Central And Southern Italy Flashcards
What are the two factors that moderate Central Italy’s climate?
Altitude (Apennine Mountains).
Sea breezes for coastal areas.
Where is Tuscany located?
In the west of Central Italy
Tuscany can be thought of in three parts. Describe each part including location and cooling effect.
Northern mountains (cooled by altitude)
Southern hills & valleys
Western flat coastal (cooled by sea breezes)
For a Tuscan Sangiovese, give the wine’s acidity, tannins and flavours.
High acidity
High tannins
Red cherries, plums & dried herbs
Occasional oak spice
Sangiovese is often matured in oak barrels. Why?
To soften tannins (small-large, old-new)
Spicy flavours (small, newish)
What grape variety is dominant in a Chianti DOCG blend?
Sangiovese
Is Chianti Classico DOCG part of Chianti DOCG’s seven sub zones?
No. It has its own DOCG, not a sub zone.
Is oak maturation compulsory for any of Chianti’s DOCGs?
No
Oak is optional but typically used.
FYI: You will notice that maturation is given as a total and often min time in bottle, whereas Spain gives a total and min time in barrel.
Give the different options for Chianti in order of lowest to highest quality, including any minimum ageing.
Chianti DOCG
Chianti [subzone] DOCG
Chianti Classico DOCG
Min 12 mth maturation
Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva
Min 24 mth including 3 mth bottle
Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione
30 mth
Single estate
What is the only grape variety permitted in Brunello di Montalcino DOCG?
Sangiovese
FYI: The local name is Brunello.
How long does Brunello di Montalcino DOCG need to be aged before release?
At least 2 years in barrel, then released from January the 5th year after harvest.
What is an important grape variety used in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG?
Sangiovese
How long does Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG need to be aged before release?
2 years
Where is Toscana IGT & Bolgheri DOC?
The west coastal region of Central Italy’s Tuscany.
What is the primary method of cooling for the wine regions of Toscana IGT & Bolgheri DOC?
Cooling sea breezes
Why were high quality wines known as Super Tuscan forced to use Toscana IGT rather than a DOC ?
They did not meet the rules for any PDO
FYI: Historically, grapes needed to be Italian for DOC.
Which relatively new DOC on Tuscan Coasts allows for up to 100% Cabernet Sauvignon?
Bolgheri DOC
The best wines of Orvieto DOC have more of which grape variety in the blend?
Grechetto
Which white wine from Umbria has medium to high acidity and flavours of grapefruit and peaches?
Orvieto DOC
How is Umbria’s Orvieto DOC made?
Protective wine making
Cool fermentation in stainless steel
Which white wine from Lazio (near Rome) has medium to high acidity, medium body and flavours of citrus fruit and sometimes orange blossom?
Frascati DOC
Which two effects help keep the climate of Frascati DOC cool?
Altitude
Small, nearby lakes
Where is Marche?
East of the Apennines, in Central Italy, above Abruzzo.
What is the grape variety in Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC?
Verdicchio
Which white wine from Marche has high acidity and flavours of green apples, lemon, fennel.
Many are simple, some have greater concentration and can age, developing honey and almond flavours.
Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC
Where is Abruzzo?
East of the Apennines, in Central Italy, below Marche.
What is the grape variety in Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC?
Montepulciano
A red wine from Abruzzo has high colour, high tannin, medium acidity with flavours of black plums & cherries.
Many are simple un-oaked, the most concentrated spend a short time in oak.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC
Why did Puglia change its method of training from bush vines to cordon training and trellising?
Puglia is a flat plain and it allowed for mechanisation.
Where is Campania located?
Southern Italy, starting on the flat western coastal plains and rising into mountains in the centre.
Describe Fiano di Avellino DOCG
Medium acidity
Medium full body
Stone fruit, melon and mango
The best have oak and age influence (wax and honey)
Describe Greco di Tufo DOCG
More acidity (leaner)
Leaner body
Green apple, stone fruit and passion fruit
Sometimes oak and lees
The best have honey and mushroom
Where is Basilicata located?
Southern Italy, below Campania in the mountains.
The 900m high flat plain in Southern Italy around Monte Vulture makes which wine and grape variety?
Aglianico del Vulture DOC
Aglianico
A full-bodied wine with medium tannins, medium acidity, high alcohol with baked red and black fruits from Salice Salentino DOC is made from which grape variety?
Negroamaro
A full-bodied wine with medium tannins, medium acidity, high alcohol with baked red and black fruits from Puglia could be made from which grape varieties?
Negroamaro and/or Primitivo (Zinfandel)
Puglia IGT wines tend to be simple, fruity wines for early drinking. Which two grapes dominate these wines?
Negroamaro
Primitivo (Zinfandel)
What are two IGTs that make up a majority of Sicily’s production?
Terre di Sicilia IGT
Terre Siciliane IGT
What is the dominant red grape variety from Sicily, producing wines with medium-full body, medium acidity, medium tannins with plums and black cherries?
Can be either simple,fruity early drinking or concentrated and complex?
Nero d’Avola
What two factors mean that Etna DOC wines, made from a range of grape varieties, are among Sicily’s best?
Located at higher altitudes
Low yielding vines
