Marsala

Question 1

Marsala DOC

3 colors/styles

Answer 1

• Oro (golden)
• Ambra
• Rubino

Question 2

Marsala DOC ambra and oro

4 white grapes

Answer 2

• Grillo
• Inzolia (Ansonica)
• *top 2 grapes preferred, Inzolia is more delicate
• Catarratto
• Damaschino

Question 3

Marsala DOC rubino

3 red grapes

Answer 3

• Perricone
• Calabrese (Nero d’Avola)
• Nerello Mascalese

​*plus max 30% white grapes

Question 4

Marsala DOC

Sweetness levels

Answer 4

• Secco : max 40 g/l rs
• Semisecco : 40-100 g/l rs
• Dolce : min 100 g/l rs

Question 5

Marsala DOC

5 aging classifications

Answer 5

• Fine: 1 yr (first 4 months may be in alternative containers)
• Superiore: 2 yrs
• Superiore Riserva: 4 yrs
• Vergine/Solera: 5 yrs
• Vergine Riserva/Solera Riserva/Vergine Stravecchio/Solera Stravecchio: 10 yrs

* all in oak or cherry wood

*Vergine

• Fortified post fermentation
• Does not permit addition of mosto cotto or sifone

Question 6

Can Marsala DOC Vergine be sweetened?

Answer 6

No, Vergine must be secco in style.

Question 7

Marsala DOC

Solera and Solera Riserva

Aging requirements

Answer 7

• Solera: min 5 yrs
• Solera Riserva: min 10 yrs

*oak or cherry wood

Question 8

T/F: Marsala can be fortified with grape spirit during or after fermentation.

Answer 8

True, depending on the desired sweetness

Question 9

Year Marsala was first manufactured

Answer 9

• 1773
• John Woodhouse, English Port and Sherry merchant

Question 10

When was Marsala established as a DOC?

Answer 10

1969

Question 11

Marsala DOC

Historical Label Indications

• Marsala “Vecchio”:
• Marsala Fine IP:
• Marsala Superiore SOM:
• Marsala Superiore GD:
• Marsala Superiore LP:

Answer 11

• “Vecchio”: min requirements for Marsala Superiore (2yrs oark or cherry wood)
• Fine IP: “Italy Particular”
• Superiore SOM: “Superior Old Marsala”
• Superiore GD: “Garibaldi Dolce”, reference to 19th-century general
• Superiore LP: “London Particular”