28 - Central Italy Flashcards
Regions in Central Italy covered in WSET3 (5)
- Tuscany
- Umbria
- Lazio
- Marche
- Abruzzo
Mountains in Central Italy (run the length of the Italian Peninsula)
Apennine Mountains
where are the Apennine Mountains?
Mountains in Central Italy (run the length of the Italian Peninsula)
moderating influences in Central Italy
- altitude (Apennine Mountains)
- cooling sea breezes
where is Tuscany located?
stretches down the western coast of central Italy
Tuscany can be divided roughly into 3 parts
- the mountainous Chianti region in the north
- the hills & valleys to the south
- the flat coastal plain
3 parts of Tuscany & IGT/DOC/DOCGs
5’+4+3
- the mountainous Chianti region in the north
- Chianti DOCG
- Chianti Rufina DOCG
- Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG
- Chianti Classico DOCG
- Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG
- Gran Selezione - the hills & valleys to the south
- Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
- Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG
- Rosso di Montalcino
- Rosso di Montepulciano DOC - the flat coastal plain
- Toscana IGT
- Bolgheri DOC
- Maremma Toscana DOC
dominant & most prestigious grape in Tuscany
Sangiovese
Sangiovese in Tuscany
(grape, char., prod.)
- late to ripen
- needs a warm climate
- high acidity & tannin
- aromas of red cherries, plums & dried herbs
- usually aged for a period of time in oak to soften the tannins & sometimes add spicy flavours
- both small barrels & larger casks can be used
- bottle age: develop meaty & gamey aromas
red or white wine in Tuscany?
- red wines predominate
- some white wines are also made throughout the region
location of Chianti
- Central Italia
- in the foothills of the Apennines
- between the cities of Pisa, Florence & Siena
between the cities of Pisa, Florence & Siena
Chianti
number of sub-zones in Chianti
7
sv or blend of Chianti?
Sangiovese is the dominant grape, but the wines are often blends with small amounts of other black grapes (of both French & Italian origin)
- producers of large volumes of Chianti will source their grapes from …
- and use … on the label
- the greater region
- Chianti DOCG
- higher quality Chianti DOCG wines may be made from the grapes from…
- on the wine label: …
- a particular sub-zone
- the name of the sub-zone can appear on the label
2 sub-zones in Chianti that are particularly well known for the quality of their wines
- Chianti Rufina DOCG
- Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG
Chianti Classico DOCG
(vs Chianti DOCG, vy, char., ageing)
Chianti Classico DOCG
- has its own DOCG
- is NOT a sub-zone of Chianti DOCG
- its vy are at higher altitudes than those of Chianti DOCG
–> slowing the ripening
–> wines with greater acidity & more herbal aromas
- must be aged for 12 months before release
Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG
ageing
- must be aged for 24 months of which at least 3 months must e spent on bottle ageing
Chianti Classico
what is Gran Selezione?
(def., grapes, ageing)
- the highest designation for Chianti Classico wines
- the grapes must be sourced from a single estate
- must be aged for 30 months (6 months longer than Riserva)
- no stipulations concerning oak ageing
- in practice the vast majority of wines are matured in oak for at least part of their time before release
the vy of Southern Tuscany
- lower altitudes than those in the north
- warmer climate
- cool maritime breezes from the south-west can moderate the temperatures
the best known appellations in Southern Tuscany
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG
- compare the wines of southern Tuscany with the wines from Chianti
- due to
- more intense & fuller-bodied
- the climate
(warmer with cool maritime breezes from the south west)
Brunello di Montalcino
(grape, ageing)
must
- be made entirely from Sangiovese
- undergo a minimum ageing of 5 years before sale
- 2 of the years in oak
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
(grape, ageing)
- can be a blend of Sangiovese with other permitted varieties
- must be aged for a minimum of 2 years before sold
- producers from both Brunello di Montalcino & Vino Nobile di Montepulciano can declassify their wines to … as necessary
- examples of reasons for declas.
- Rosso di Montalcino DOC, Rosso di Montepulciano DOC
- poor vintage, very young vines
the coast of Tuscany
(geography, infl., grapes)
- relatively flat coastal region
- cooled by sea breezes rather than altitude
- black Bx-varieties & a number of international grapes are widely planted here
what is a Super-Tuscan
- the original wine was made from CS & sold for a premium price despite not being eligible for PDO status
- a turning point for the international image of Italian wines as they re-established Italy’s reputation for excellence
appellations on the coast of Tuscany
- Toscana IGT
- Bolgheri DOC
- Maremma Toscana DOC
- appellations in Tuscany that permit wines to be made entirely from non-Italian varieties
- grapes
- Bolgheri DOC & Maremma Toscana DOC
- ie. CS, Merlot, Syrah
climate in Umbria
- similar to Tuscany’s
- more continental without any influence from the Mediterranean
white wine of Umbria
(appellation, grapes, char., prod.met.)
- Orvieto DOC
- blend of Grechetto, Trebbiano and, often, a few other local grapes
- light in body
- medium to high acidity
- flavours of ripe grapefruit & peaches
- best: tend to be those with the most Grechetto in the blend
- made protectively & undergo cool fermentation in ss
Umbria’s most prestigious red wine
(appellation, grape)
- Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG
- thick skinned Sagrantino grape
region south of Tuscany
Lazio
where is Lazio
- Central Italy
- south of Tuscany
best known wine in Lazio
1. appellation
2. where
3. infl.
4. grapes
5. style
6. char.
- Frascati DOC
- in the hills to the south of Rome
- vy cooled by both altitude & a number of small nearby lakes –> perfect conditions for white grapes
- blends of Malvasia & Trebbiano
- usually made in a fresh, unoaked style
- char:
- medium in body
- medium to high acidity
- flavours of citrus fruit, sometimes with the Malvasia providing floral, orange blossom aromas
where is Marche located
- Central Italy
- on the eastern side of the Apennines
what wines are Marche best known for
(colour, grape)
its white wines made from the Verdicchio grape
most famous appellation in Marche
Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC
char. of Verdicchio
- naturally high in acidity
- flavours of green apples, lemons & sometimes displays notes of fennel & almonds
- many simple & fruity
- best: greater concentration & dan develop notes of honey & almonds with bottle age
red wines of Marche
- blends of Montepulciano & Sangiovese
- best known: Conero DOCG
where is Abruzzo?
- in Central Italy
- below Marche
what is Abruzzo famous for?
its black variety Montepulciano
appellation in Abruzzo
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC
Montepulciano grape & wine
- high levels of colour & tannins
- medium acidity
- flavours of black plums & cherries
- many simple & fruity, made without any oak ageing
- the most concentrated examples are often matured for a short time in oak
where is Orvieto and what wines are made there?
- Central Italy, Umbria
- Orvieto DOC
- white blends of Grechetto, Trebbiano & other local grapes
where is Conero and what wines are made there?
- Central Italy, Marche
- Conero DOCG
- red blends of Montepulciano & Sangiovese
where is Frascati and what wines are made there?
- Central Italy, Lazio
- Frascati DOC
- white blends of Malvasia & Trebbiano
where are these appellations located and what grapes/wine are made?
1. Orvieto DOC
2. Frascati DOC
3. Conero DOCG
Central Italy
1. Umbria. White blend of Grechetto, Trebbiano & local grapes
2. Lazio. White blends of Malvasia & Trebbiano
3. Marche. Red blends of Montepulciano & Sangiovese
