Central Italy Flashcards
Tuscany can generally be split into 3 areas. Describe each.
The northern part
・Mountainous and hilly
; this is where Chianti is.
The southern part
・Lower altitude hills and valleys
・Warmer than the northern part
= Wines can be more intense and fuller
・Cool maritime breezes from the south-west can moderate the temperatures.
; this is where Brunello di Montalcino DOCG and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG is.
The coast
・Flat terrain that’s
・Cooled by sea breezes
; this is where Bolgheri is.
In Tuscany, ___ help provide coolness.
Altitude and sea breezes
Dominant grape variety in these three parts.
4,5,7,8,9
Sangiovese
4 High acidity
5 High tannin
7 Red cherries, plums and dried herbs, spicy flavours from oak.
8 With bottle age the wines develop meaty and gamey aromas.
9 Oaked (Both small barrels and larger casks)
What is the hierarchy of Chianti Classico and what is each level’s aging requirement?
From lowest to highest:
Chianti Classico
must be aged at least 12 months
Chianti Classico Riserva
must be aged at least 24 months and at least 3 month in bottle aging
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
must be aged at least 30 months
Chianti is situated in the ___ of the ___ between which cities?
foothills
Apennines
Pisa, Florence and Siena
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.
There are 7 subzones of Chianti DOCG.
Which two subzones have reputations for producing higher-quality Chianti?
Chianti Rùfina DOCG
Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG
Is the Chianti Classico DOCG a subzone of Chianti DOCG?
No, Chianti Classico is not a subzone of Chianti.
Chianti Classico DOCG and Chianti DOCG
Difference and result
Chianti Classico is higher in altitude than Chianti DOCG.
= slowing the ripening of Sangiovese and resulting in wine with greater acidity and more herbal aromas.
In order to use the Gran Selezione designation, where do the grapes have to come from?
The grape must be sourced from a single estate.
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG must be ___% ___ and can only be released from the winery from ___.
100% Sangiovese
January of the fifth year after harvest.
What are the aging requirements for Brunello di Montalcino DOCG?
Brunello di Montalcino must be aged at least 2 years in wooden vessels.
Grape varieties in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG
Blend of…
Sangiovese (dominant grape)
＋ Other permitted grapes
Aged for minimum of 2 years before it is sold.
Producers from both Brunello di Montalcino DOCG and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG can declassify their wines to ___.
Rosso di Montepulciano DOC
/ Rosso di Montalcino DOC
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
Under what designation (IGT, DOC, DOCG) are most Super Tuscans released?
IGT Toscana or IGT Rosso Toscana
Tuscany is on which sea?
Tyrrhenian Sea
Is Umbria landlocked or does it abut a sea?
Umbria is landlocked. The climate is more continental without any influence from Mediterranean.
What is the most important DOC in Umbria that makes white wine?
Orvieto DOC
What are the grapes that go into Orvieto DOC?
Orvieto must be a blend with a majority of Grechetto and Trebbiano.
Other local white grapes grown in Umbria are allowed in the blend.
Orvieto
3,4,7,12
3 Light body
4 High acidity
7 Ripe grape fruit and peaches
12 Cool fermentation in stainless steel.
What is the most important red DOCG of Umbria?
Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG
Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG is made from the ___.
thick-skinned Sagrantino grape
What is the capital of Lazio?
Rome
Where is Lazio situated?
Situated in the hills to the south of Rome.
Cooled by altitude and a number of small nearby lakes.
The best known wine in Lazio is___.
3,4,7,9
Frascati DOC
3 Medium bodied
4 Medium to high acidity
7 Citrus fruit
Sometimes with the Malvasia providing floral, orange blossom aromas.
9 Unoaked
What are the base white grapes for Frascati DOC?
Malvasia and Trebbiano
Le Marche is on which sea?
The Adriatic
Le Marche is on the ___ side of the ___.
eastern
Apennines
What is the most important white grape in Le Marche?
4,7,8
Verdicchio
4 High acidity
7 Green apples, lemons and sometimes fennel and almonds
8 The best quality wine can develop honey and almonds with bottle age.
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
Conero DOCG Grape varieties
Based on the Montepulciano grape
＋ Sangiovese in the blend.
Which region is to the north of Abruzzo?
Le Marche
What is the main red grape in Abruzzo?
1,4,5,7,9
Montepulciano
1 High levels of colour
4 Medium acidity
5 High tannins
7 Flavours of black plums and cherries
9 Usually made without oak aging. However, most concentrated examples are matured for a short time in oak.
What is Abruzzo’s best known DOC?
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC
Montepulciano in Tuscany and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo – what’s the difference?
Montepulciano is a village in Tuscany. The main grape in the village of Montepulciano is Sangiovese.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is a DOC in the region of Abruzzo whose main grape is Montepulciano.
