Central Italy

Question 1

What two geographic features is Tuscany situated between?

Answer 1

Mediterranean Sea
Apennine Mountains

Question 2

What is Tuscany’s climate type?

Answer 2

Warm Mediterranean with adequate rainfall

Question 3

What is the main grape of Tuscany?

Answer 3

Sangiovese

Question 4

Why is Cabernet Sauvignon often used in Tuscany?

Answer 4

To add color and power to Sangiovese

Question 5

Why is Canaiolo often used in Tuscany?

Answer 5

It promotes the floral and red-berried character of Sangiovese when blended with that grape

Question 6

What is the most planted red varietal in Italy?

Answer 6

Sangiovese

Question 7

What is the principal red grape of Chianti DOCG? Other grapes? Minimum and Maximums?

Answer 7

Sangiovese - 70%
Cab Sauv and/or Cab Franc cannot exceed 15%;
10% can be white grapes!

Question 8

What is the principal red grape of Chianti Classico DOCG?
What is the minimum? What other grapes are allowed?

Answer 8

Sangiovese - min 80%. Most are 90%.
Others can be 10% each (e.g., Canaiolo or Merlot).
NO WHITES.

Question 9

What is the principal red grape of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG?

What is the minimum % of that grape?

Answer 9

Sangiovese - min 70%

Question 10

What is the only red grape allowed in Brunello di Montalcino DOCG?

Answer 10

Sangiovese - 100%

Question 11

What are the primary grapes of Tuscany?

Answer 11

Sangiovese
Trebbiano
Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon
Canaiolo Nero

Question 12

What is the main white grape of San Gimignano?

Answer 12

Vernaccia di San Gimignana

Question 13

When was Chianti elevated to DOCG?

Answer 13

1984

Question 14

Name two subzones of Chianti DOCG

Answer 14

Chiani Rùfina DOCG
Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG

Question 15

What white grapes are permitted for blending in Chianti DOCG wines?

Answer 15

Trebbiano Toscano
Malvasia

Question 16

What is the general aging requirement for Chianti DOCG?
What about Riserva?
Any oak requirements?

Answer 16

March 1 of the year after harvest;

Chianti DOCG Riserva must be aged two years, no oak required.

No oak ageing required for Chianti DOCG but some subzones require 6 mos in oak.

Question 17

What is the general aging requirement for Chianti DOCG Riserva?

What if it’s a subzone Riserva?

Answer 17

Two years of ageing; no oak requirements

Two years; six months in oak.

Question 18

When was Chianti Classico declared an autonomous DOCG (not a subzone)?

Answer 18

1996

Question 19

What are the two most common soil types of Chianti Classico DOCG?

Answer 19

Galestro - schistous, crumbly rock with clay and marl
Alberese - calcareous soils with clay

Question 20

What percentage of Chianti Classico DOCG wines must be Sangiovese?

Answer 20

Minimum 80%

Question 21

What does Gran Selezione mean in Chianti Classico DOCG?

Answer 21

Wine produced from estate fruit
Minimum 30 months of aging; no oak required

Question 22

What is the common wood vessel used to age Chianti Classico DOCG wines?

Answer 22

It was French barriques but now returning to large format oak casks (“botti”) and tonneaux.

Question 23

In which country and region is Brunello di Montalcino DOCG located?

Answer 23

Italy
Tuscany

Question 24

What is the only grape used in Brunello di Montalcino DOCG wines?

Answer 24

Sangiovese aka Brunello

Question 25

What are the aging requirements for Brunello di Montalcino wines?

Answer 25

Jan 1, 5 years after harvest; 2 years in oak

Question 26

What are the aging requirements for Brunello di Montalcino Riserva wines?

Answer 26

Jan 1, 6 years after harvest; 2 years in oak

Question 27

What soil type is found in higher altitude vineyards of Brunello di Montalcino DOCG?

Answer 27

Galestro (similar to marl)

Question 28

What soil type is common in the southern areas of Brunello di Montalcino DOCG?

Answer 28

Clay

Question 29

In which country and region is Rosso di Montalcino DOC located?

Answer 29

Italy Tuscany

Question 30

What is the only grape used in Rosso di Montalcino DOC wines?

Answer 30

Sangiovese aka Brunello

Question 31

What is the difference between wines from Rosso di Montalcino DOC and Brunello di Montalcino DOCG?

Answer 31

- Same geographic area. - Rosso only requires one year of aging and no cask requirement. - Typically comes from younger vines or less promising sites.

Question 32

In which country and region is Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG located?

Answer 32

Italy Tuscany

Question 33

What is the aging requirement for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG wines?

Answer 33

Jan 1, 2 years after harvest; 1-2 years in oak

Question 34

What is the aging requirement for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva DOCG wines?

Answer 34

Jan 1, 3 years after harvest; 1-2 years in oak

Question 35

In which country and region is Morellino di Scansano DOCG located?

Answer 35

Italy Tuscany

Question 36

What is a Super-Tuscan? Provide some history / context.

Answer 36

A wine made in Tuscany in the style of Bordeaux wines. They did not conform to DOC/DOCG standards and were labeled "vino da tavola." When an IGT was created, they were labeled as that. They began and mostly come from Bolgheri DOC and Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC (a single-estate DOC). Those were created in 1994.

Question 37

Why was the IGT classification created and when?

Answer 37

To elevate Super-Tuscan wines out of the vino da tavola category in 1992

Question 38

In which country and region is Bolgheri DOCG located?

Answer 38

Italy Tuscany

Question 39

In which country and region is Bolgheri Sassicaia DOCG located?

Answer 39

Italy Tuscany

Question 40

What is the only true monopole DOC in Italy?

Answer 40

Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC

Question 41

What is the only white wine DOCG in Tuscany?

Answer 41

Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG

Question 42

In which country and region is Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG located?

Answer 42

Italy Tuscany

Question 43

What is the primary grape used in wines from Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG?

Answer 43

Vernaccia

Question 44

What is vin santo?

Answer 44

A high alcohol wine commonly found in Tuscany Can be either dry or sweet Trebbiano Toscana is an important part of the blend --> high acidity

Question 45

What are the primary grapes used to make vin santo?

Answer 45

Trebbiano Toscana Malvasia

Question 46

What is the max yield for Chianti DOCG? Chianti Classico DOCG?

Answer 46

63 hL/ha for Chianti; 52.5 hL/ha for Chianti Classico

Question 47

What is the max yield for most of the Chianti subzones?

Answer 47

56 hL/ha

Question 48

What is the max yield for Brunello di Montalcino DOCG & Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG?

Answer 48

54 hL/ha and 56 hL/ha --> Mid 50s!

Question 49

Dry tasting note of Chianti DOCG

Answer 49

Med ruby high acidity med to high tannins med alcohol, med body, light to medium flavor intensity Red cherry, red plum, herbal - maybe sour cherry, acceptable to very good, inexpensive to mid-priced.

Question 50

Dry tasting note of Chianti Classico DOCG or the main differences from Chianti DOCG

Answer 50

Some have pronounced intensity; very good to outstanding; mid-priced to premium

Question 51

How did the style of Chiantis change in the 1980s? Where is it now?

Answer 51

When the Super Tuscans came out in the 1980s, Chianti went more heavy / Bordeaux-influenced by adding lots of Merlot & CS Now back to more authentic Sangiovese character with sour cherry and lighter.

Question 52

How are Chianti subzones tasting notes different than Chianti DOCG?

Answer 52

Each is different - some are rounder & fuller; others are more restrained but can age longer. The yields are lower --> greater concentration. Subzone Riservas require 6 months in oak.

Question 53

How is Brunello di Montalcino DOCG different than Chianti DOCG as a climate? Impact on wine?

Answer 53

In general, the area is warmer than Chianti Classico and drier. Cooling breezes from Mediterranean still provides cooling at night to preserve adicity. Intense sour cherry fruit, high acidity high tannin (ageable) shows complexity, even on release, due to the tertiary notes developed in the long, initial ageing.

Question 54

How is the climate of Montepulciano different than Chianti? What is the impact on the wines?.

Answer 54

Traditionally, the wines were full bodied and austere, requiring ageing in the bottle. However, some major companies have been working to produce wines that can be drunk in their youth; methods include shorter extraction periods and the use of small format French oak for maturation.

Question 55

How do wines from galestro vs alberese differ?

Answer 55

Galestro-based wines are more aromatic with potential to age; alberese-based wines are more structured with more body.

Question 56

What % of wines in Tuscany are DOC(G)?

Answer 56

65%

Question 57

What is the highest selling red wine in Italy by volume & value? What are its formats?

Answer 57

Chianti DOCG; sold in 750ml and also 500ml and 1L bricks

Question 58

How much does Chianti Classico export and to where?

Answer 58

80 per cent of its production, with the main markets being the USA (largest single market at 33 per cent of all production), -- more more than Germany and Canada, #2 & #3.

Question 59

How much does Montalcino export and to where?

Answer 59

70 per cent by value, USA and Canada are the main markets

Question 60

How much does Montepulciano export and to where?

Answer 60

nearly 80 per cent of Montepulciano is exported, Germany, the USA and Switzerland are largest markets

Question 61

How much does Chianti DOCG export and to where?

Answer 61

Just under 70 per cent of Chianti DOCG wine is exported, mostly at low prices. Largest markets are Germany followed by USA and UK.