28. Central Italy Flashcards
The grapes are planted in the hills and valleys of which mountain range in Central Italy?
Apennine Mountains
Name the factors which moderate hot weather in Central Italy
- Altitude
- Cooling sea breezes on both sides of the country
Name the three parts of Tuscany
- Chianti
- Southern Tuscany
- The coast
What is the dominant and most prestigious grape in Tuscany?
Sangiovese
Tasting notes for Sangiovese
- High acidity
- High tannin
- Aromas of red cherries, plums and dried herbs
- Usually oaked in either small barrels or large casks
- With bottle aging they develop meaty and gamey aromas
If the wine is produced from the greater area of Chianti region it is labelled as..
Chianti DOCG
How are the higher quality Chianti DOCG wines labelled?
The name of the subregion appears on the wine label
- Chianti Ruffina DOCG
- Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG
What is the difference between Chianti DOCG and Chianti Classico DOCG?
- Chianti Classico DOCG has its own DOCG, it is not a sub-zone of Chianti DOCG
- Its vineyards are at higher altitude, resulting in wines with higher acidity and herbal aromas
- Chianti Classico wines must be aged for 12 months (no stipulations about oak aging, however majority of the wines are aged in oak)
What is the aging requirement for Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG?
24 months with at least 3 months in bottle
What is Gran Selezione?
- Highest designation for Chianti Classico wines
- Grapes must be sourced from single estate
- Wines must be aged 6 months longer than Riserva
Are Chianti wines produced from a single variety or a blend?
It is a blend where Sangiovese is dominant grape and small amounts of other black grape varieties (Italian and French)
How is the climate of southern Tuscany, when compared to Chianti region? How does this affect the style of wines ?
- Warmer due to lower altitudes of vineyards but cool maritime breezes from south-west can moderate the temperatures
- The wines are more intense and fuller-bodied
What are the important wine regions in southern Tuscany?
- Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
- Vino Nobile de Montepulciano
What are the differences between - Brunello di Montalcino DOCG and Vino Nobile de Montepulciano?
- Brunello di Montalcino is made from only Sangiovese. It must be aged for minimum of 5 years (2 years in oak)
- Vino Nobile de Montepulciano is a blend of Sangiovese and other grapes and must be aged for 2 years
How are the wines from Brunello di Montalcino DOCG and Vino Nobile de Montepulciano labelled, if the producers declassify their wines to DOC level due to poor vintage or if the wines are too young?
- Rosso di Montalcino DOC
- Rosso di Montepulciano DOC
How is the weather moderated in the coastal region of Tuscany?
Cooled by sea breezes
What is the coastal Tuscany famous for?
Supertuscans
What are “Supertuscans”?
Supertuscans are high-quality wines made from international varieties sometimes with Italian varieties as a part of the blend
How are most of the Supertuscans labelled?
Toscana IGT
Name 2 newly formed DOC regions of Tuscany, where wines can be made entirely from international varieties?
- Bolgheri DOC
- Maremma Toscana DOC
How is the climate of Umbria when compared to Tuscany?
Similar to Tuscany but more continental without any influence from the Mediterranean
What is the most important wine of Umbria?
Orvieto DOC
Orvieto is produced from which grapes?
Blend of Grechetto and Trebbiano and a few local grapes
Tasting notes for Orvieto DOC
- Light body
- Medium to high acidity
- Flavours of ripe grapefruit and peaches
What style of winemaking is used for production of Orvieto DOC?
Protective wine-making (cool fermentation in stainless steel)
What is the Umbia’s most prestigious red wine?
Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG
What is the most important wine of Lazio?
Frascati DOC
Frascati DOC is produced from which grapes?
Blends of Malvasia and Trebbiano
How is the weather moderated in Frascati DOC?
Altitude
Tasting notes for Frascati DOC
- Medium body
- Medium to high acidity
- Flavours of citrus, sometimes orange blossom aromas from Malvasia
- Fresh, unoaked style
What is the most famous wine of Marche?
Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC
Tasting notes for Verdicchio
- High natural acidity
- Flavours of green apples, lemon, sometimes with fennel and almond
What is the most famous red wine of Marche region?
Conero DOCG (Blend of Montepulciano and Sangiovese)
What is the dominant grape in Abruzzo?
Montepulciano
Tasting notes of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
- Intense color
- High tannin
- Medium acidity
- Flavours of black plums and cherries
- Mostly unoaked. Best examples can be oaked for short periods
