Interpreneurs in the eighties, on the other hand, who were interested in new vineyards or in need of modernization had the foresight to establish themselves despite the fact that Enology was not their sector recognizing the commercial potential of this style of wine. The establishment of the consortium in the nineties gave life to the Franca Corta and Franca Corta DOCG era as we know them today. These sparkling wines are categorized by their sweetness level in the same way as Champagne. They can be brute, extra brute, meaning vintage. And in addition, there is the term satin, a unique category in Franca Corta with less pressure which therefore gives a more delicate froth leading to the reference to satin, the Italian word for silk. The bottle aging requirements differ depending on the type. So these might be helpful things to remember when looking at labels. Minimum aging on the Lee's duration in months. Franca Corta eighteen. Franca Corta Rosa twenty four. Francha Corta Saten twenty four, Franca Corta mila Cimato, thirty. Francha Corta satin Milasimato thirty, Franca Corta, Reserve, sixty. Franca Corta Rosela, sixty, Franca Cortain reserva, sixty. Arta, DOCG. Arta Langa, DOCG, Is the brewed sparkling wine of Piermont? Its history is both long and somewhat unclear. It was actually the first metodaux classical wine to be produced in Italy. Having been made since the mid nineteenth century in a series of underground cathedrals that are now recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site. While historically, the grapes used to produce it were Today, the wine is made from pinot noir and chardonnay. It can be white or rose, brut or past docile, meaning without any added sugar and has a very long aging time on yeasts. Requiring at least thirty months. Notably, the Alta Langna sparklers are exclusively made as Mila Cimato. They are always vintage wines. Given the great quality of pinot noir being grown in the territory of Olprepo pavese, neighboring Piamanteze sparkling wine producers were attracted to this territory with a view to create an Italian Champagne. Thus, in eighteen sixty five carlo Gancha, join the count Carlo Georgi De Vistarino, a local landowner in Lombardi, to give life to the first sparkling wines at his eponymous estate. While in nineteen o seven, the engineer domenico Maxa Lee Cotevila hired an inologist from Reims to perfect his own sparkling wine on his property, Montelio, Later in the wine's history, he was awarded first place at the National Exhibition of Milan in nineteen eighty four. In nineteen o seven, the SVIC, Socceta Vignikola Italiana Castegio, was founded. And by nineteen twelve, it had already reached Great Heights with its name appearing on a flashy billboard next to the Statue of Liberty in New York. It has continued to gain popularity and is really beginning to make a name for it off as a stand out sparkling wine made from red grapes, as the Otrepo pavese me to do classico is made from pinotaro grapes, and must experience a minimum aging in the bottle of fifteen months or twenty four for the rizzera. One of the key things about the international variety sparkling wines in Italy, particularly in contrast to their French counterparts, is that the climate really impacts the fruit character of the wines. Many of the me to do classical wines have longer aging periods on the leaves. One of the reasons for this is that with the lower latitude and longer sunshine hours, the fruit profile of the wines can be much richer. Therefore, the base wines can withstand greater time on the leaves without completely overpowering the fruit. As a result, the sparkling wines of Italy give both powerful fruit and yeast flavors, as well as a delicious texture. Another standout point is the addition of Pinobianco to the wines in Franca Corta. This adds an aromatic profile, and this adds a different layer of aromas altogether. This shows how Italian producers have been able to take the international style of sparkling wine and really make it their own. Thank you for listening to this episode of the jumbo shrimp guide to Italian wine International Great varieties, the second and newest book in the jumbo shrimp series. We plan to continue bringing you more episodes each Thursday and remember the kindle version of the book will soon be available on Amazon, and the paperback will likewise be available from Positivepress dot net. Also, rate our show wherever you tune in, find Italian wine podcast on Facebook and Instagram. Our Twitter handle is at ita wine podcast. Check out at mama jumbo shrimp on TikTok.