Central Italy Flashcards
What is the climate of Tuscany?
Tuscany generally enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate near the coast which becomes more Continental inland, but mesoclimates exist amid the hilly terrain.
Altitude and sea breezes help provide coolness.
Chianti is situated between which cities?
Pisa, Florence and Siena
What are the permissible grapes in Chianti Classico DOCG?
Sangiovese is the dominant grape that goes into Chianti Classico. Other red grapes allowed in the blend are French and Italian in origin.
White grapes are no longer permitted in Chianti Classico DOCG as of 2006.
There are 7 subzones of Chianti DOCG.
Which two subzones have reputations for producing higher-quality Chianti?
Chianti Rùfina DOCG
Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG
What is the dominant grape varietal used in Chianti DOCG?
Sangiovese is the dominant grape used in Chianti DOCG, and the others allowed include other Italian red grapes and some French red grapes.
You don’t need to know this for the exam, but some of the other grapes allowed include Trebbiano, Malvasia, Canaiolo, Colorino, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
What is the aging requirement for Chianti Classico DOCG?
12 months prior to release
What are the aging requirements for Brunello di Montalcino DOCG?
Brunello di Montalcino must be aged at least 5 years prior to release, 2 years of which must be spent in wood..
What % Sangiovese must Rosso di Montalcino DOC be?
100% Sangiovese
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG must be _____% Sangiovese.
100% Sangiovese
Under what designation (IGT, DOC, DOCG) are most Super Tuscans released?
GT Toscana or IGT Rosso Toscana
Most are released with the name of the producer and a fantasy name.
What does IGT stand for?
Indicazione Geografica Tipica
Which 2 important DOCs can Tuscan producers use that allow for non-Italian grapes, such as Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon?
Bolgheri DOC and Maremma Toscana DOC
Some Super Tuscans are bottled under these DOCs.
Tuscany is on which sea?
Tyrrhenian Sea
What do DOC and DOCG stand for?
Denominazione di Origine Controllata
Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita
What is the hierarchy of Italian wine classifications?
From highest classification to lowest:
- Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG)
- Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC)
- Indicazione di Geografica Tipica (IGT)
- Vino da Tavola (VdT)
What mountain range is the northern boundary of Tuscany?
The Apennines
What is the hierarchy of Chianti Classico and what is each level’s aging requirement?
From lower to higher quality regions:
Chianti DOCG - large volume from the greater region. No aging requirement.
Chianti Classico DOCG - Vineyards are higher in altitude resulting in higher acidity and herbal aromas. Minimum 12 months aging before release.
Chianti Classico Gran Riserva DOCG- Minimum 24 months aging, with 3 months bottle aging.
Chianti Classico Gran Selezion - Grapes must be from a single estate and aged for 30 months. There is no requirement for oak, but most producers do age in oak.
Tuscany can generally be split into 3 areas. Describe each.
Chianti - Mountainous northern region divded into 7 subzones.
Southern Tuscany - Hills, valleys and slopes. Warmer climate than Chianti due to its lower altitude. Cooled by maritime breezes
Tuscan Coast - Flat coastal areas moderated by the sea breezes. International grapes are planted here in abundance.
Is the Chianti Classico DOCG a subzone of Chianti DOCG?
No, it is a seperate zone.
In order to use the Chianti Gran Selezione designation, where do the grapes have to come from?
From a single estate within Chianti Classico DOCG
If a producer wants/needs to declassify their Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, what is the classification they can use?
Rossi di Montepulciano DOC
This can be done due to the strict limitations on grapes and aging requirements for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG. (i.e. a poor harvest or young vines meaning they cannot afford to not sell the wine)
Limitations: Sangiovese + permitted grapes only. Min 2 years aging)
What is the dominant grape in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG?
Sangiovese
Other grapes can be blended, but they must be from permitted varietals
Is Umbria landlocked or does it abut a sea?
Completely landlocked - with a more continental climate than Tuscany.
What is the most important red DOCG of Umbria?
Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG
What grape goes into Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG?
Sagrantino - thick skinned black grape
What is the most important DOC in Umbria that makes white wine?
Orvieto DOC
What are the white grapes that go into Orvieto DOC?
A blend of white grapes, mostly Grechetto and Trebbiano as well as other local grapes. It is light bodied, medium-high acidity with ripe grapefruit + peach flavours.
Cool, protected fermentations in stainless steel protect Grechetto’s character.
What is the capital of Lazio?
Rome
What are the main white grapes of Lazio?
Malvasia and Trebbiano
What are the base white grapes for Frascati DOC?
Malvasia and Trebbiano
Frascati DOC is south of Rome on hills near lakes. It is usually fresh and unoaked, medium body, med-high acid with citrus occasional floral orange blossom from Malvasia.
Le Marche is on which sea?
Adriatic
What is the most important white grape in Le Marche?
Verdicchio
Naturally high in acid with green apple, lemon and occasionally fennel and almond flavours.
What is the well known DOC for Verdicchio in Le Marche?
Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC
What is the best known DOCG red from Le Marche?
Conero DOCG a blend of Montepulciano and Sangiovese
Which region is to the north of Abruzzo?
Marche
What is the climate of Abruzzo?
Hot maritime
What is the main red grape in Abruzzo?
Montepulciano - High colour, high tannin, medium acid with black plum and black cherry flavours.
What is Abruzzo’s best known DOC?
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC - a red often made without oak aging.
Montepulciano in Tuscany and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo – what’s the difference?
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is named after the grape and the region.
Montepulciano is a completely unrelated town.
