28 - Central Italy

Question 1

Which mountain is an important topographical feature of Central Italy’s wine region, providing hills and valleys with altitude that moderates the hot climate?

Answer 1

Apennine Mountains

Question 2

True/False: the Tuscany region can be roughly divided into 3 parts - mountainous Chianti region in north, hills and valleys to south, and flat coastal plain

Answer 2

True

Question 3

What is the most dominant and prestigious grape of Tuscany? What are its characteristics?

Answer 3

Sangiovese
makes wines with high acidity and tannin
aromas: red cherry, plums, dried herbs
aged in oak (small and large vessels) to soften tannins and add spice. develop meat and gamey aromas

Question 4

True/False: Sangiovese is an early-ripening variety

Answer 4

False. it is late to ripen and needs a warm climate, which is why it is successful in Central Italy

Question 5

Where is Chianti located?

Answer 5

in the foothills of the Apennines, in Tuscany

Question 6

Where do producers that label their wines Chianti DOCG source their grapes from? What about Chianti Classico DOCG

Answer 6

Chianti DOCG: From the greater region of Chianti.

Chianti Classico DOCG: made from grapes from this particular zone (it is separate from Chianti DOCG)

Question 7

the vineyards of Chianti Classico DOCG are higher than Chianti DOCG. How do its wines therefore compare to Chianti DOCG?

Answer 7

The higher altitude (cooler temp) slows ripening of Sangiovese. Wines with greater acidity, more herbal aromas.

Question 8

How many months do Chianti Classico DOCG and Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG need to be aged before being released onto the market?

Answer 8

Chianti Classico DOCG: 12 months

Chianti Classico Riserva: 24 months (3 months of which in bottle)

Question 9

What is the highest designation for Chianti CLassico wines?

Answer 9

Gran Selezione
grapes sourced from single estate and wines aged 6 months longer than Riserva (30 months in total). Oak aging is optional but most wines are matured in oak

Question 10

True/False: the vineyards of Southern Tuscany have a higher altitude than Northern Tuscany.

Answer 10

False. Southern Tuscany’s altitude is lower, resulting in warmer climate. However maritime breezes from south-west can moderate the temperature. Due to warmer temp, wines from Southern Tuscany are often more intense and fuller-bodied than Chianti (in Northern Tuscany)

Question 11

Which are the best-known appellations in Southern Tuscany?

Answer 11

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG

Question 12

What are the regulations for Brunello di Montalcino from Southern Tuscany?

Answer 12

made entirely from Sangiovese

minimum ageing 5 years (2 of which in oak)

Question 13

What are the regulations for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG?

Answer 13

can be blend of Sangiovese with other permitted. varieties

aged for 2 years

Question 14

True/False: Producers from Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano can declassify their wines to DOC

Answer 14

True. this is sometimes done if there is a poor vintage. These wines are called Rosso di Montalcino DOC or Rosso di Montelpulciano DOC respectively

Question 15

What wine is the relatively flat coastal region of Tuscany known for?

Answer 15

Super Tuscan - wine made from Cabernet Sauvignon despite not being eligible for PDO status, sold for premium price.

Question 16

What are high-quality wines from international varieties + Italian varieties blended together produced from the flat coastal region of Tuscany called?

Answer 16

Toscana IGT (for most part)
the newly formed appellations Bolgheri DOC and Maremma Toscana DOC allow wines to be made entirely from non-Italian varieties i.e. Bordeaux grapes Merlot Syrah, Cabernet

Question 17

What is the climate of Umbria and how does it compare to Tuscany?

Answer 17

Since Umbria is located to the east of Tuscany away from the sea, it is similar to Tuscany and has warm/hot Mediterranean climate but doesn’t have Mediterranean influence

Question 18

What white wine made from blend of Grechetto, Trebbiano and other local grapes is Umbria known for? What are its characteristics

Answer 18

Orvieto DOC
light body, medium to high acid, grapefruit peaches
made protectively w/ fermentation stainless steel

Question 19

What is Umbria’s most prestigious red wine?

Answer 19

Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG (made from Sagrantino grape, thick sinned)

Question 20

Where is the region of Lazio located in relation to Tuscany?

Answer 20

to the south of Tuscany
Lazio offers perfect conditions for white grapes - situated in hills to south of Rome. Vineyards are cooled by altitude and small nearby lakes.

Question 21

What is the best known wine of Lazio?

Answer 21

Frascati DOC - blends of Malvasia Trebbiano. Fresh, unoaked
medium body, medium to high acid
citrus , floral, orange blossom

Question 22

Where the region of Marche lcoated?

Answer 22

Eastern side of the apennines

Question 23

Which white wine/grape is Marche most known for?

Answer 23

Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC made from Verdicchio grape

besides white, Marche also makes red blends from Montepulciano and Sangiovese. best known is Conero DOCG

Question 24

What are the key cahracteristics of the Verdicchio grape, well known in Marche?

Answer 24

high acid
green apple, lemon, sometimes fennel and almonds
range from simple fruity to age-worthy wines with notes honey and almonds

Question 25

Where is the region of Abruzzo located?

Answer 25

Below Marche (east of Apennine mountains)

Question 26

Which black variety/wine is Abruzzo most known for? What are its characteristics?

Answer 26

Montepulciano
main wine is Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC
high levels color and tannin
medium acid
black plum and cherry
range from simple and fruit without oak (majority of wines). most concentrated wines are matured short period in oak

Question 27

What are the main regions of Central Italy?

Answer 27

Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio, Marche, Abruzzo