Lesson 4 Principle Wine Regions of the World a unique gift from nature and the earth’s geology

Deccan Plateau: powerhouse of current Indian wine production, three sub-regions (northern part centred on town of Nashik (or Nasik) – new wineries and Nasik wine park (offers small producers ability to share facilities plus tax reliefs, Sula wines (major producer here), central sub-region from Narayangaon through Pune to Baramati (home to teo important wine producers Chateau Indage and Four Seasons wines. Southern sub-region from Maharashtra and Karnataka with wine production around Sangli and Bijapur, the Krishna valley wine park near Sangli is run simliar to Nasik wine park.

Goa: west of Deccan Plateau, low altitude coastal state, towards the east it climbs in western Ghats to maximum of 1,167m. Specialised in port-like fortified wines using Vitis labrusa varieties like Bangalore Blue.

Nandi Hills: 45km north of Bangalore, growers working with French varietals to produce some of India’s best wines.

Grape production: India is home to several indigenous table grape varieites (most common are the Anabeshahi,

Arkavati and Arkashyam), non-native grapes include Bangalore Blue (isabella) and Gulabi (Black Muscat). Turkish grape

Sultana (most widely planted grape in India covers over half of the 148,000 acres planted. Imported French varieties

(Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, Chenin Blanc, Clairette Blanche).

Lesson 4: Principle Wine Regions of the World 4.14 Israel

• Viticulture has existed in Israel since biblical times, the book of Deuteronomy the fruit of the vine was listed as one of the seven blessed species of fruit found in Israel (Robinson, 2006).

• Presently there are 35 commercial wineries in Israel and over 250 boutique wineries.

• Wine regions: Five vine-growing regions, 50,000 dunams of vineyards, 80% of these located in Shomron, Samson and

• Galilee regions.

• Galil: Galilee, includes the Golan Heights (high elevation, cool breezes, well-drained soils).

• Judean Hills: surrounding the city of Jerusalem.

• Shimshon (Samson): located between the Judean Hills and the Coastal Plain.

• The Negev: a semi-arid desert region where drip irrigation has made grape growing possible.

• The Sharon plain: near Mediterranean coast, just south of Haifa around towns of Zichron Ya’akov and Binyamina (largest grape growing area in Israel).

• Grape varieties:

• Most widely planted: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc.

• Emerging varieties: Cabernet Franc, Gewurztraminer, Muscat Canelli, Riesling and Syrah

• Other varieties: Emerald Riesling, Muscat of Alexandria, Argaman.

• Primary concern in Israeli wine production:

• Maintaining acid levels to balance the naturally high sugars that the warm climate of the region produces.

Lesson 4: Principle Wine Regions of the World 4.16 Italy [ Wine map of Italy includes DOC, DOCG regions ]

Lesson 4: Principle Wine Regions of the World 4.16 Italy (continued)

• Quality levels: North of Italy holds 52% of the quantity and the majority of the DOC and DOCGs quality wines, the south holds 48% of the quantity and the wine lake.

• Soils: variable ranging from volcanic soils to moraines in the north.

• Grape varieties: the biggest grape variety throughout Italy is Trebbiano (like a weed similar to Ugni Blanc in France, which is principally used for distilling. The major Black: Local varieties Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Barbera, Dolcetto, Corvina, Montepulciano, Aglianico, Primitivo. International varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Pinot Noir. White: Local varieties Trebbiano, Malvasia, Verdicchio. International varieties Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio (Pinot Gris).

• Viticulture, training systems: high-trained vines in the north, low-trained, high density planting in the south.

• Vinification practices: Traditional fermentation and the use of old wood. Modern fermentation with temperature control stainless steel and the use of new oak barriques.

• Regions: Politically Italy is divided into 20 regions or wine departments, each of which enjoys a certain degree of autonomy. In every region wine is produced at least of DOC quality. Major wine regions are North West, North East, Central and Southern Italy. Regional identification is very important.

• Italian Wine Laws: Italian wine laws is set on four different quality levels starting at the top level with;

• Denominazoine di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) 1992 introduced: a DOC with a guarantee, the highest level for Italian wine, mainly all in Northern Italy, southern Italy is too hot to produce DOCG. Listed among these wines are Chianti, Asti and Moscato d’Asti, Barolo, Barbaresco, Brunello di Montalcino.

• Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) 1963 introduced: demarked region based on soil, certain viticulture and vinification practices, maximum yields allowed laid down by authorities and minimum alcohol achieved. (Chianti, Orvieto or maybe Valpolicella) have this delimited DOC area extended beyond the original vineyard due to for example historical significance, these are usually the best sites and carry the word Classico.

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