Central Italy Flashcards
Legislation delimiting the Chianti zone dates to ?
1716
Chianti historically bottled in a?
fiasco bottle
Marquis Mario Rocchetta, who released the first commercial vintage of Sassicaia in?
1968
Which is the first vintage of Tignanello?
1971
Grape composition of Tignanello?
After the first experiment in 1975, the white grape was completely removed. Now the composition is 80% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc and the gradation of 13.50%.
Grape composition of Sassicaia?
The flag-ship, Sassicaia, is an invariable blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc and has an annual production of 180,000 to 20,000 bottles.
Italy’s most planted white grape is?
Trebbiano Toscano
The large Chianti DOCG is Tuscany’s most famous wine region and one of the first delimited zones in Europe. Although Chianti was not elevated to DOCG until 1984, the limits of the modern Chianti zone were established in?
1932
Name the 7 sub-zones of Chianti
Classico, Rùfina, Colli Fiorentini, Colli Senesi, Colline Pisane, Colli Aretini, and Montalbano. Another subzone, Montespertoli, was added in a 1997 decree
Which are the top producers in the tiny Pomino DOC within Rùfina?
Frescobaldi and the highly regarded Fattoria Selvapiana
Sassicaia translates to?
“the place of many stones,” Sassicaia mirrors the Graves region of Bordeaux
when the San Guido estate was awarded its own appellation?
Sassicaia’s prestige was further acknowledged in 1994, when the San Guido estate was awarded its own appellation, Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC
Name the 3 wines of Tenuta San Guido
Sassicaia
Guildalberto
La Difense
Name the best vintages of Sassicaia
1968
1972
1985 best vintage
1988
1990
1997
1998
2001
2004
2008
2013
2015 top
2016
2019
Name the Chianti denominations
Chianti
Chianti Riserva
Chianti Superiore
Chianti may be labeled by subzone
Name the grape composition for Chianti
Chianti:
70-100% Sangiovese
Maximum 30% combined other grapes authorized for Toscana
Maximum 10% white grapes (Trebbiano, Malvasia)
Maximum 15% combined Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc
Chianti Colli Senesi:
75-100% Sangiovese
Maximum 25% combined other grapes authorized for Toscana
Maximum 10% white grapes
Maximum 10% combined Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc
Chianti ageing requirements?
Chianti: May not be released until March 1 of the year following the harvest
Subzones
Colli Aretini, Montalbano, Colline Pisane and Colli Senesi may not be released until March 1 of the year following the harvest
Montespertoli may not be released until June 1 of the year following the harvest
Colli Fiorentini and Rufina may not be released until September 1 of the year following the harvest
Chianti Superiore: May not be released until September 1 of the year following the harvest
Chianti Riserva: Minimum 2 years aging from January 1 of the year following harvest
For Colli Fiorentini Riserva and Rufina Riserva, a minimum 6 months of the total aging period must occur in wood
For Colli Senesi Riserva, a minimum 8 months of the total aging must occur in wood and 4 months in bottle
Yields for Chianti?
Chianti: 9 tons/ha, 63 hl/ha
All subzones: 8 tons/ha, 56 hl/ha
Chianti Superiore: 7.5 tons/ha, 52.5 hl/ha
Chianti DOCG established in?
1984
Who is credited with defining the classic blend of Chianti?
Baron Bettino Ricasoli in 1872
Chianti min alc?
Rosso/Colli Aretini/Colline Pisane/Montalbano: 11.5%
Colli Fiorentini/Colli Senesi/Montespertoli/Rufina: 12%
Superiore/Riserva without a subzone: 12%
Riserva with a subzone excluding Colli Senesi: 12.5%
Colli Senesi Riserva: 13%
“Governo all’uso Toscano” is an accepted practice, but it must be noted on the label
What is governo?
The traditional practice of governo—refermentation with the juice of dried grapes, to strengthen the wine and initiate malolactic fermentation—is legally permitted. This process must be indicated on labels as Governo all’uso Toscano, although most quality-minded producers avoid it.
Chianti Classico, upgraded to DOCG alongside Chianti in ?
1984
The Classico area contains the original Chianti zone delimited by?
Grand Duke Cosimo III de’ Medici in 1716
Name the villages of Chianti
Communes of Production:
Siena: Castellina in Chianti, Radda in Chianti, Gaiole in Chianti, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Poggibonsi
Firenze: Greve in Chianti, San Casciano Val di Pesa, Barberino Tavarnelle
Subzones (Gran Selezione only):
Castellina, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Gaiole, Greve, Lamole, Montefioralle, Panzano, Radda, San Casciano, San Donato in Poggio, and Vagliagli
Name the denominations of Chianti Classico
Chianti Classico
Chianti Classico Riserva
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Chianti Classico grapes?
80-100% Sangiovese
Maximum 20% other red grapes authorized by Siena and Firenze (including, among others, Colorino, Canaiolo Nero, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot)
As of the 2006 vintage, Trebbiano Toscano and Malvasia Bianco are no longer allowed
Gran Selezione: (2027 will be the 1st vintage of these requirements)
min. 90% Sangiovese
max. 10% other red grapes traditional to the region
Chianti Classico min alc?
Chianti Classico: 12%
Riserva: 12.5%
Gran Selezione: 13%
Chianti Classico ageing requirements?
Chianti Classico: May not be released until October 1 of the year following the harvest
Riserva: Minimum 24 months aging from January 1 of the year following the harvest, including 3 months in the bottle
Gran Selezione: Wines must be produced from estate fruit. Minimum 30 months aging from January 1 of the year following the harvest, including at least 3 months in the bottle (new category was approved in 2014 for wines beginning with the 2010 vintage, though wines from an earlier vintage can apply for this recognition pending they can provide documentation that demonstrates all requirements have been met)
Chianti Classico max yields?
52.5 hL/ha
Chianti Classico soils?
Galestro (friable clay-schist), Alberese (white calcareous marl), Macigno (sandstone)
Name the mountains of Chianti
Apennines
Name the provinces of Chianti Classico
Firenze and Siena
Name some top producers from Chianti
Fontodi (Flaccianello)
Castello di Ama
Mazzei Castello di Fonterutoli
Castello di Volpaia
Castello di Monsanto
Isole e Olena (Cepparello)
Marchesi Antinori
Tenuta di Bibbiano
Querciabella
Felsina Berardenga
Brancaia
Chianti Classico is grown is eight communes:
Greve in Chianti, Barberino Tavarnelle, and San Casciano Val di Pesa are located in the province of Florence, while Radda in Chianti, Gaiole in Chianti, Castellina in Chianti, Castelnuovo Berardenga, and Poggibonsi are found just south in the province of Siena. The subzones mirror these, though Barberino Tavarnelle and Poggibonsi are grouped together to form the subzone of San Donato. Additional subzones include the hamlets of Lamole, Montefioralle, Panzano, and Vagliagli.
Which sub-zone of Chianti Classico has the highest elevations?
Radda above 650m
Castellina, too, contains several high-elevation sites exceeding 500 meters, especially in its western sector
Who is the winemaker of Isole e Olena?
Fourth-generation winemaker Paolo De Marchi studied Agriculture at the University of Turin and worked several harvests in California and France. When he first arrived at the family estate in 1976 from his home in Piemonte, he found much need for improvement and modernization in the Chianti Classico region.
Which is the training system being used in Chianti?
Since the late 1990s, more than 60% of Chianti Classico vineyards have undergone replanting. The project also provided critical research into ideal rootstocks to reduce vigor while increasing sugar production, increased vine density (5,000 to 7,000 vines per hectare is now considered ideal), and vine training, with a move toward Guyot systems rather than the more historic bush vine, or alberello, training.
Colorino is actually a group of anthocyanin-rich grapes, and its role is similar to that of?
Petit Verdot in Bordeaux
Brunello di Montalcino was granted early DOC status in?
1966, elevated to Italy’s first DOCG in 1980
Rosso di Montalcino ageing requierements?
May not be resleased until September 1 of the year following the harvest
Brunello di Montalcino DOC lies in which province?
Siena
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG ageing requierements?
Minimum 2 years in wood plus 4 months in bottle, may not be sold before January 1 of the 5th year following the harvest
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG ageing requierements?
Minimum 2 years in wood plus 6 months in bottle, may not be sold before January 1 of the 6th year following the harvest
Yields for Brunello?
54.4 hl/ha
Vigna: 47.6 hl/ha
Name the other DOCs of Montalcino
Moscadello di Montalcino and Sant’Antimo
Moscadello di Montalcino wines were sparkling, today’s Moscadello wines can also be late harvest (or often made using appassimento techniques) as well as still from minimum 85% Moscato Bianco
Sant’Antimo offers much looser regulations than Brunello di Montalcino, allowing, most consequentially, the inclusion of French grape varieties.
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano became a DOCG in?
1980
Vino Nobile grape varieties required?
Minimum 70% Sangiovese (known locally as Prugnolo Gentile)
Maximum 30% combined other red and white authorized grapes of Tuscany (maximum 5% of non-aromatic white grapes and Malvasia Bianca Lunga)
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano ageing requierements?
Minimum 2 years aging from January 1 of the year following the harvest, with the following options:
24 months in wood
Minimum 18 months in wood plus 6 months in an alternative container
Minimum 12 months in wood and a minimum 6 months in bottle, with the remainder in an alternative container
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva ageing requierements?
Minimum 3 years aging, including at least 6 months in bottle, from January 1 of the year following the harvest
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano min alc?
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano: 12.5%
Riserva: 13%