Central and Southern Italy

Question 1

Southern - Puglia

Answer 1

Big region of hot climate grapes (reds mostly)

At high yields = simple fruity wines to drink young = Puglia IGT

Negroamaro (Salice Salentino DOC)

Full-body, med tannin, med acid, high alc, baked fruit

Primitivo (Zinfandel)

Full-bodied, med tannin, med acid, high alc, red berry fruit

Question 2

Tuscany - Chianti Classico DOCG (*its own app not a sub-zone)

Answer 2

Higher altitudes than Chianti DOCG, slower ripening, higher acidity, more herbal

Ages 12 months min, no oak required but many use some

Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG

Ages 24 months min before release, 3 months in-bottle

Gran Selezione

High designation Chianti Classico, single estate

Must age at least 30 months before release

Question 3

Central Italy Map

Answer 3

Question 4

Southern Italian Climate

Answer 4

Hot and dry

Vineyards in Apennines Mtns altitude to cool

Sea breezes cool vineyards on the flats

Vyds and agriculture very important esp in Puglia and Sicilia

Traditional: low, bush-trained w/ leaf cover protecting from sunburn

Modern using cordon training, allowing mechanization (esp on the Puglia plains)

Question 5

Tuscany - Southern Tuscany

Answer 5

Lower altitude, warmer climate, coastal vyds get sea breezes

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

100% Sangiovese, 2 years min oak, 5 years min to release

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG

Blends w Sangio, 2 years min to release

Both can de-classify to DOC as necessary to

Rosso di Montalcino DOC and Rosso di Montepulciano DOC

Question 6

Tuscany Coast

Answer 6

Cooled by sea breezes many Bordeaux / international varietals

SUPER TUSCAN Cab Sauv came from here despite no PDO status

Re-established Italian reputation for excellence

Many doing this now, bottling as Toscana IGT or Bolgheri DOC

Question 7

Central - Abruzzo

Answer 7

Below Marche, famous for Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC

Montepulciano

• High color and tannin, medium acidity, black plum, cherries
• Many are simple and fruity without oak
• The best given short oak aging

Question 8

Central Italian Climate

Answer 8

South of Po Valley, Apennine Mtns

Vyds in the hills moderate the hot climate by altitude

Coastal regions on both sides are cooled by sea breezes

Question 9

Tuscany - Chianti

Answer 9

Foothills of the western slope of the Apennine Mtns. around Pisa, Florence, Siena

Sangiovese dominates, but blended with others (French & Italian)

Greater region is Chianti DOCG

Higher quality wines will come from Chianti DOCG sub-apps

Chianti Rufina DOCG & Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG – well known

Does not include Chianti Classico DOCG!!!

Question 10

Central - Umbria

Answer 10

Climate similar to Tuscany, but more CONTINENTAL, less Mediterranean influence

Orvieto DOC

• White blend of Grechetto, Trebbiano and other local grapes
• Light body, med-to-high acid, ripe grapefruit and peaches
• Wines are made in protective style, cool SS ferment

Red: Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG – from thick skinned Sagrantino grape

Question 11

Southern - Sicily

Answer 11

Similar to Puglia, big production and hot region

Most are IGT Terre di Sicilia / Terre Siciliane or Sicilia DOC

Nero d’Avola – dominant black grape

Med-to-full body, med acid, med tannin, plum, black cherry

Local white wines are blended, unoaked

International varietals (Chardonnay and Syrah) also

Some small appellations

Question 12

Southern - Sicily - Etna DOC

Answer 12

Low-yield vines at high altitudes

Reds noteworthy

Especially blends: Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappucino

Fragrant, high acid, high tannin, sour cherries, cranberries, raspberries, some dried herbs

Bottle age dries tannins to mushroom

High quality whites: Med body, high acid, citrus, steely

Question 13

Central - Lazio

Answer 13

South of Tuscany

Best known is Frascati DOC, in the hills south of Rome

Cooled by altitude and nearby lakes

Malvasia and Trebbiano blends w/ fresh, unoaked style

Med body, med-to-high acid, citrus, orange blossom

Question 14

Southern - Basilicata

Answer 14

Very mountainous, some vineyards at 900m

Also some on on the high plains around Monte Vulture

Aglianico del Vulture DOC – best wine of the region

Question 15

Southern - Campania

Answer 15

Varied – mountains, valleys, coastal plains

Fiano - made to drink young, best have oak and can age

Med acid, full body, stone fruit, mellon, mango

Greco - Most in SS, some w/ old oak and lees for texture

Med+ acid, med body, green apple, stone fruit, passion fruit

Aglianico – best red (Best in Taurasi DOCG)

Deep color, high acid, high tannin, black fruit, OAK AGED

Question 16

Sangiovese

Answer 16

Late ripening, high acid and tannin, red cherries, plums, dried herbs

Bottle age gives meaty/gamey notes.

Question 17

Central - Marche

Answer 17

Eastern side of Apennines

Verdicchio – Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC local white

• High acid, green apple, lemon, some fennel and almonds
• Most are simple and fruity
• Some more intense, can age to honey and almonds

Reds are blends of Montepulciano & Sangiovese

Best is Conero DOCG