Central Italy Flashcards

1
Q

Historical moments in Tuscany?

A

Sharecropping - ended after WWII
Sassicaia 1968 and Tignanello 1971 - birth of Super Tuscans
Chianti CLassico - became DOCG in 1996

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2
Q

Climate of Tuscany?

A

Warm Mediterranean
Adequate rainfall
Altitude cools inland areas
Spring frost, summer draught, hail, and harvest-time rain are concerns
Esca/boars

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3
Q

Describe Sangiovese profile:

A

Red cherry, red plum, herbal
Medium-full body
High acid
High tannins

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4
Q

Describe Sangiovese:

A

Most planted variety in Italy (10%)
Difficult to grow
Buds early
Ripens late
Vigorous/high yields
Very susceptible to botrytis
Needs sunny south/SE slopes
Likes high draining soils (limestone, shale)
Cordons with spurs or cane-pruned VSP

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5
Q

Describe Trebbiano Toscano:

A

Late budding
Vigorous, high yields
Prone to downy mildew and eutypa dieback
AKA Ugni Blanc
High acid, neutral

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6
Q

Winemaking for Chianti?

A

7-10 day maceration for early drinking
15-25 days for aging wines
Temperature controlled tanks
Large oak barrels common - let sour cherry be the dominant note

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7
Q

Describe Chianti DOCG:

A

70%+ Sangiovese
15% max: Cab Sauv and/or Cab Franc
10% max: Trebbiano (rare)
Min. 11.5% ABV
63hL/ha
No oak required; Riserva = 2 years age

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8
Q

Subzones of Chianti:

A

Seven named subzones
Chianti Rufina DOCG - coolest
Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG - largest, warmer

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9
Q

Describe Chianti Classico DOCG:

A

Higher elevation
Galestro soils (Schist, clay, marl)
Alberese soils (Calcareous with clay)
Min. 80% Sangiovese
No white varieties
52.5hL/ha

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10
Q

Top tier Chianti Classico?

A

2013 - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione added by Consorzio
Single vineyard or single estate
Min. 30 months aging (no wood req)

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11
Q

Describe Brunello di Montalcino DOCG:

A

1865 - Biondi-Santi sold first Brunello
Warmer/drier than Chianti Classico
Adequate rainfall
Galestro (N) and clay (S)
100% Sangiovese
54hL/ha

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12
Q

Brunello aging requirements:

A

Jan 1st 5 years after harvest
- 2 years in oak
Riserva: 6 years

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13
Q

Describe Brunello profile:

A

Intense sour cherry
High acid
High tannin
Complexity - tertiary upon release due to extended aging

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14
Q

Describe Rosso di Montalcino DOC:

A

100% Sangiovese
Young vines or lesser sites within Brunello
Can include declassified Brunellos in difficult years

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15
Q

Describe Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG:

A

Southeastern Tuscany
Heavy clay soils or sandy soils
Min. 70% Sangiovese
56hL/ha
Min 2 years aging (rel Jan 1), min 1 year in oak
Riserva: 3 years

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16
Q

Describe Morellino de Scansano DOCG:

A

Southern Tuscany - warm but cooling winds
Min. 85% Sangiovese
63hL/ha

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17
Q

Varietals for Bolgheri DOC:

A

Up to 100%: Cab Sauv, Cab Franc, Merlot
Up to 50%: Syrah, Sangiovese
Up to 30% Petit Verdot, others
Cab Sauv dominates region

Vermentino for whites

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18
Q

Describe Bolgheri DOC:

A

Tuscan coast - warm days, cool nights
63hL/ha

Superiore:
56hL/ha
2 years aging, 1 in oak

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19
Q

Describe Bolgheri Rosso Superiore profile:

A

Deep ruby
Medium +/Pronounced intensity
Blackberry, red plum, green pepper (cool years), vanilla, sweet spice
High tannins
Med+ acid

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20
Q

Describe Sassicaia:

A

Has it’s own DOC - Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC for Tenuta San Guido
Min. 80% Cab Sauv
2 years aging, 18 mo in 225L oak

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21
Q

Describe Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG:

A

1966 - first DOC in Italy (now DOCG)
Min. 85% Vernaccia
Up to 10% Sauv Blanc, Riesling
63hL/ha
Sangiovese/reds also grown under DOC San Gimignano

22
Q

Describe Vernaccia:

A

Mid/late ripening
Very high yields
Lemon/floral
Med+ acid

23
Q

Well-known Toscana IGT?

A

Masseto (Merlot from Ornellaia)
Solaia (Cab Sauv/Sang/Cab Franc from Antinori)

24
Q

Describe Vin Santo:

A

Appassimento wines
Trebbiano Toscano and Malvasia
Allowed in multiple regions - San Gimignano and 3 separate DOCs that correspond to Chianti, CC, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Barrel aging required
Sangiovese-based red vin santo: Occhio di Pernice (eye of the partridge)

25
Q

Describe Vin Santo profile:

A

Amber color
Dried apricot, dried lemon, nutty
High/volatile acidity
Sweet
Med+/High alcohol

26
Q

Wine business in Tuscany?

A

75% export - USA, Germany, UK

Tuscan Anteprima - annual event for buyers/journalists to taste new vintages

27
Q

Describe Marche:

A

Mediterranean climate, more continental inland
Red blends of Montepulciano/Sangiovese
Verdicchio
Limestone + clay soils

28
Q

Describe Verdicchio:

A

First four buds are sterile - plant at low densities
Late ripening (needs time)
High acidity
Prone to mildew and botrytis
Grown:
Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC
Verdicchio di Matelica DOC
-both have high yields and min 18mo aging (no wood req)

29
Q

Describe Verdicchio profile:

A

Pale lemon
Med- intensity
Blossom, apple, lemon, fennel, almond
High acid
Medium body
No ML, lees aging for riserva

30
Q

Describe Pecorino:

A

High disease resistance
Sterile buds near trunk
Ripens early
Offida Pecorino DOCG

31
Q

Describe Pecorino profile:

A

High alcohol
High acid
Herbal notes (sage, thyme, mint)
Crisp apple, pear
Medium bodied
Can be aged in old oak for texture; no new oak

32
Q

White grapes of Marche/Abruzzo:

A

Verdicchio
Pecorino
Passerina
Biancame
Trebbiano Toscano

33
Q

Describe Montepulciano:

A

Susceptible to powdery mildew
Ripens unevenly within bunches
Susceptible to reduction in the winery

34
Q

Describe Montepulciano profile:

A

Ripe, medium intensity with no oak/med tannins
OR
Pronounced intensity with oak and med+ tannin
Both with red cherry

34
Q

DOC(G)s for Montepulciano?

A

Rosso Piceno DOC (Mont blend)
Rosso Piceno Superiore DOC
Offida Rosso DOCG
Rosso Conero DOC
Conero Riserva DOCG

35
Q

Wine Business of Marche?

A

IMT (istituto Marchigiano di Tutela Vini) is promotional body (80% of region)
1/3 exported - USA, Canada, China, Japan

36
Q

Climate of Umbria:

A

Warm, continental
Higher rainfall - autumn/winter
Strong organic/sustainable presence

37
Q

Grapes/Regions of Umbria?

A

Orvieto (Grechetto)
Montefalco (Sagrantino)

38
Q

Describe Grechetto:

A

Thick skinned
Suitable for late harvesting
Low/med intensity
Lemon/white flower
High acid
Medium body

39
Q

Describe Sagrantino:

A

Needs full sunshine
Moderately productive
Tiny spiders, vine moths, mildew
Highly tannic

40
Q

Describe Orvieto DOC:

A

Min. 60% Trebbiano Toscano and/or Grechetto
77hL/ha, Superiore 56hL/ha
Can include late harvest and noble rot wines

41
Q

Describe Rosso di Montefalco DOC:

A

60-70% Sangiovese
10-15% Sagrantino
Other permitted varieties
77hL/ha
Min 18 months aging

42
Q

Describe Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG:

A

100% Sagrantino
52hL/ha
Min. 37mo aging, 1yr in wood
2-3 weeks maceration current trend to avoid strong tannins
60% exported - USA, Germany, Canada

43
Q

Grapes in Lazio:

A

Malvasia
Trebbiano Toscano
Merlot
Sangiovese
Cesanese
Many others

44
Q

DOC(G)s in Lazio:

A

Frascati DOC (Malvasia)
Frascati Superiore DOCG
Castelli Romani DOC

45
Q

Wines of Abruzzo:

A

Trebbiano d’Abruzzo
Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

46
Q

Describe Trebbiano d’Abruzzo DOC:

A

Allows Trebbiano Abruzzese and Trebbiano Toscano (relationship unknown)
ML blocked, stainless steel aged
98hL/ha
High acidity

47
Q

Describe Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC:

A

Min. 85% Montepulciano
Med/deep pink
Short maceration or direct press
Med/Med+ body

48
Q

Describe Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC:

A

Min. 85% Montepulciano
Up to 15% Merlot/Primitivo
High tannins/anthocyanins - short extraction
98hL for generic
66hL/ha for 5 subzones - 18mo aging, 9mo oak

49
Q

DOCG in Abruzzo?

A

Colline Teramane Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOCG
Formerly a subzone, now DOCG
66hL/ha
2 years aging, 1 year wood

50
Q

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo profile:

A

Deep ruby
Med intensity
Red cherry/plum
Med+ body
High tannins