28 - Central Italy Flashcards
What area does the central wine growing are of Italy encompass?
South of the Po Valley, the region is dominated by the Apennine mountains, which run the length of the Italian peninsula. Grapes are planted in the hills and valleys of this mountain range and altitude provides a moderating influence. Coastal regions on both sides of the country benefit from cooling sea breezes.
What is the most widely associated varietal in Central Italy?
Sangiovese, and it’s most celebrated expression: Chianti.
Describe the region of Tuscany?
Stretching down the the western coast of central Italy, it can be divided into 3 parts: The mountainous Chianti region in the north, the hills and valleys to the south and the flat coastal plain.
What is the most dominant varietal in Tuscany and explain the general profile for these wines?
Sangiovese dominates, making wines with high acidity and tannins. it ripens late, so needs a warm climate, hence its home being this part of Italy. Wines have aromas of red cherries, plums and dried herbs and are usually aged for a period of time in oak to soften tannins and add spicy flavours on occasion. With bottle age wines can develop meaty/gamey aromas.
Where is the Chianti region?
Based in the foothills of the Apennines between Pisa, Florence and Siena. It covers a wide area, which is divided into seven sub zones. Sangiovese dominates, but wines are often blended with small amounts of other black grapes.
Producers of large volumes of Chianti will source their grapes from the greater region and use what on their labels?
Chianti DOCG. Higher quality Chianti DOCG wines may made from a particular sub-zone, the name of which can appear on the wine label. Chianti Rufina DOCG and Chianti Collie Senesi DOCG are fine examples of this.
Why is Chianti Classico DOCG different?
It is not a sub zone of Chianti DOCG, it has it’s own DOCG. Its vineyards are higher altitudes than those of Chianti DOCG, slowing the ripening of Sangiovese, and resulting in greater acidity and more herbal aromas. Chianti Classico must be aged for 12 months before they are released to the market.
Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG must be aged for how long?
24 months, of which 3 months must be bottle ageing
What are the requirements for Gran Selezione?
The highest designation for Chianti Classico. Grapes must be sourced from a single estate and wines must aged six months longer that riserva.
What are the requirements for oak ageing in Chianti Classico DOCG?
There are no stipulations, and it is therefore the producers decision whether to mature wines in oak. Although in practice the vast majority of wines are matured in oak for some period of time.
Describe the region of southern Tuscany?
Vineyards here are at lower altitudes than those in the north and have a warmer climate. However cool maritime breezes from the south-west can moderate the temperatures.
What are the two most well known appellations in southern Tuscany? Describe their wines?
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG and Vino Nobile Montepulciano DOCG. Wines from this part of Tuscany are often more intense and full bodied than wines from Chianti. From these regions can declassify their wines to DOC as necessary (poor vintages etc etc).
What are the ageing regulations for Brunello di Montalcino?
Wines must made entirely of Sangiovese and undergo a mimimum ageing of 5 years before being sold, 2 of which must have been spent in oak.
What are the ageing regulations for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano?
Can be a blend of Sangiovese with other permitted varieties and must be aged for a minimum of two years before being sold.
Describe the coastal region of Tuscany?
A relatively flat region, cooled by see breezes, rather than altitude. Black bordeaux grapes and other international grapes are grown here.
