Glossary
L'Olio
The "Bible" for olive oil is published by the Italian Sommelier Union for Olive Oil. The olive oils are evaluated according to the 100-point system.
5 drops - 91 to 100 points
Oli dell'eccellenza (Olio excellent quality)
4 drops - 81 to 90 points
Oli di grande livello e spiccato pregio (Olio of exceptionally high level and value)
3 drops - 71 to 80 points
Oli di buon livello e particolare finezza (Olio of good level with a certain finesse)
2 drops - 60 to 70 points
Oli di medio livello e piacevole fattura (Olio of medium level with good value for money)
La Stampa
Big Italian daily newspaper.
Lacrima
Behind the name Lacrima lies a very rare red grape variety from the province of Ancona in the Marche region.
Lagrein
The Lagrein red wine variety comes from South Tyrol/Alto Adige and Trentino.
Lambrusco
The name Lambrusco stands for a central Italian red wine vine and the red wine made from it. Lambrusco is one of the most popular Italian wines and is probably the best known product from Emilia-Romagna.
lasagna
Pasta dough sheets filled with meat, fish or vegetables and baked in the oven.
Latium
Lazio is considered a typical white wine region. The number one grape variety is Malvasia, usually supplemented by Trebbiano grapes of different sizes. The most famous and most fertile cultivation area, in which about 70 percent of the wine is made from white grapes, is Castelli Romani, which is also the source of the worldwide sales hit Frascati. The Cotarella brothers have an equally well-known name with their highly successful Falesco winery and their extensive consulting activities as enologists. (superiore.de)
Capital: Rome
Provinces: Frosinone, Latina, Rieti, Rome, Viterbo
Vineyard area: 24,000 hectares
Total production/year: 152.70 million litres
of which red/roséwine: 32.50 million litres
of which white wine: 120.20 million litres
Share of wine-growing in Italy: 3.40%.
Layer
Method for replanting vines. In the process, a previous year's shoot of an old vine is planted in the soil and a new vine is created that is true to its roots.
Lemberger
The Lemberger - also called Blauer Lemberger, Limberger or Blauer Limberger - is a red wine variety with an unclear origin. In northern Italian Friuli, it is used to produce a fruity, light red wine under the name Franconia. The vine is not particularly demanding in the vineyard and is considered to be less susceptible to disease. Due to their strong growth, however, extensive foliage work is necessary. The Lemberger sprouts early and delivers reliable economic yields on very late ripening grapes. It is therefore unsuitable for cultivation in wine-growing areas further north.
Lemberger wines show a restrained to powerful aroma picture, which is described with the smell of blackberries, sweet cherries or also sour cherries, currants, gooseberries, elderberries and cocoa. In the taste the red wines show up depending upon quality level and development fruity-light to concentrated tanning-emphasized and often with a long lasting departure. A good acid structure as well as high extract and tannin values give the best wines a good shelf life.
Lenticchia
Italian for Lente.
level
The blending of a wine after fermentation from different barrels in order to obtain the same characteristics for the whole vintage.
light
Balanced, pleasant wine with low alcohol content.
Liguria
Capital: Genoa
Provinces: Genoa, Imperia, La Spezia, Savona
Area under vines: 2,300 hectares
Total production/year: 8.30 million litres
of which red/roséwine: 2.90 million litres
of which white wine: 5.40 million litres
Share of viticulture in Italy: 0.20%.
lime
Italian: lemon.
Limestone
Soil type - sedimentary rock, produces wines with good acidity.
linguine
Italian: narrow ribbon noodles.
liquor
In wine, ethyl alcohol, a colourless flammable liquid that is responsible for the taste and the body as well as the intoxicating effect of the wine, is the most commonly used term.
The alcohol content in wine is expressed in grams per litre (g/l) or mostly in volume percent (% vol.). Minimum quantities are prescribed for quality wines, usually between light 11% vol. and medium 13% vol.
liquoroso
Italian designation for a wine obtained by adding alcohol and resembling a liqueur in terms of alcohol content, structure and sweetness.
In Italy there is also a Liquoroso variant of many wines besides the normal bottling.
liscio
Italian: smooth.
locked
Designation for a young, not yet matured wine that presents itself on the palate sparse and sparkling. Great red wines, which have to be stored for a long time in order to develop, are usually closed in their youth.
Loess
Soil type - sedimentary rock, produces full-bodied, storable wines.
Lombardy
Dynamic and cosmopolitan, Lombardy is also a vine-growing region. The prevailing continental climate with severe winter, hot summer and increased precipitation in spring and autumn provides favourable conditions. At 59 percent, the DOCG share of the wines produced is above average. This is also due to Franciacorta, the most famous Italian bottle-fermented sparkling wine from the province of Brescia and the selection of Nebbiolo clones in Valtellina in the province of Sondrio. (superiore.de)
Capital: Milan
Provinces: Bergamo, Brescia, Como, Cremona, Lecco, Lodi, Mantua, Milan, Monza, Brianza, Pavia, Sondrio, Varese, Cremona
Area under vines: 22,000 hectares
Total production/year: 127.70 million litres
of which red/roséwine: 67.40 million litres
of which white wine: 60.30 million litres
Share of wine-growing in Italy: 2.90%.
Luigi Veronelli
Luigi Veronelli was born in Milan in 1926. After studying humanities and philosophy, he became a publisher and in the fifties published philosophical and political papers as well as the culinary magazine "Gastronomo" with great success. Veronelli established himself as a wine expert and connoisseur of gastronomy and worked with leading Italian chefs. His articles have appeared in Italian and international newspapers and magazines. Veronelli has been a publisher again since 1990. He has published various textbooks, recipe books and guides. Luigi Vernonelli lives in Bergamo.
In "Wines from Italy", the so-called Veronelli Guide, Luigi Veronelli presents annually more than 1,500 producers and over 6,000 wines, which are judged according to strict evaluation criteria.