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WSET ® Level 3 Wine > Central Italy > Flashcards

Flashcards in Central Italy Deck (39)
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1
Q

What is the climate of Central Italy?

A

It’s a hot climate with moderating influences from altitude and mountain ranges.

2
Q

Chianti is situated between which cities?

A

Pisa, Florence and Siena

3
Q

What are the permissible grapes in Chianti Classico DOCG?

A

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.

4
Q

There are 7 subzones of Chianti DOCG.

Which two subzones have reputations for producing higher-quality Chianti?

A
  1. Chianti Rùfina DOCG
  2. Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG
5
Q

What is the dominant grape varietal used in Chianti DOCG?

A

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.

6
Q

What is the aging requirement for Chianti Classico DOCG?

A

12 months prior to release

7
Q

What are the aging requirements for Brunello di Montalcino DOCG?

A

Brunello di Montalcino must be aged at least 5 years prior to release, 2 years of which must be spent in wood..

8
Q

What % Sangiovese must Rosso di Montalcino DOC be?

A

100% Sangiovese

9
Q

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG must be _____% Sangiovese.

A

100% Sangiovese

10
Q

Under what designation (IGT, DOC, DOCG) are most Super Tuscans released?

A

IGT Toscana or IGT Rosso Toscana

Most are released with the name of the producer and a fantasy name.

11
Q

What does IGT stand for?

A

Indicazione Geografica Tipica

12
Q

Which 2 important DOCs can Tuscan producers use that allow for non-Italian grapes, such as Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon?

A

Bolgheri DOC and Maremma Toscana DOC

Some Super Tuscans are bottled under these DOCs.

13
Q

Tuscany is on which sea?

A

Tyrrhenian Sea

14
Q

What do DOC and DOCG stand for?

A

Denominazione di Origine Controllata

Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita

15
Q

What is the hierarchy of Italian wine classifications?

A

From highest classification to lowest:

  1. Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG)
  2. Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC)
  3. Indicazione di Geografica Tipica (IGT)
  4. Vino da Tavola (VdT)
16
Q

What mountain range is the northern boundary of Tuscany?

A

The Apennines

17
Q

What is the hierarchy of Chianti Classico and what is each level’s aging requirement?

A

From lowest to highest:

  • Chianti Classico
    • must be aged at least 12 months
  • Chianti Classico Riserva
    • must be aged at least 24 months
  • Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
    • must be aged at least 30 months
18
Q

Tuscany can generally be split into 3 areas. Describe each.

A

The northern part of Tuscany is mountainous and quite hilly; this is where Chianti is.

The southern part has lower altitude hills and valleys, and is generally warmer than the northern part; this is where Brunello di Montalcino is.

The coast is mostly flat terrain that’s cooled by sea breezes; this is where Bolgheri is.

19
Q

Is the Chianti Classico DOCG a subzone of Chianti DOCG?

A

No, Chianti Classico is not a subzone of Chianti. It is its own DOCG with vineyards that are higher in altitude than Chianti DOCG.

20
Q

In order to use the Gran Selezione designation, where do the grapes have to come from?

A

Gran Selezione grapes must come from a single estate.

21
Q

If a producer wants/needs to declassify their Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, what is the classification they can use?

A

Rosso di Montepulciano DOC

22
Q

What is the dominant grape in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG?

A

Sangiovese is the dominant grape, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano can have up to 30% other local grapes (red and white) in the blend.

23
Q

Is Umbria landlocked or does it abut a sea?

A

Umbria is landlocked. It has no Mediterranean influence.

24
Q

What is the most important red DOCG of Umbria?

A

Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG

25
Q

What grape goes into Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG?

A

100% Sagrantino

26
Q

What is the most important DOC in Umbria that makes white wine?

A

Orvieto DOC

27
Q

What are the grapes that go into Orvieto DOC?

A

Orvieto must be a blend with a majority of Grechetto and Trebbiano.

Other local white grapes grown in Umbria are allowed in the blend.

28
Q

What is the capital of Lazio?

A

Rome

29
Q

What are the main white grapes of Lazio?

A
  • Trebbiano
  • Malvasia
30
Q

What are the base white grapes for Frascati DOC?

A

Malvasia and Trebbiano

Fresh and unoaked, Frascati is a lightly floral and citrusy, medium-bodied wine.

31
Q

Le Marche is on which sea?

A

The Adriatic

Le Marche is roughly at the calf of Italy’s boot, on the eastern side of the Apennines.

32
Q

What is the most important white grape in Le Marche?

A

Verdicchio

33
Q

What is the well known DOC for Verdicchio in Le Marche?

A

Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC

34
Q

What is the best known DOCG red from Le Marche?

A

Conero DOCG

Based on the Montepulciano grape and typically has Sangiovese in the blend.

35
Q

Which region is to the north of Abruzzo?

A

Le Marche

36
Q

What is the climate of Abruzzo?

A

Mediterranean

37
Q

What is the main red grape in Abruzzo?

A

Montepulciano

38
Q

What is Abruzzo’s best known DOC?

A

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC

39
Q

Montepulciano in Tuscany and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo – what’s the difference?

A

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.